“The power of song will exalt the spirit of rebellion,” Joe Hill inspired political action through humor and irony. He was an American singer who wrote songs like "The Ballad of Casey Jones" which talked of a union scab. Whether he was right in his songs or wrong is completely irrelevant because the main point of this week's journal entry is music as way of political persuasion.
Dard Neuman talks about the effect of music in teaching politics and how it is a very useful tool. Throughout the years music has taken on new ideas and shapes.It is said to have created movements (Crass) and knocked down ideologies. It has questioned the status quo and pushed people to their very limits. The sociologist R. Serge Denisoff says that music is magnetic persuasion. He says that songs have instigated unions and riots through their "call-to-action" lyrics.
Woody Guthrie was Joe Hill's musical successor his portrayal in the movie "Bound to Glory" is about people waiting and competing for scarce work during great economic turmoil. One song creates organization and uproars. One song politicized the whole game.
Music has also critiqued the power structures in nations. One great example is slavery. The songs on the plantation grounds belted out by slaves were not only a "requirement" of plantation owners, but secretly a political escapism and cry for freedom. These "spirituals" or hymns of music were the best sustained communication possible for slaves. They could say what they needed to, as well as feel encouraged.
"The point was to communicate compliance to dominant society while communicating defiance to one another." as Neuman states.
To be apart of a society with cultural and economic differences is politics whether we see it or not. Music is created with the purpose of sending a message, making a statement, and inducing a feeling. It is in itself political.
That's pretty interesting. Music has basically always been around, and it is used for so many different things. It's cool to see it used in that way, though.
ReplyDeleteI think the power of music is that it can tap into the undercurrents of society, the "collective unconscious" if you will, and facilitate change in the way we perceive our world. I love music and I think there is still much research to be done in how it fits into and influences society.
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