Art Music and Postmodernism

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

This subject will focus primarily on art-music written since 1968 and the trends in composition leading up to this watershed period when a widespread compositional shift occurred as significant numbers of composers generally began to question seriously many modernist ideals and techniques. This resulted in the current pluralistic approach to music composition, where such elements occur as the breakdown of barriers between ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture; gender issues; quotation and pastiche; cultural hybrids; and the rise of Neo-movements such as Neo-Tonality, Neo-Romanticism, Neo-Nationalism, Minimalism, and Experimentalism—along with the ‘postmodern backlash’ to be found in such styles as New Complexism. We will also engage with the New Musicology, where postmodern filters are deployed to approach classical and early twentieth-century music.

On completion of this subject students should have developed: an understanding of western art-musical styles since 1968 and their social, cultural and intellectual contexts.

Four short assignments due throughout the semester of 300 words each (5% each); mid-semester written-up class presentation of 1200 words (40%); one take-home examination essay of 1600 words (40%) due during the examination period

A reading pack will be available for purchase from the Bookroom before the commencement of the semester.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On completion of this subject students should have developed:

• a capacity for independent critical thought