This courses introduce students to, and enhance their critical understanding of, the politics of Popular Music at postgraduate level.

11 x 3-hour, weekly classes taught using a combination of lectures and seminars

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1 Oral presentation of up to 10 minutes (20%).

1 Essay of 3,500 to 4,000 words (80%).

This course aims to overall aim of this course is to :

■ introduce students, and develop students' critical understanding of, the politics of Popular Music

■ Introduce and theorise the notion of politics

■ Introduce and theorise the relationship between the state and Popular Music

■ Critically examine the development of Popular Music policies, especially within the UK

■ Critically examine the interaction between social movements and Popular Music

■ Critically evaluate the roles which gender and sexuality play in the production and consumption of Popular Music

■ Examine the limitations to freedom of expression in Popular Music

■ Develop students' skills (including verbal and written) in the presentation of ideas relating to the Politics of Popular Music

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically evaluate the politics of Popular Music in a range of contexts

■ Critique a number of key academic and other texts relating in

■ Critically evaluate key concepts such as politics, gender, policy and censorship

■ Engage critically with academic texts germane to the area of study

■ Reflect critically upon their own musical tastes

■ Present orally and in writing the key debates germane to the area of study

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.