Module WXM-2022:
Understanding Popular Music, in Theory, Practice and Culture
Module Facts
Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 1
Organiser: Dr John Cunningham
Overall aims and purpose
Popular music can be dismissed as being too simple for analysis; however, the last four decades or so have witnessed a growing body of scholarly literature offering a range of theories and methodologies. This module aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to analysing various kinds of popular music. Modes of analysis will include lyrics, music, visual representations and cultural context.
Course content
The first part of the module will offer a contextual history of the development of popular music analysis as a sub-discipline of musicology, seeking to explain why popular music should be studied seriously and how thoughts about this have developed especially since the 1980s. The second part of the module will examine different modes of analysis, with reference to case studies, allowing students to become familiar with approaches such as Schenkerian techniques, soundbox, semiotics, lyrical analysis, and deconstruction of visual accompaniments (e.g. music videos). It will also give students a firm understanding of the leading authors in the field and how their approaches differ and interact. The module will require some score reading and an understanding of basic music theory (it is advised that students will have taken WXM 1004, Harmony and Counterpoint, in the first year).
Assessment Criteria
good
Good (B– to B+): Work which displays a good grasp of the subject, with evidence of strong ability at conceptual and critical thinking, expressed engagingly.
threshold
Threshold (D– to D+): Work which displays basic knowledge of the subject, with some limited ability in conceptual and critical thinking, expressed intelligibly.
C- to C+
Fair (C– to C+): Work which displays fair knowledge of the subject, with satisfactory ability at conceptual and critical thinking, expressed understandably.
excellent
Excellent (A– to A*): Work which displays a thorough grasp of the subject, with evidence of depth and originality in conceptual and critical thinking, expressed convincingly.
Learning outcomes
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On completion of this module, the student should be able to demonstrate and apply a detailed knowledge and understanding of specific methodologies / techniques of popular music analysis
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On completion of this module, the student should be able to demonstrate and apply a detailed knowledge and understanding of popular music in culture (current or historical)
-
On completion of this module, the student should be able to apply skills of musical analysis, source-based research, and critical thinking in relation to the music studied
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On completion of this module, the student should be able to communicate ideas about the music studied effectively
Assessment Methods
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | One two-hour lecture each week for eleven weeks. Teaching will take place via a University approved platform such as Teams, and will be supported by online resources etc. Tasks / reading will normally be set as preparation: where teamwork is required it must be done online via a platform such as Teams. Each student will also be allocated a seminar group (one hour, each week), which will be delivered via a University approved platform such as Teams: these sessions are intended to build on the material / concepts outlined in the lectures and allows students to discuss through practical exercises. |
22 |
Seminar | One one-hour seminar each week for eleven weeks. Teaching will take place via a University approved platform such as Teams, and will be supported by online resources etc. Tasks / reading will normally be set as preparation: where teamwork is required it must be done online via a platform such as Teams. Each student will also be allocated a seminar group (one hour, each week), which will be delivered via a University approved platform such as Teams: these sessions are intended to build on the material / concepts outlined in the lectures and allows students to discuss through practical exercises. |
11 |
One-to-one supervision | Individual tutorial to discuss the presentation assessment. Each student is encouraged to book up to two tutorials (via Teams or other online platform) to discuss the assessments and how to approach them. Depending on student numbers, slots will be allocated typically in Weeks 8–12. Tutorials may be individual or in groups of up to three. Ahead of the tutorials you are expected to prepare a plan of how you are intending to approach the work. |
1 |
One-to-one supervision | Individual tutorial to discuss the essay assessment. Each student is encouraged to book up to two tutorials (via Teams or other online platform) to discuss the assessments and how to approach them. Depending on student numbers, slots will be allocated typically in Weeks 8–12. Tutorials may be individual or in groups of up to three. Ahead of the tutorials you are expected to prepare a plan of how you are intending to approach the work. |
1 |
Private study | Including assignment preparation and preparation for classes (students will be expected to read / listen to texts ahead of lectures and / or seminars). |
166 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
- Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
Resources
Resource implications for students
none
Talis Reading list
http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/wxm-2022.htmlReading list
To be provided
Courses including this module
Optional in courses:
- W3P3: BA Astudiaethau'r Cyfr & Cherdd year 2 (BA/ACC)
- WW93: BA Creative Studies and Music year 2 (BA/CSTMUS)
- 32N6: BA English Literature and Music year 2 (BA/ELM)
- 32N7: BA English Literature & Music with International Experience year 2 (BA/ELMIE)
- VW23: BA Hanes Cymru a Cherddoriaeth year 2 (BA/HCAC)
- VW13: BA History and Music year 2 (BA/HMU)
- VW14: BA History and Music with International Experience year 2 (BA/HMUIE)
- WW39: BA Music and Creative Writing with International Experience year 2 (BA/MCWIE)
- W3H6: BA Music and Electronic Engineering year 2 (BA/MEE)
- WV33: Music & Hist & Welsh Hist (IE) year 2 (BA/MHIE)
- W303: BA Music (with International Experience) year 2 (BA/MIE)
- PW33: BA Media Studies and Music year 2 (BA/MSMUS)
- RW13: BA Music/French year 2 (BA/MUFR)
- WR32: BA Music/German year 2 (BA/MUGE)
- WR33: BA Music/Italian year 2 (BA/MUIT)
- W300: BA Music year 2 (BA/MUS)
- WW38: BA Music and Creative Writing year 2 (BA/MUSCW)
- W30F: BA Music [with Foundation Year] year 2 (BA/MUSF)
- WW36: BA Music and Film Studies year 2 (BA/MUSFS)
- W3R8: BA Music and Modern Languages year 2 (BA/MUSML)
- WR34: BA Music/Spanish year 2 (BA/MUSP)
- W3W4: BA Music with Theatre & Performance year 2 (BA/MUSTP)
- VVW3: BA Philosophy and Religion and Music year 2 (BA/PRM)
- VW2H: BA Welsh History and Music year 2 (BA/WHMU)
- QW53: BA Cymraeg/Music year 2 (BA/WMU)
- W304: BMus Music (with International Experience) year 2 (BMUS/MIE)
- W302: BMUS Music year 2 (BMUS/MUS)
- W32F: BMus Music [with Foundation Year] year 2 (BMUS/MUSF)
- H6W3: BSc Electronic Engineering and Music year 2 (BSC/EEM)