This module discusses and analyses popular music as a social and cultural practice from the 1960s to the present day through an exploration of key themes related to the topic of music and politics in music, musical performance, and in the wider social sphere of musicking practices. These themes include: the performance of identity (including race, ethnicity and gender); the relationship between music and social movements in maintaining and challenging the status quo; music and conflict; and music and reconciliation. Students will engage with musical traditions and artists from a variety of countries, including the US, UK and Ireland, working in a variety of popular music genres such as folk, punk and hip hop. The theoretical approach to popular music studies addressed in this module is informed by a variety of perspectives, including cultural theory, sociology and anthropology.