MUS4311 ¨C Music and Cultural Studies

Course content

The course provides an introduction to the intellectual history and key concepts in the analysis of relationships between music and culture. The point of departure is not the study of any particular genre, but on music as a cultural and social phenomenon, based on approaches developed in cultural studies, music sociology, popular music studies, sound studies, music anthropology, and ethnomusicology. Special attention is given to the significance of music in society, and in relation to central concepts such as identity, historiography, globalization, nationalism, multiculturalism, ethnicity, social structures, institutions, cultural policy, and cultural fields (theories of relevance to popular music, jazz, world music, as well as to the classical music field).

Learning outcome

By the end of the course, you will

• have basic skills in relation to music and cultural analysis
• understand central concepts applied in cultural studies, music sociology, popular music studies, and music anthropology
• have knowledge of cultural theory and its relation to understanding the significance of music in different cultures
• have the ability to apply cultural theory as a foundation for the student¡¯s own masters thesis and essay writing, and for studying music in cultural settings
• have the ability to reflect independently and critically, and to understand recent theoretical developments in music and culture analysis

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester?register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

Teaching

• 8 double hours of lectures
• a 4-hour seminar. You will be assigned to a group during teaching.

Obligatory activities

• Participation in the seminar
• First draft of the term paper

Information about the assignments and the deadlines will be given during the teaching and in Canvas. You have to hand in the assignments within the deadlines, and you are responsible for familiarising yourself with the requirements for the compulsory activities.

The compulsory activity is only valid within the current semester. All compulsory activities must be approved in order for you to sit the exam. You are responsible for keeping track of any absences, and for checking that you have everything approved.

This is how you apply for a valid absence from compulsory activity/compulsory attendance.

Examination

• Term paper (10 pages, each containing approx. 2.300 characters, spaces not included). The topic will be set by the course tutor.

Language of examination

You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.