World-First for New MA in The Beatles, Popular Music and Society

A brand new MA in The Beatles, Popular Music and Society has been launched at Liverpool Hope University and is the first MA of its kind in the World.  The new course, which can be studied both full and part time, covers four modules with specific issues relating to The Beatles and Popular Music, consisting of four 12-week taught modules plus a dissertation. 

Mike Brocken, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music at Liverpool Hope University said:- "There have been over 8000 books about The Beatles but there has never been serious academic study and that is what we are going to address.  The Beatles influenced so much of society, not just with their music, but also with fashion from their collar-less jackets to their psychedelic clothes.  Their output covered a huge range from the black and white film 'A Hard Day's Night' to Strawberry Fields Forever which was accompanied by arguably the first pop video.  Forty years on, now is the right time and Liverpool is the right place to study The Beatles.  This Beatles MA is expected to attract a great deal of attention, not just locally, but nationally and we have already had enquires from abroad, particularly the United States.

The MA the Beatles Popular Music & Society is a seminal moment in popular music studies.  For the first time in the UK and possibly the world a post graduate taught course is offered to research into the Beatles, the city from which they emerged, the contexts of the 1960s, technology, sound and songwriting, and the industries that have set up in their wake to capitalise on tourism in the city of Liverpool.

Popular music studies is now rightly regarded as an academic discipline in its own right and its interdisciplinary nature will appeal to those who have come from backgrounds in the humanities, cultural studies as well as music.  There are also opportunities to study at certificate and diploma level.”

The one-year full time course will cover not just The Beatles but popular music in general and its effect on society since the sixties.

The first module introduces methods and approaches of how we go about studying popular music and is linked to a specific text that is recommended to students, Longhurst - Popular Music and Society.  This module then focuses down on several short Beatles-related issues that can be covered by some of Longhurst's text - issues such as covering and authenticity, locality, the music industry of the post-war era, and subcultures.

The second module discusses Liverpool in the immediately pre and then post wwii eras and how various social and musical issues fed into the early Merseybeat & Beatles profiles.  It will also discuss the politics of place and focus on venues in and around Merseyside, genres, class and suburbia.

The third module looks at the studio sound and compositions of the Beatles and will bring in popular music semiotics.  There will be an opportunity in this module to present a case study of one song and this will be linked to a performance if the student so wishes, otherwise assessment via a presentation and written work will be acceptable.

The final module deals with social anthropology and ethonography of the Beatles and gives the student the opportunity to get out and interview people with a presentation and report to submit.  Students may wish to study some local musicians or media or even the local industry that has now set up to capitalise on the group.

What do readers think of this? Is it a waste of time to offer this courses like this or do you feel that it is an important part of our education system with in the UK today? Do let us know by emailing us at:- news24@southportreporter.com. 

CHILDREN TEAM UP TO TAKE PART IN ANTI GUN CRIME INITIATIVE

YOUNG people from 23 schools in Liverpool and Knowsley have teaming up to take part in an anti-gun crime seven-a-side football tournament organised by Merseyside Police.

The Matrix Challenge Shield is part of an anti-gun crime initiative put together by the Force's specialist Matrix team.

The football torments been supported by Liverpool City Council, Knowsley Borough Council, Liverpool County FA, Merseyside County Schools FA, Liverpool Schools FA, Liverpool Football Club, Everton Football Club, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Merseytravel, Liverpool Active City and Rhys Jones Memorial Cup Trust - will kicked off on Tuesday, 3 March 2009, with 15 teams of boys took to the pitch in a bid to become the first time winners of this prestigious trophy.  Then on Wednesday, 4 March 2009, the girls teams will be taking part in tournament.

The contest involves 30 teams of children, aged between 11 and 13, and the games taking place at the Soccer Centre on Walton Hall Avenue.  The three group winners and the best overall runner up on each day will qualify for the semi-finals and final to be played in May 2009.  All the children who take part in the tournament will receive participation medals and the Challenge Shield and individual trophies will be awarded in May 2009.

Chief Superintendent Steve Moore, who heads up the specialist Matrix team, before the event explained:- "This tournament has taken a number of months to bring together with the help of our partners and I'm delighted that these schools have chosen to take part.

The tournament is part of a wider campaign aimed at educating young people about the consequences of becoming involved in
gun and gang crime.  It's great to see these young people participating.

Nationally we have seen more and more young people becoming involved in firearms offences and we want to work with young people to warn them of the potential consequences.  Sadly when we have dealt with teenagers involved with gun crime they tend to have a complete disregard not only for their local community, but also for themselves and their families.  They don't see the consequences of getting involved in gangs and guns.

We want to work with young people so that they are well aware of the devastation they can leave behind, not only in the local community, but for their own families.  It's not like a video game where you fire and people get up and walk away.  If you use a firearm there is potential that someone may be seriously harmed, or killed.

It should be remembered that the majority of teenagers are not involved in criminality, or guns and gangs.  The wider the audience we get this message across to the more likely we are to prevent some young people from becoming involved.  Young people do talk to each other and hopefully the good sense of some will transfer to others who may be more easily led."

Councillor Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool’s executive member for safer, stronger communities, said:- “This fantastic football tournament will help develop lasting friendships between pupils from many schools across Merseyside and break down barriers between different communities as well as police officers and young people.

Using football and drama as a hook to educate children about the dangers of getting involved in gun and gang activities will help prevent them being tempted into activities which could put them at risk of harm in the future.”