MUS2004 – Music and identity
Course content
The course will deal with critical musicology and its relationship to cultural studies, sociology, gender and identity, postmodernism, queer studies, postructuralist theory and philosophy. Analytical emphasis will be placed on the connection between musical expression and performance through an overarching of various genres, which include opera, music theatre, MTV pop videos, film and live concerts. The discussions entered into will also examine the relation between music’s function and the erotic nature of gender and racial identity.
Learning outcome
You will learn how to develop a critical approach to analytical and theoretical thought that surrounds music within a western popular and classical context. Emphasis will be placed on the development of competence in the application of analytical models to various musical genres and the respective debates that deal with gender and race. In addition, you will learn how to apply a musicological discourse in relation to the body and its different connotations.
Admission
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.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Eligibility to the course is dependent on successful completion of the following modules:
- MUS1120 – Utøvende 1 (instrumental- og vokalundervisining) (discontinued) (Practical Studies 1 - instrumental and vocal instruction)
- MUS1220 – Musikkteori 1A (discontinued) (Music Theory 1A)
- MUS1230 – Musikkteori 1B (discontinued) (Music Theory 1B)
- MUS1300 – Verdensmusikk (discontinued) (World Music)
- MUS1410 – Vestlig kunstmusikk (discontinued) (Western Art Music)
- MUS1420 – Vestlig kunst- og folkemusikk (discontinued) (Western art and folk music)
- MUS1500 – Jazz, pop and rock (discontinued) (Jazz, rock and pop)
in addition to two of the following courses:
- MUS1150 – Utøvende 2 (instrumental- og vokalundervisning) (discontinued) (Practical Studies 2, instrumental and vocal instruction)
- MUS1251 – Satslære (discontinued) (Harmony and Counterpoint)
- MUS1252 – Hørelære 2 (discontinued) (Aural Training)
- MUS1253 – Music Production (discontinued)(Music production).
Teaching
The course runs through the entire semester and consists of 8 double hour lectures and 12 hours of seminars where every student is expected to provide a presentation based on material related to the course. Approval of this presentation is dependent on access to the exam which consists of a written assignment. The lectures and seminars are jointly presnted for MUS2004 and MUS4004, although bachelor students have a smaller reading list.
Examination
Written assignment of about 10 pages (2300 characters per page, spaces excluded) to be delivered by a given deadline at the end of the semester. The topic and title is decided by the student in consultation with the course tutor. The normal grade system of the university is used in the evaluation.
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.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.