This course critically examines the relationships between:
(i) The sounds and cultures of recorded popular music
(ii) The formats in which media industries and musicians have produced and distributed music e.g. the shellac and vinyl record, radio, cassette, CD, MP3 and streaming platform
(iii) The ways in which people have listened to recorded music using playback technologies such as the phonograph, sound system, boombox, Walkman, iPod and mobile phone
We consider these music media in their contexts in everyday life and debates about aesthetics, material cultures, political economy and sustainability.
The course addresses interdisciplinary scholarship on popular music and recorded sound, with an emphasis on critical and theoretical approaches in media studies, communication, sound studies and cultural studies.
The assessment consists entirely of coursework, and involves quizzes on 2-3 scholarly articles each week, critical reflection and independent research. Students are expected to attend a weekly 2-hour lecture and participate in a weekly 1-hour tutorial.