MUS2131 ¨C Funky Rhythms & Broken Beats: Analysing Groove and Sound

Course content

You will learn about rhythm and sound in central groove-based musical traditions with a focus on funk, hip-hop, and electronic popular music. Attention will also be given to the genres¡¯ history and cultural background.

You will be introduced to various methods for analyzing and interpreting groove and sound. Specific attention will be given to aspects such as microrhythm, counterrhythm and syncopation, and technological parameters like processing effects, glitches, and sampling. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on interpreting the music in light of its cultural and historical context.

Learning outcome

Having completed the course, you will:

• have knowledge about core aesthetic, historical and cultural aspects of groove-based music.
• be able to analyze and interpret groove and sound, including rhythmic and technological aspects.?
• have a better understanding of relationships between musical texts and contexts.
• have a better understanding of why music analysis and interpretation matters.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Teaching

• 12 double sessions of lectures and seminars

Compulsory activities:

• Compulsory attendance to 9 of 12 lectures/seminars.
• Qualification assessment: Submission of an essay draft which must include: an abstract; a detailed plan outlining the main arguments and materials used in each section; an annotated bibliography.

Information about the assignments and the deadlines will be given during the teaching and in Canvas. You have to hand in the assignments within the deadlines, and you are responsible for familiarising yourself with the requirements for the compulsory activities.

The compulsory activity is only valid within the current semester. All compulsory activities must be approved in order for you to sit the exam. You are responsible for keeping track of any absences, and for checking that you have everything approved

This is how you apply for a valid absence from compulsory activity/compulsory attendance.

Examination

• Term paper (10 pages, each containing approx. 2,300 characters, spaces not included).

You have to fulfill the requirements of the compulsory activities to sit the exam.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.