Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

The overall aim of this course is to introduce students to underlying concepts and approaches to the study of popular music history and a range of important artists, events and genres. The course will then locate these histories within wider debates around culture, music, work and globalisation studies.

1x1hr lecture; 1x1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Music Programmes, to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into MA Creative Arts and Industries, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation

MUSIC5095

None

10 minute (approx. 1500 word) podcast 50%

2500-word essay 50%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The aims should express what the course offers to students. It has been agreed to adopt the following wording for all levels:

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to key concepts and issues in popular music history.

■ Enhance the students' ability to critically reflect on the history of popular music.

■ Promote the students' critical analysis of problems and challenges across careers in popular music.

■ Develop students' skills in the presentation of ideas relating to the history of popular music.

■ Explore the key differences in the history of popular in diverse contexts, especially the historical role of Anglo-American popular music within global music cultures.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically evaluate a range of academic approaches to the study of the history of popular music.

■ Analyse some of the key themes, events, genres, and artists in the history of popular music.

■ Evaluate the key differences in the history of popular music in diverse contexts, especially Anglo-American popular music within global music cultures.

■ Engage critically with academic and other texts dealing with the history of popular music.

■ Reflect critically upon what insights the history of popular music can provide for present day debates in popular music culture.

■ Verbally present concepts and arguments relating to popular music history.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.