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2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
MUSS3128 Music and Postcolonial Politics
20 creditsClass Size: 30
Module manager: Dr Matthew Pritchard
Email: m.pritchard1@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
The impact of colonialism on musical traditions around the world has been both deep and long-lasting: it has both shaped the details of individual musical styles and contributed to the division of the "West vs. the Rest" embodied in music studies’ disciplinary separation of musicology and ethnomusicology. Even where Western colonial regimes have long vanished, a lively political debate continues on how best to deal with their legacy in the “postcolonial” – or for some, merely “neocolonial” – era. This module investigates such issues, triangulating between colonial history, (cultural) politics, and music. It will introduce students to a range of theories of the postcolonial; significant episodes in colonial/global history will be examined; and students will learn about musical styles from a variety of "world music" traditions, both traditional and modern, as well as examining some of the imaginary representations of other cultures within Western classical and popular musics.Objectives
The module engages students with a topic within the field of musicological research – music in its connections with postcolonial politics. Students are encouraged and supported to challenge critically existing musicological positions and perspectives on the subject, drawing on interdisciplinary approaches as appropriate, to increase understanding of the specific research topic and, through this, to develop independent research skills for application within and beyond the module.Learning outcomes
1. Demonstrate in-depth musical knowledge through study of colonial and postcolonial history’s impact on musical traditions.
2. Apply advanced historical, analytical, critical and comparative methodologies to the articulation and development of arguments.
3. Demonstrate evidence of growing independence in research, a deepening understanding of methodology, and a high level of written and oral presentational skills.
4. Develop an awareness of contextual approaches applicable to the repertoire covered.
Syllabus
Taught sessions will usually focus on specific topics from within the broad musicological area of music and the postcolonial, offering a wide-ranging yet nuanced investigation of the subject. Lectures will triangulate colonial history, (cultural) politics, and music and introduce a range of theories of postcolonial resistance, difference, hybridity and representation.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 9 | 2.00 | 18.00 |
| Tutorial | 1 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Private study hours | 181.75 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 18.25 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
4 hours evaluation of notes per lecture or seminar: 36 hours;8 hours reading and listening per lecture or seminar, including any pre-class work: 72 hours;
Completing assessments: 58.75 hours;
Tutorial preparation: 15 hours.
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Student progress will be monitored through in-class discussions and the tutorial, as well as via the shorter piece of work submitted for the module assessment.Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Assignment | Essay of 3600-4400 words OR extended verbal presentation of c.20 minutes | 75.00 |
| Assignment | Verbal presentation of c.10 minutes OR written assignment of 1500-2000 words. | 25.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Options for assessment on this module are offered in order that students may choose the type that best suits their learning style. Students must choose either a short verbal presentation (25%) and longer essay (75%), or a shorter piece of written work (25%) and longer verbal presentation (75%); the chosen options must include both verbal and written assessment, and total 100%. The short written assignment may indicatively include submissions such as: a conference proposal/extended abstract and annotated bibliography; a position paper; a literature review; annotated discography; or self-reflective report. The submission must be agreed with an appropriate member of staff and may either link to or stand apart from the extended conference style presentation. The short verbal presentation may likewise link to or stand apart from the extended written submission. The deadline for the 25% submission may vary on a topic by topic basis, and depending on the number of students opting for each sort of assessment, but is usually around wk 7-9. It should always take place in suitable time for feedback for be provided to students in time for them to draw on it in their 75% submission.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 28/04/2023 14:43:21
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