MUS2605 – Popular Music Studies

Course content

This course gives a thorough introduction to central questions and topics in popular music research. There will be an emphasis on cultural theory, approaches to music analysis, gender and identity theory, aspects of groove, sound, and production, as well as general perspectives on the study of popular music.

Learning outcome

On completion of the course, students will:

• be familiar with central questions and terminology in popular music research
• be acquainted with different analytical approaches to popular music
• be able to apply analytical models across styles and genres
• be acquainted with different approaches to popular music in cultural theory
• have improved their skills in making written and oral presentations
• have been trained in developing research questions and using them as a basis for written texts
• be able to relate the course literature to relevant research traditions

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.

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

Teaching

• 10 double lessons of lectures and seminars

Compulsory activities

• A preliminary draft of your 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.

Approval of the compulsory draft of the term paper is only valid for 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

  The term paper should consist of 10 pages. One standard page is approximately?2300?characters?without?spaces, including?references.?

You have to fulfill the requirements of the compulsory activities to sit the exam.

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
• How to use AI as a student
• 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.