2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MUSS2722 Music in Context B

20 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Dr Ross Cole
Email: r.cole@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Module replaces

MUSI2721 Music in Context A

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The popular is a notoriously difficult concept to pin down, and yet one that is fundamental to the experience of modernity, traversing fields from Marxism to psychoanalysis. This course will introduce a wide range of theoretical approaches to understanding popular culture, covering topics such as the culture industry, media and technology, semiotics and meaning, identity and power, subculture and resistance, and the practice of every life. On the module you will encounter and critique a number of key writers representing a variety of perspectives – such as Theodor Adorno, Roland Barthes, Jean Baudrillard, Walter Benjamin, Judith Butler, Michel de Certeau, Angela Davis, Paul Gilroy, Stuart Hall, bell hooks, Donna Haraway, Frederic Jameson, Julia Kristeva, Marshall McLuhan, Jacques Rancière, Edward Said, and Susan Sontag – but no prior knowledge of these figures is necessary. Ultimately, the course will equip you with a clear understanding of complex ideas surrounding the history of mass culture from the 19th century music hall up to our present age of social media and surveillance capitalism.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate the broadening of their musical knowledge through study of a defined musicological area;
- apply appropriate historical, analytical, critical and comparative methodologies to the articulation and development of arguments;
- demonstrate the development of research, essay-writing and presentational skills;
- develop an awareness of contextual approaches applicable to a broad range of repertoire.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate the broadening of their musical knowledge through study of a defined musicological area;
- apply appropriate historical, analytical, critical and comparative methodologies to the articulation and development of arguments;
- demonstrate the development of research, and essay-writing skills;
- develop an awareness of contextual approaches applicable to a broad range of repertoire

Syllabus

Students will study one topic chosen from a range available. Topics offered will cover a spectrum of theoretical areas relating to different musical disciplines and contexts, including art, commercial, popular and world musics. The module will be taught via a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Plenary lectures and associated seminars will support students in developing their skills in the literature review and essay writing. At least one class will be given over to individual tutorials.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	2	1.00	2.00
seminars	1	1.00	1.00
Lecture	7	2.00	14.00
Seminar	2	1.00	2.00
Tutorial	1	0.25	0.25
Private study hours			180.70
Total Contact hours			19.25
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			199.95

Private study

4 hours evaluation of notes per topic lecture: 28 hours;
6 hours reading and listening per topic lecture or seminar: 54 hours;
Essay writing: 74 hours;
Plenary lectures and Seminar preparation: 24.75 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative feedback will be provided on the literature review assignment through a plenary feedback seminar session, enabling all students to benefit from knowledge about common errors and examples of best practice from across the cohort. Formative feedback will also be provided through contribution to class discussions in lectures and seminars, and in the module tutorial

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3800-4200 words	70.00
Literature Review	1400-1600 words	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/05/2023 09:15:06

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