MUS-20066 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

Why do films have music? How does music help a film to tell its story? Do we actually hear film music? Does music make perceivers more receptive to ideological content in film?
This module will explore such questions, while enabling students:
- to acquire an understanding of the uses and history of music in the narrative film (and, by extension, in other screen media such as television).
- to develop the ability to analyse instances of film/screen music, and to critique its narrative and ideological purposes
- to learn a basic vocabulary of music analytical tools
- to gain a basic understanding of narrative theory, and
- to develop analytical and other scholarly skills through written assignments, classroom contributions and independent research.
The first half of the module will proceed by building up a theoretical base for understanding and analysing filmic narrativity and, crucially, the place of music within the filmic discourse; the second half of the module will then progress through a series of case studies.
Example case studies:
The `Classical¿ Hollywood score: Casablanca
Monothematic scoring: Breakfast at Tiffany's
Pop scoring and compilation soundtracks: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Compilation scoring: The Shining
Corporate classicism: Inception
A basic knowledge of music theory and some practical musical ability may be advantageous to students taking this module, but is not necessary.
Narrative Film Music; by Claudia Gorbman, Yale French Studies , No. 60, Cinema/Sound (1980), pp. 183-203. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2930011
and
Kathryn Kalinak; Film Music: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2010).

For students to acquire an understanding of the uses and history of music in the narrative film (and other screen media such as television), and to develop the ability to analyse instances of film/screen music, and to critique its narrative and ideological purposes.

Intended Learning Outcomes

analyze the functions of film/screen music and describe in detail the musical parameters being manipulated to perform those functions: 1,2
define and exemplify key concepts in film music theory: 1,2
critique the ideological purposes of film/screen music, illustrating arguments with reference to music, film and cultural theory: 1,2

Study hours

11 hours lectures
11 hours seminars
48 hours lecture and seminar preparation
80 hours work on assignments

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment