Popular music studies

In this module you will examine key movements in popular music of the last 50 years including beat music, progressive rock, glam rock, punk rock, heavy metal, shock rock, alternative rock, Britpop, and 'manufactured' bands.

A number of interrelated themes are covered in the course of the module including the rise of the 'concept album', crossover between the classical and popular domains, issues of gender and sexuality, reception and the manipulation of the media, music videos and promo clips, and the perceived antithesis between authenticity and commercialism.

In tandem, we explore the myriad ways in which popular repertories may be approached within academic contexts.