Objectives and Content:

The objective of the course is to give an introduction to:

• the main types of music (recitation, other forms of vocal music, other forms of ritual music) within Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;
• the most important differences in views of music within these five religions;
• convictions and debates about music within these five religions;
• methods and theoretical perspectives in the study of religion and music;
• how religious music is used in popular culture and advertising; and
• how religious music is used in the criticism of religions.

RELV334 is an optional unit within the Master´s Programme in the Study of Religions.

The student shall by the end of the course have gained the following learning outcome defined in knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student

¿ has general knowledge about the main types of music, different views of music, and convictions and debates about music within Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

¿ has general knowledge about methods and theoretical perspectives in the study of religious music.

• has knowledge about how religious music is used in popular culture, advertising, and in the criticism of religions.
• has the capability of analysing religious music with the help of some central methods and theoretical perspectives from the History of Religions and Musicology.
• has the capability of putting the knowledge about religious music in relation to wider contexts within the History of Religions.

Skills:

The student

• has the capability of analysing subject-matters in English and of drawing conclusions of one´s own.
• has the capability of critically examining theories and methods used in the study of religious music.
• has the capability of writing a coherent analytical text about religious music, thereby demonstrating a capacity for using the norms and techniques of academic writing.
• has the capability of conveying information about the subject field to others, both in writing and orally.

General competence:

The student

• has practice in handling large quantities of information and literature within a short time period, and of interpreting and presenting information.

Due to course overlap, students cannot take RELV334 as well as RELV234.

If combined, the outcome of credits will be reduced with 15 ECTS credits.

Form of assessment:

• School exam (written) of 6 hours

The test consists of an essay as well as 10 questions to be answered briefly. Both the essay and the questions have to fill a minimum requirement for the student to pass the exam. The minimum requirement for the questions is 5 points (each of the 10 questions can give 0, 0,5 or 1 point). The 10 questions count as 20% and the essay as 80% of the total score.

If the course is given in English, a dictionary (without any notes in it) between your own language and English is permitted (for example, a German-English-German or a French-English-French dictionary). You may bring your dictionary to the exam location. The teacher will check the dictionary at the exam location before you are allowed to use it.

Headsets will be handed out in the exam location, you cannot use your own headsets or earplugs.

Autumn, but not regularly (Autumn 2016 and 2018, see paragraph semester of instruction)

There will also be assessment early spring semester (only spring semester 2017 and 2019).

The reading list runs to about 1200-1500 pages.

The reading list is published by June 1st for the autumn semester and by December 1st for the spring semester.

Study Advisor: studierettleiar@ahkr.uib.no

Administration of examination: eksamen@ahkr.uib.no