Area Studies in Ethnomusicology (MUSI20218)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Not available in 2025

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Overview

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This subject surveys traditional, art, and popular music-making in one major ethnographic region. Students learn how local musicians and listeners discuss, make, and assign value to different musical styles, while also exploring how these styles influence local society.

Subject themes such as the relationship of music to gender, race, social class, and age, as well as the impact of globalisation, colonialism, technology, and / or capitalism on music-making in the region may be considered. The subject is especially designed for students considering honours or graduate research in music, as well as students in anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies. 

The specific region may be the following “The Middle East,” “Latin America,” “The African Diaspora,” “Oceania,” “Eastern Europe and Eurasia,” “East Asia,” “Southeast Asia,” “The Balkans,” etc., as announced in advance.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • use local specialised vocabulary for describing the fundamentals of music-making in specific cultural contexts;
  • articulate how political, economic, and cultural contexts shape music-making in one major area;
  • identify major approaches and research questions pertinent to music, culture, and identity in one major area.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should have:

  • a capacity for independent critical thought about music outside the Western art and commercial music traditions;
  • an openness to new ideas about music;
  • knowledge and skills which provide a basis for independent critical inquiry and research‐based writing about music;
  • an informed understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Two online quizzes

Week 420%

An essay proposal of 400 words (excluding bibliography and discography)

Week 610%

A one‐hour listening exam

Week 1230%

An essay of 1500 words (excluding bibliography and discography)

During the examination period40%

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

Not available in 2025

Additional delivery details

In Semester 1/2019, Area Studies in Ethnomusicology will examine Music in Asia. Students will consider music-making in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Asian diaspora.


Parkville Semester 1 On-Campus Delivery Information

This subject is delivered in person at the Southbank campus and lectures will be live streamed to Parkville. Students enrolled in the Parkville campus availability can attend at Parkville.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 4 March 2025