Music and Politics

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Since antiquity music and its associated lyrics have been acknowledged to be an influential force for political and social change. Beginning with the 7th-century Spartan poet, Tyrtaeus, and continuing to contemporary folk and rock, the power of music has been harnessed for a variety of political and social purposes. Whether it has been employed to foster martial valor and a sense of patriotism, or whether it has supported social movements, such as those concerning workers and civil rights, music has very frequently been inspirational for effecting change. This course will survey the ways in which music is utilized for these aims through listening to and analyzing composers as diverse as Mozart and Bob Dylan. The principal themes of the course are class structures and social conventions, patriotism/nationalism, liberty, workers’ movements, civil rights, and the music of protest. We will be listening to a wide a range of musical styles, from 18th-century opera to 21st-century rock. The course requires extensive listening and discussion, as well as written assignments. Since the course focuses on the political and social aspects of music, no technical knowledge of music is required. In addition to the music itself, the theoretical underpinning for understanding the role music plays in civil society will be provided by John Street’s Music and Politics.