Rainforest Societies and their Music

Subject MUSI40018 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2015.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: One 2-hour seminar per week
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: 740-052/740-053/740-054 Musics of the World or permission of the coordinator.
Corequisites: N/A
Recommended Background Knowledge: N/A
Non Allowed Subjects: N/A
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Contact

VCA and Music Student Centre
234 St Kilda Rd, Southbank

Tel: +61 3 9685 9322
Fax: +61 3 9685 9358
Web: www.vcam.unimelb.edu.au/contact_us.html

School of Music - Parkville
Conservatorium Building

Tel: +61 3 8344 5256
Fax: +61 3 8344 5346
Email via: http://music-unimelb.custhelp.com
Web: www.bmus.unimelb.edu.au and www.music.unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

Students in this subject will gain understanding of how groups of people organise themselves and their sonic communications in a specific acoustic environment. This subject is based on the seminal musical ethnographies of Colin Turnbull (on the Mbuti of central Africa); Anthony Seeger (on the Suy¡ of Amazonian Brazil); Marina Roseman (on the Temiar of Malaysia); and Steven Feld (on the Kaluli of central highland New Guinea).

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • make critical, informed and sophisticated responses to new ideas, methodologies and theoretical frameworks in the study of music;

  • integrate a reflective knowledge and an informed understanding of cross-cultural and intercultural concepts and behaviours in musical production from different times and places into their professional and intellectual lives;

  • conduct independent ethnographic and secondary research in ethno­musicology;

  • make intelligent response to aural sources; and

  • write in a scholarly manner appropriate to the discipline.
Learning Outcomes: Information not available
Assessment:

Essay of 2000 words due at the end of semester (50%); a cumulative assignment of 2000 words due for review mid-semester and final submission at the end of semester (50%).
Prescribed Texts: A reading pack will be available for purchase from the University bookroom before the start of semester.
Recommended Texts:

Breadth Options:

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

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.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Information Not Available

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