Music as an Instrument for Social Change
F05
Music Faculty, Bruce Williamson
This course will examine how music has provided strength and solidarity to various protest movements of the 20th century, often with dedicated support from student populations. We will look for examples of injustice and oppression that resulted in powerful musical expressions of both descriptive concern and angry defiance. Some of the social movements with a rich partnership in music will include Civil Rights in the U.S., the antiapartheid movement in South Africa, antiwar movements, free speech movements, various labor struggles and other fights against racism, sexism, and religious or national persecution. We will compare lyrics and opinions of artists as varied as Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, and John Lennon, noting how musical styles such as folk, rock, reggae, and gospel can help unify a group of people with a common cause. There will be listening, reading, and writing assignments.