Music and Religion in South East Asia

Key information

Status
Module not running
Module code
155800080
FHEQ Level
5
Credits
15
Department
School of Arts & Department of Music

Module overview

This specialist module is designed to run in alternate years to the more general module music of South East Asia.

For students who have taken the latter, this module is intended to allow them to pursue and interest in this topic further; it is also suitable for students new to this subject area and for non-Music students: it might, for example, be paired with other modules in South East Asian history and culture. This module is designed to complement and enhance the Department’s provision of modules on music and religion (for instance, Music, Shamanism and Healing).

Music and religion in South East Asia examines classical, popular and folk musics of the region, focusing on how they interact with religion. Religion in this context includes very diverse local forms as well as major world religions. The diversity of these musical-religious relationships create areas of particular focus, which include mysticism and spiritual practices, reformist movements, community and life-cycle rituals, religiously oriented dramatic forms, spirit mediumship, shamanism and trance, and local interpretations and expressions of religions such as Islam, Christianity and Buddhism, as well as interaction with politics, nationalism, globalisation and tourism.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

At the end of the module, a student should be able to demonstrate an in depth knowledge of particular aspects of South East Asian musics, including the major classical music traditions of Indonesia and mainland South East Asia and of the impact and importance of religion on these forms. Religion here is considered in a general sense, covering such diverse beliefs and behaviours as trance-mediumship and spirit possession and the influence of major world religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity on the region.

Through this module the students should gain critical understanding of issues surrounding the use of music in ritual, the impact of religious ideology on musical aesthetics and form, the relationships between music, religion and other global and local forces including political power structures, gender, nationalism, tourism and globalisation.

Workload

  • Lectures: 2 hours per week

Method of assessment

  • 2,000 words essay (worth 40% of marks)
  • 2,500 words essay (worth 50%)
  • Listening test (worth 10%)

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules