Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- analyze and describe music genres, dance styles, and subcultures that have influenced the electronic dance music culture
- discuss how technological innovations, formats, socio-political changes, and contradictions in political economy have interacted with the development of dance music and club culture
- construct and perform a creatively designed presentation, such as a DJ mix or music production, that demonstrates an understanding of the musical and cultural elements covered in the course, including themes in production and composition.
Course Content
The course delves into the history of electronic dance music, with a specific focus on three pivotal music genres that have transitioned from underground subcultures to establishing themselves within the official nightlife scene: disco, house, and jungle. Through hands-on DJing and crate digging, discussions revolve around media formats, consumption patterns, DJ technology, socio-political perspectives, and the consequences of digitalization. The course analyzes the original contexts, reception, reinterpretation, and waves of nostalgia surrounding these various transnational genres.
Assessment
Module 1 and 2 will be examined through an analytical text with literary support.
Module 3 will be examined through a creative submission assignment and seminar presentation. Students will build crates and DJ sets, as well as perform and record a live DJ mix that illustrates a historical perspective on a music style/scene.
Grades
The grading scale used for the final course grade is U–VG.
A prerequisite for the grade VG is that the assessed assignments are submitted within the prescribed time frame, and VG on 5 hp (two modules)
Grades are reported as follows:
- Dance music history - 2.5 Credits | U–VG
- Political economy - 2.5 Credits | U–VG
- Crate digging and DJ-mix - 2.5 Credits | U–VG
Prerequisites
- General entry requirements
Other Information
This course cannot be counted towards the same degree along with courses that have equivalent content.
If the student has received a decision/recommendation granting study support from Dalarna University because of a disability, then the examiner has the right to offer an alternative examination arrangement. The examiner takes into account the objectives in the course syllabus when deciding whether the examination can be adapted in accordance with the decision/recommendation.