Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Postsocialist Music and Ethnography
School	Lan, Cult, Art Hist & Music
Department	Music
Module Code	10 31925
Module Lead	Alexander Cannon
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Seminar-20 hours Tutorial-2 hours Project supervision-2 hours Guided independent study-176 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	Since the fall of the Soviet Union, global socialism has adapted to new economic and political circumstances to survive. With these changes, nation-states have revised, reversed, and augmented cultural heritage preservation policies to pursue new goals of nation-building. This module explores several socialist and post-socialist contexts attempting to implement newly-crafted policy. Students in the module trace preservation practices during so-called high socialism, which often involved the creation of large folk music ensembles, to late- and post-socialism, which features strategical policy alliances with international organizations (including UNESCO) and tourism drives to bring funds to the state and its people. Students read several recent music ethnographies on Russia, China, Bulgaria, Cuba, Vietnam and elsewhere, as well as theoretical literature on the nature of post-socialist endeavour.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the socialist to postsocialist transition and the impact of this transition on cultural practice in a range of contexts Critically evaluate a wide range of ethnographic approaches to music. Identify and critically evaluate a wide range of ethnographic approaches to music. Apply appropriate analytical methods to a broad range of music and its contexts. Work confidently with cultural policy documents as they relate to cultural production.
Assessment	31925-01 : Fortnightly responses : Coursework (20%) 31925-02 : Designing a Festival Project : Coursework (30%) 31925-03 : Final Project : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Designing a Festival' Project (equivalent to a 1500-word essay) (40%) Final Project (2500-word essay) (60%) Reassessment: Re-submission of failed component.
Other
Reading List