Music in US Prisons

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

In 1934, the singer Lead Belly left prison and became a famous recording artist, often performing dressed in his prison stripes. What was it about the association between music and prison that drew listeners? Today, many inmates participate in music programs and practice countless hours in the hopes of becoming successful musicians themselves. Does music change when associated with the prison experience? This course presents a wide history of music in American prisons from the early 1900s to today. We will explore the subject from many perspectives: the prisoner's, the folk music scholar’s, the politician’s, the activist’s, and even the Hollywood film producer’s, analyzing within the cultural and political context of their time. This is accomplished through discussions of critical readings and primary sources. In the end, we will come to a deeper understanding of what music can do and mean in prison.