Unit name | Popular Music and Society |
---|---|
Unit code | SOCIM3135 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Raphael Nowak |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Popular music is inherently social: how music gets defined as 'popular', and how it is valued or criticised reveals much about the socially constructed nature of music and those who produce and consume it. It is also inherently social in a more down-to-earth sense, however; it seeps into social life and plays a part in a vast range of social practices, from procreating to burials. The meaning of popular music only emerges from its use in such everyday social activities. This unit investigates the two-way relationship between popular music and society - society in popular music and popular music in society. Typical issues considered include: the emergence of the idea of popular music; popular music and social boundaries; popular music and politics; popular music and self-identity; popular music and the internet; and the popular music industry.
The unit aims to:
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
1 X 2 hour seminar over 12 week teaching block.
The assessment will relate to the learning outcomes specified above and will be by an extended essay of 3500-4000 words showing an in-depth understanding and integration of key aspects of the unit.