How did an undercapitalized West Coast rock publication, edited by a 21-year-old college dropout, become one of the most important magazines of its era? This course will explore that question by probing Rolling Stone’s origins, tracking its turbulent development, and mapping its immense influence on American popular culture and journalism. In particular, we will consider the magazine’s major figures and influences, its tangled relationship with the counterculture, its conception of rock music, and its political and cultural coverage.

This course can be attended virtually via Zoom.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.