Course: Theory of Popular Culture

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Course title Theory of Popular Culture
Course code KMU/TPKU
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory, Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Blüml Jan, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Topic 1: The Frankfurt School, Adorno 1 Topic 2: The Frankfurt School, Adorno 2 Topic 3: The Reception and Critique of Adorno Topic 4: Jazz as Protest Topic 5: The Birmingham School (CCCS) Topic 6: The Study of British Subcultures in the 1970s Topic 7: The Critique of 1970s Subcultural Research and Post-subcultural Studies Topic 8: Popular Music Studies, IASPM, Simon Frith Topic 9: "Popular Music Studies" vs. "Popular Musicology" Topic 10: Analysis of Popular Music Topic 11: New Approaches to the Analysis of Popular Music Topic 12: Popular Music Research in the Czech Lands

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming)
  • Attendace - 26 hours per semester
  • Homework for Teaching - 15 hours per semester
  • Semestral Work - 20 hours per semester
  • Preparation for the Exam - 39 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The course focuses on the exploration of the development of theoretical reflection on popular music in the domestic and international context.
Students will gain a basic understanding of the development of theoretical reflection on popular music in a broader cultural and cultural-political context, in the context of musicology, etc.
Prerequisites
A basic overview of musicology, popular music and popular culture.

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam, Student performance, Seminar Work

--thorough knowledge of the literature and the issues with which the student is introduced during the course --completion of the assigned tasks (good level of content and form) --student prepares and presents a paper on the assigned scientific study (length 25 min., text and pp of the presentation, possible use of music samples, etc.; in particular, the focus should be on methodology, theoretical approaches applied, their background, etc.) --activity and discussion during classes is also evaluated --if the student does not submit and present the assigned tasks within the given deadlines, he/she will not receive the attestation
Recommended literature
  • Blüml, Opekar. Popular Music Research behind the Iron Curtain. Berlin. 2025.
  • MIDLLETON, Richard. Studying popular music. Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2002..
  • NEGUS, Keith. Popular music in theory: an introduction. Middletown, Conn. : Wesleyan University Press, 1997..
  • SHUKER, Roy. Popular music: the key concepts. London: Routledge, 2005..
  • SHUKER, Roy. Understanding popular music culture. London: Routledge 2008..
  • STOREY, John. Cultural studies and the study of popular culture: theories and methods. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1996..
  • STRINATI, Dominic. An introduction to theories of popular culture. London: Routledge, 2004..
  • WALL, Tim. Studying popular music culture. London: Arnold, 2003..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2026) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2024) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2024) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2026) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2019) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2026) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2024) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Musicology (2022) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Science of Arts (2024) Category: Theory and history of arts - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -