Students
MUS 204 – Music at the Limits: Experimentation and Innovation
2017 – S2 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Mary Mainsbridge
Contact via Email
By appointment
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| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
15cp at 100 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit addresses experimentation and innovation in the context of popular music. It examines key movements, innovations, and major ideas that have shaped, and continue to shape, the evolution of musical forms and practices. The unit addresses musical hybridity and innovative approaches to songwriting and record production. A broad range of music is examined and discussed; including psychedelic music, punk/post-punk, ambient, mash-up, minimal techno and electronics, glitch and noise, post-rock and post-classical music. Students will gain a current and historical overview of the dynamic pattern of innovative ideas in music across writing, performance and production and the way in which underground music scenes have influenced the mainstream.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
General Assessment Information
Assessment submissions:
All written assignment submissions are to be made via Turnitin. Creative works are to be uploaded to a streaming service (eg SoundCloud) with a working link provided in the documentation submitted via Turnitin. URLs (web links) for recorded media works must be tested and confirmed to be working prior to asssignment submission.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal | 20% | Yes | Week 4, 25 August 2017 |
| Concept Essay | 40% | No | Week 8, 6 October 2017 |
| Creative/Analysis Task | 40% | No | Week 13, 10 November 2017 |
Proposal
Due: Week 4, 25 August 2017
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Students will submit a proposal for the final Creative/Analysis Task assessment (due in Week 13). The proposal will be a maximum of 500 words plus bibliography.
Students pursuing the Creative Task option for the final assessment need to include an outline of their proposed project, a summary of the key ideas and techniques that will be explored through the musical work; equipment requirements and a project timeline.
Assessment criteria:
- Capacity to analyse and identify key stylistic features of a model musical work or genre
- Capacity to scope a minor creative project that deploys these stylistic features
- Capacity to conceive and design a feasible project within a given resource context and timeframe
- Clarity of written proposal
Students undertaking the Analytical Task for the final assessment should clearly describe the musical work/event to be examined and outline the type of analytical approach that will be adopted. The proposal should map out key points to be raised in the analysis and a proposed structure for arranging these ideas.
Assessment criteria:
- Appropriate reading and research, including both recommended readings and peer reviewed independent sources within the discipline
- Ability to locate a musical work in a broader cultural and historical context
- Identification of appropriate musical features and practices to discuss in the analysis
- Clarity of written expression
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Concept Essay
Due: Week 8, 6 October 2017
Weighting: 40%
Students will write an essay of 2,000 words based on a topic chosen from a list of options provided by the lecturer. The essay topics will draw on unit content and require students to explore concepts of experimentation in contemporary music. The essay will require students to demonstrate their understanding for the way particular music practitioners stretched the boundaries of conventional music practice. The essay is to be submitted via the Turnitin link on the unit's iLearn site.
Assessment Criteria:
1. Capacity to coherently and comprehensively deal with the chosen topic.
2. Capacity to locate appropriate sources used and correctly reference materials.
3. Capacity to synthesise information from a number of different sources.
4. Capacity to write coherently in an appropriate academic style.
5. Demonstrate learning associated with the unit content.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
- demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
Creative/Analysis Task
Due: Week 13, 10 November 2017
Weighting: 40%
There are two options for this assignment. The first is more creatively oriented while the second is more analytically oriented. Choose either Option 1 OR Option 2.
Option 1: Creative Task
Create a musical work that uses ideas examined in this unit. The work may be a song, instrumental composition or soundscape. The length of the musical work will depend on your individual project, but as a guideline will be between 3 and 4 minutes. The work is to be uploaded to a music streaming service such as Soundcloud. The work is to be accompanied by a written reflection of 1,000 words containing the online link to the musical work, submitted to Turnitin.
Option 1 Assessment Criteria
1. Capacity to extract, via analysis, the essential stylistic elements of a model musical work.
2. Capacity to develop a new work that deploys the stylistic elements in musically successful ways.
3. Capacity to articulate a clear creative rationale for the work in written form.
4. Successful delivery of the final work to an online music streaming/download service.
Option 2: Analytical Task
Choose a musical work/event by a recognised musical artist and analyse the musical sounds within it. The 2,000 word analysis should begin with a detailed description of the sounds as well as the 'form' of the work. Thereafter, the analysis should explore the historical, technological, and/or social factors that influenced the creation of the work/event. The analysis is to be submitted through Turnitin.
Option 2 Assessment Criteria
1. Capacity to recognise, interpret and articulate the formal and structural aspects of a musical work.
2. Capacity to situate a work in a field of practice and discuss its significance and impact.
3. Capacity to locate appropriate sources and correctly reference materials.
4. Capacity to synthesise information from a number of different sources.
5. Capacity to write coherently in an appropriate academic style.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
- demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Delivery and Resources
Delivery: Day and online.
There is one lecture (face to face and online) and one 1-hour tutorial (face to face) per week. Tutorials start in Week 2.
Attendance is mandatory. As some tutorials include practical activities that apply key concepts explored in the unit, attendance at tutorials will be recorded weekly. Students missing tutorials without submitting a Disruption to Studies application will automatically have marks deducted from their final assessment mark.
(Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html )
Late Submissions
Tasks 10% or less. No extensions will be granted. Students who have not submitted the task prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for Disruption to Studies is made and approved.
Tasks above 10%. Students without an extension will receive a penalty of 10% per day. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Disruption of Studies is made and approved.
Recommended Readings
Bennett, A. and Peterson, R.A (eds.) (2004) Music Scenes: Local, Trans-Local and Virtual, Nashville, TN: Vanderbuilt University Press
Brend, M. (2012) The sound of tomorrow: how electronic music was smuggled into the mainstream, New York: Bloomsbury
Gendron, B. (2002) Between Montmartre and the Mudd Club: Popular Music and the Avant-Garde, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Gunderson, P. (2004). Danger Mouse's Grey Album, Mash-Ups, and the Age of Composition, Postmodern Culture, Issue 15, No.1
Hegarty, P. (2007) Noise/Music: A History, New York: Continuum International Publishing Group.
Kelly, C (2009) Cracked media: the sound of malfunction. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press
Knowles, J. (2008) Liminal Electronic Musics: Post-Punk Experimentation in Australia in the 1970s-80s, Sound: Space. Proceedings of the Australian Computer Music Conference 2008, pp.37-45
Masters, M. (2007) No Wave. London: Black Dog Publishing.
Moore T. and Coley, B. (2008) No Wave: Post-Punk and Underground. New York 1976-1980
Nobakht, D. (2005) Suicide: No Compromise. London: SAF Publishing
Osborn, B. (2013) Subverting the Verse-Chorus Paradigm: Terminally Climactic Forms in Recent Rock Music, Music Theory Spectrum, Vol. 25, No. 1 (Spring), pp. 23-47
Sherburne, P. (2001) 12k: between two points, Organised Sound, Vol. 6/3, pp. 171-176
Spencer, A. (2005) DIY: the rise of lo-fi culture. London: Marion Boyers.
Szepanski, A (2001) A mille plateaux manifesto, Organised Sound, Vol. 6/3, pp. 225-228
Tamm, E. (1995) Brian Eno: His Music and the Vertical Colour of Sound, Boston: Da Capo Press
Walser, R. (1997) Eruptions: Heavy Metal Appropriations of Classical Virtuosity, in Gelder, K (ed.) The Subcultures Reader, London: Routledge
Links to required weekly readings will be available online via the unit's iLearn site. Suggested readings for further research will be discussed in lectures. Full reading lists will be provided on iLearn.
Listening
Curated playlists of relevant musical works will be supplied and students should listen to these in preparation for each lecture/tutorial. These will be made available via the music streaming service Spotify (http://www.spotify.com). Students can sign up for a free account and subscribe to the MUS204 series of thematic playlists published from the account 'Julian Knowles'. Students are also encouraged to share links to related audio-visual materials through the group forum on the unit's iLearn site group forum or during tutorials.
Unit Schedule
Weekly topics:
Traditions of musical experimentation and concepts of the avant-garde
Art into Pop: 60s psychedelic music and pop/art cross-overs
No Wave and post-punk experimentation
Ambient music and field recording
Plunderphonics, cut-up and mash-up
Post-rock and math rock – new instrumentalism
Post-classical and alt. classical music
Playback media and turntablism
Minimalism – from repetition and drones, to minimal techno
Noise, lo-fi and tape
The extended guitar
Glitch and post digital
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Additional information
MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914
Information is correct at the time of publication
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
Creative and Innovative
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Proposal
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Proposal
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Proposal
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Proposal
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an historical knowledge of the seminal moments in contemporary music practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Proposal
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task
Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding for the way changes in musical practice reflect broader changes within society.
- Analyse the way technological developments affect musical practice.
- Create musical works that draw on historical models within contemporary music.
Assessment tasks
- Concept Essay
- Creative/Analysis Task