Essay 70% 3,000 words [Learning Outcomes 1 and 3]

Presentation 30% including individual 1000 word report [Learning Outcomes 2 and 4]

This module explores the historical development of popular music predominantly in America and the UK. It aims to provide students with an in depth survey of popular music in all its forms over the last and current century, touch on structural aspects of the music industry and examine the impact of technological changes both on the industry and the musical form. These issues will be considered in relation to the geographical, historical, social and cultural root and routes of pop music. The course provides a comprehensive theoretical examination of the study of popular music both in terms of its production and consumption as a cultural form. Issues of identity and politics will inform the latter part of the module where students will be encouraged to draw on their own expectations of pop music to contribute to discussion.

The module will follow a tightly structured format of a weekly workshop (2 hours per week) with tutor directed activities and discussion followed by student directed presentations towards the end of the module. Sometimes the activity will be in the form of a lecture/ seminar format.
Activities may include: screenings, lectures, discussion, visiting speakers, quizzes, audio presentations, interactive multi-media activities.

Library
E resources
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Brabazon Tara: Popular Music: Topics, Trends and Trajectories
Broven John: Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneers
James Martin: Poplar Music Journalism
Lynskey Dorian: 33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs. Britpop and the English Music Tradition edited by Andy Bennett and Jon Stratton
Machin David: Analysing Popular Music: Image, Sound, Text
Miller Janice: Fashion and Music
Passman Donald S: All You Need to Know about the Music Industry
Rojek Chris: Pop Music, Pop Culture
Stanley Bob: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop
Street John: Music and Politics
Wall Tim: Studying Popular Music Culture
Watson Allan: Cultural Production in and beyond the Recording Studio. Sounds and the City; Popular Music, Place and Globalisation edited by Brett Lashua

1. DEMONSTRATE A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF POPULAR MUSIC AND ITS HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ROOTS. [Knowledge & Understanding]

2. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE POPULAR MUSIC FORM IN TERMS OF AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: TEXT, GENRE, SOUND OR VISION. [Enquiry]

3. ANALYSE AND REFLECT ON CHANGE IN THE POPULAR MUSIC INDUSTRY AND THE FACTORS AFFECTING THIS. [Analysis]

4. COMMUNICATE YOUR CONCLUSIONS APPROPRIATELY AND EFFECTIVELY TO AN AUDIENCE. [Communication]