The impact of popular music transcends its origins in composition, recorded artefact and concert performance. Popular music and politics are inextricably linked. In just a few decades, popular music has formed new cultural spaces, influenced politics and policy and empowered minority groups. Drawing upon extensive examples covered in the interdisciplinary field of popular music studies, this course explores how and why popular music is one of the most widespread, meaningful, and influential cultural phenomena in the world today. This course examines the political significance of popular music through a variety of cultural and contextual lens, such as aesthetics, textual analysis, race, gender, sexuality and materiality. Case study examples taken from broad genre spectra will illuminate and problematise the social impact of popular music and its relationships to global challenges.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand key events in popular music culture;
- interpret and problematise the interrelationships between popular music, culture and politics from several theoretical perspectives in popular music studies;
- critically analyse and situate popular music in its cultural context; and
- demonstrate research communication skills on the culture and politics of popular music.
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
Students will complete an independent research project as part of this course
Indicative Assessment
- Reflective Journals - totaling 1,500 words (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Group Research Presentation - 10min (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Research Essay (2,000 words) (40) [LO 1,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Prescribed texts will be provided via the Wattle class page.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2451 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |