ANTHRO 301 : Contemporary Research in Music and Culture

Arts

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A seminar-style course covering a range of current topics and methods in ethnomusicology. Examines selected theories, methods, and perspectives on the roles and meanings of musical activity in contemporary human culture. We will view music as a symbolic component of cultural expression and as both focus and paradigm for cultural structures and behaviours.

Course Overview

This course intends to enhance students’ critical thinking, expression, reading and writing which are some of the most important skills that students need to develop during their university education. By engaging with and evaluating contemporary literature in ethnomusicology, students are guided to accomplish the three major goals:
  1. Acquiring new knowledge and insights
  2. Internalising those insights and making that knowledge their own
  3. Communicating their new understanding to others.

At the conclusion of this course, students will become familiar with a variety of issues, theories and methodologies in the field of ethnomusicology, and be able to apply them to the study of music from social science perspectives.  

This course is highly recommended for students in ethnomusicology and musicology as well as for those who would likely pursue postgraduate studies in music, sociology, media and anthropology.

ANTHRO 301 is structured as a 2-hour seminar course proceeded by the course convenor and students’ discussion and presentation on weekly readings, topics, assignments and final projects.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ANTHRO 202 or 30 points at Stage II in Transnational Cultures and Creative Practice Restriction: ANTHRO 219

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Acquire new knowledge and insights around Ethnomusicological debates and applications (Capability 1 and 3)
  2. Communicate and explain your understandings of various music styles and genre in light of social theory and Ethnomusicological frameworks (Capability 3 and 4)
  3. Critically evaluate Ethnomusicological practice and application (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Apply social theory to your own musical examples and experiences (Capability 1, 3 and 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Discussions 10% Group & Individual Coursework
Reports 40% Individual Coursework
Presentation 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 10% Individual Coursework
Proposal 10% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course we expect weekly: 3 hours of "class" (consisting of lectures, seminars, discussion, and/or presentations); and 7 hours of reading, thinking about the content and/or coursework

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities and meetings to complete components of the course.
Seminars will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including student presentations will not be available as recordings.
The course include live events including group discussions and presentations.
Attendance on campus is required for the  final project presentation.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2024.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Based on feedback from students, this course will change and update seminar contents and reading assignments. 

Other Information

This is mostly a seminar style course with lots of interactions and presentations from students expected. Previous engagement with Ethnomusicology is not required. This course is ideal as preparation for graduate study in the Social Sciences or Music. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 05/11/2023 06:08 p.m.