Course Title: Music in Popular Culture

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Music in Popular Culture

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM1081

City Campus

Undergraduate

335H Applied Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009

COMM1081

City Campus

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Kat Nelligan

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1712

Course Coordinator Email: kat.nelligan2@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 9, Level 4

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course examines the role, significance and influence of music in popular culture. You will engage with contemporary issues, historical events and key genres in music.You will also consider how music and musicians are represented within diverse cultural forms, such as television, the media, and online. In addition to providing a broad interdisciplinary perspective, the course encourages you to reflect on music as a popular cultural phenomenon, and to reimagine the role and possibilities of music in everyday life.
 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes: 

  • Employ a body of theoretical knowledge and skills to respond to the multi-skilled nature of the changing music industry
  • Analyse and evaluate music practices and theories in local, national and global communities and industry contexts
  • Identify, evaluate and critically analyse cultural, historical and theoretical practices which contextualise your professional practice and further study 


Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  1. Identify and interpret key historical events and genres in relation to music in popular culture.
  2. Describe a variety of theoretical perspectives and use these to identify and critique the relationship between music, society and popular culture.
  3. Evaluate the role, significance and influence of music within its cultural context.
  4. Examine issues in popular music studies and how these are addressed by theorists and practitioners.


 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities which may include project work, lectures, tutorials, class discussion, individual and group activities.
 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

There are services and resources available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student website. 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment may include written and oral reports, reflective papers, creative projects and presentations, individually and in groups.

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

Assignment 1: 2 x online quizzes (20%), Individual learning outcomes 1, 2

Assignment 2: Vlog (40%), Individual learning outcomes 1,2,3

Assignment 3: Written piece (40%), Individual learning outcomes 1,2, 3, 4

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.