Units / ATS3824
ATS3824 · Popular music and society
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 3Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
Highlighting the nexus between performers, audiences and the global music industry, this unit investigates the complex relationship between popular music and society, and the ways in which the two are inextricably linked. Possible topics explored in the unit may include popular music and gender, genre, globalisation, performance analysis, reception and 'world music'. In addition, you will develop research skills by undertaking an ethnographic project.
Areas of study: Composition and music technology Ethnomusicology and musicology Communications and media studies Music Music performance
Offerings
The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online Quiz | Quiz / Test | 30% | — |
| 2 | Plan for Ethnomusicology Assessment | Written | 10% | — |
| 3 | Ethnomusicology Assessment | Written | 40% | — |
| 4 | Take-home Test | Written | 20% | — |
Within semester assessment: 100%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate research skills by conducting an ethnographic project.
- Understand how selected scholars theorise and approach the relationship between popular music and society.
Workload
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 12 hours |
| Tutorials | 24 hours |
Ask about ATS3824
Answered from the Handbook fields above — no AI, no guessing. Every answer links back to the source.
Community discussions about ATS3824
CommunityStudent experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.