Research into political satire programs show that they can be informative in the same way traditional news inform citizens and that the audience trust the information told by satirists. The political satire program Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has inspired the phenomenon ‘the John Oliver Effect’ due to comedian John Oliver’s ability to influence the world of politics and beyond with his in-depth investigations in serious subjects. In the author’s previous research Last Week Tonight has been portrayed by the media as being a credible source despite being the work of a comedian. This study therefore aimed to research what it is that makes Oliver and Last Week Tonight a credible source and whether some aspects of the reporting can be seen as communication campaign. With the theory of source credibility as part of its core, this study used the method of multimodality to ascertain that the main aspect that spoke to Oliver’s credibility was his perceived trustworthiness rather that his expertise or attractiveness. Using the same method but with the theory of communication campaign as part of its core, the study also ascertained that the program in general possessed some characteristics of a communication campaign but to be completely successful an episode had to possess all characteristics of a communication campaign. Merging this with previous research would indicate that subjectivity – Oliver’s authenticity and honest opinions and feelings – play an important part in his perceived credibility.

Syftet med detta arbete är att undersöka hur musikteoretiska läroböcker är designade med avseende på praktiskt och kreativt omsättande av musikteori. Forskning om musikteoretisk undervisning visar att elever och studenter uppskattar när teoretiska kunskaper omsätts till något praktiskt och kreativt som dessutom relaterar till deras egen musikaliska praktik. Elever och studenter har uppfattat vissa problem med musikteori som ämne, exempelvis överdrivet fokus på piano samt bristande mångfald och exklusivt fokus på europeisk musik. Andra studier antyder att både studenter och lärare har upplevt bristande integration mellan musikteori och andra ämnen. Denna studie utgår ifrån en kvalitativ forskningsansats och ett socialsemiotiskt perspektiv. Studien analyserar två musikteoretiska läroböcker som behandlar harmonilära ur västerländsk tradition. Resultatet visar att böckernas huvudsakliga resurser är text, notskrift och textrutor. Dessa resurser har regelbundna relationella funktioner med varandra och läsaren eftersom flera praktiska uppgifter ska utföras. Studien identifierar också flera textuella funktioner hos resurserna som förmedlar olika budskap, nämligen de pianocentrerade, not- och begreppscentrerade samt konventionscentrerade funktionerna. Resultatet diskuteras sedan i förhållande till tidigare forskning inom området. Kopplingar görs exempelvis till tidigare forskning kring studenters upplevda problem med musikteoretisk undervisning, däribland pianocentrism och överdrivet fokus på särskilda genrer, samt till tidigare forskning om praktiskt omsättande av musikteori. / The purpose of this study is to analyse how music theory textbooks are designed regarding practical and creative use of music theory knowledge. Research into music theory education suggests that students and pupils appreciate when theoretical knowledge is put into practical and creative activities that also relate to their own musical practices. Pupils and students have perceived problems with music theory as a subject, including excessive piano centrism as well as lacking diversity and exclusive focus on European music. Other studies suggest that both students and teachers have perceived lacking integration between music theory and other subjects. This study uses a qualitative research strategy as well as a social semiotic perspective. The study analyses two music theory textbooks teaching harmonic theory from a Western perspective. The results show that the books’ main modes are text, musical notation, and text boxes. These modes have regular relational functions with each other and the reader since multiple practical exercises are to be accomplished. Additionally, the study identifies several textual functions that convey different meanings, namely the piano centric, the notation and term centric, and the convention centric functions. The results are discussed with regards to previous research in the field. For example, parallels are drawn between this study and previous research into students perceived problems with music theory education, including piano centrism and excessive focus on specific genres, as well as previous research into practical activities based on music theory.