Music in Popular Culture
4 credits
Studies in the role and function of music in popular culture in New Zealand and the world. (No prior musical knowledge required.)
Popular music is a powerful contemporary phenomenon, but it is also part of a wider picture. Most of the songs we hear have been created within an international, globalised culture industry. They express cultural values and ideologies, and we use these as a way of (re)constructing our own – and others’ – identities. In this paper, we investigate theories of popular culture as they relate to music, analyse the many functions of popular music (including its role in film, television and gaming) and discuss the music industry. This paper explores these topics using a case-study approach.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Develop an understanding and appreciation of music in popular culture
- Gain an understanding of the relevant theories and research methods in field of popular music studies
- Gain an understanding of multiple disciplines that inform studies of popular music
- Develop an understanding of the historical contexts through which popular music is produced and consumed
- Increase self-confidence in the analysis and understanding of music in popular culture
- Develop analytical skills that can be more widely applied throughout their degree programme