Music as a Tool of Protest and Social Change

1915 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: can music be used to protest

“Music is uniquely wonderful. It is incapable of being touched yet it touches everyone who is capable of hear sounds. It can seemingly evoke any emotion; we instinctively respond to happy tunes, mournful songs, beautiful melodies, inspiring anthems, stirring hymns, and majestic orchestrations.” (Doolan, Robert. 1985) There is no question that music is great part of society; it has been at civilization’s side whether it be the lyres and flutes of the ancient Greeks or how it calms or excites emotions and keeps armies in order during battle. Within society, there has also been social unrest and the desire for change. Protesting is the expression of a society’s concerns on current events of which they feel affected by whether it be through public rallies, picketing, riots or even bombings. Protest through music is one powerful medium for engaging people. Amidst what life throws at individuals, music has comforted the soul, provoked individualistic thought and opinion, and music draws people together through groups alike who have the same attachment or concerns with their surroundings. Whether it be rock, jazz, blues, rap, hip hop, dance, spiritual, or world, music has inspired artists to spill out their expression and views of society. Music is a universally effective tool of protest in generating social change and unrest as it continues to unite those with like ideas. "Music is a common experience and a large part of societies. In fact, anthropologists note that all human communities at all times and in all places, have engaged in musical behaviours. Music as a mode of human activity is a cultural phenomenon constituting a fundamental social entity as humans create music and create their relationship to music. As cultural phenomeno... ... middle of paper ... ...re, Robin D, (2006) Music and Revolution: Cultural Change in Socialist Cuba. University of California Press: New York Paxton, Tom. (2011). "Music as a Tool of Social Protest." Squidoo: Welcome to Squidoo. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from . Steven, Kelly, N. (2002). A Sociological Basis For Music Education. International Journal of Music Education. 43. Pp. 40-49 Vietnam War Protest Music (3 of 3) - YouTube. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 3 Dec. 2003. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. . Weissman, Dick. (2010). Talkin’ ‘Bout A Revolution: Music and Social Change in America. Blackbeat Books: New York 7 Billion People | 7 Billion Actions. (2011). The Gandhi Tour: Music for Peace. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from .

Show More
Related

  • The Land Where The Blues Began Summary

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    For centuries, music has been defined by history, time, and place. To address this statement, Tom Zè, an influential songwriter during the Tropicália Movement, produced the revolutionary “Fabrication Defect” to challenge oppression as a result from the poor political and social conditions. On the other hand, David Ramsey discusses, in mixtape vignettes, the role of music to survive in New Orleans’ violent setting. Furthermore, “The Land where the Blues Began”, by Alan Lomax, is a film and perfect example to understand under what musical conditions profound ways of communication are made to stand the hard work of cotton plantations. As a result, music plays a crucial role in the sources’ cultures and its creation relies on particular conditions such as the social

    Read More

  • How Did The Swing Era Impact Society

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music’s role on society has changed drastically through the course of its history as it has become ever so increasingly expansive. Many of the previous musical movements were only for the wealthy as entertainment

    Read More

  • Analysis of M.I.A.'s Paper Planes Music Video

    1501 Words  | 4 Pages

    There is one universal language: the language of music. Music has a special quality and ability to bridge both social and cultural divides. A proposed theory by Dr. Gray, Founder and Director of National Musical Arts’ BioMusic Program; describes music has been around longer than human-beings have. Music is the one thing human beings from various backgrounds can relate to. Every living creature would agree. Music is heard everywhere not just among humans, but in nature as well, through the twitting of birds, winds blowing, the soft sound of raindrops against a windowpane, the ocean waves moving back and forth and the hum of the ocean rushing in a sea shell. There is no escaping it; music lives in and surrounds us steadily. While there are countless songs which confer social or cultural consciousness, this paper will analyze and address the dynamics of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes”, video. Stylistically, the paper will examine the artist point of view, the unique use of lyrical analysis and sound description in relation to its historical, social, political and/or cultural context. This essay will also trace the lyrical analysis and sound description of song and discuss how the elements (visually, sonically, and lyrically) interplay with the theme of immigration and/or violence.

    Read More

  • Music of the Civil Rights Era

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stewart, Lauren. The effects of Music during the Civil Rights Movement. n.d. 28 April 2014 .

    Read More

  • The Influence of Protest Music during the 1960’s And Beyond

    3810 Words  | 8 Pages

    The 1960’s was one of the most controversial decades in American history because of not only the Vietnam War, but there was an outbreak of protests involving civil and social conditions all across college campuses. These protests have been taken to the extent where people either have died or have been seriously injured. However, during the 1960’s, America saw a popular form of art known as protest music, which responded to the social turmoil of that era, from the civil rights movement to the war in Vietnam. A veritable pantheon of musicians, such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan sang their songs to encourage union organizers to protest the inequities of their time, creating a diverse variety of popular protest music, which has reached out to the youthful generations everywhere demanding for a revolutionary change. The protest music took the children of the 1960’s to a completely new different level. Musicians of this generation were not going to sit and do nothing while the government lied to the people about what was going on in Vietnam. Instead, they took their guitar-strumming troubadours from the coffee houses, plugged them in, and sent the music and the message into the college dorm rooms and the homes of the youth of America. However, as decades went by, protest music does not have much of an impact as it use to because of the way things have changed over the years. Through the analysis of the music during the 1960’s, there shall be an understanding on how the different genres of protest music has affected social protesters based on how musicians have become the collective conscience of that generation through their lyrics and music and the main factors that contributed to the lack of popula...

    Read More

  • Music’s Effect on Society

    1567 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the midst of the Vietnam war, songs arose about much more threatening subjects. These songs reflect this generation’s increasingly likelihood of being critical of both the war and the government as compared to past generations. The first sign of...

    Read More

  • Modern Protest Music Analysis

    2438 Words  | 5 Pages

    In the 1960s, music was a very successful in delivering a protest message. Music has developed in modern America and it’s hard to tell protest music from other music. Protest music is overshadowed. But, protest music is not having the same effect as well. “Meat is Murder” did not stop people from eating cow’s meat and “Idioteque” a song of climate change and overconsumption by Radiohead didn’t stop people from changing the way that they lived their lives “Here I’m allowed / Everything all of the time” (Radiohead). The protest music is falling on deaf ears. Those who don’t want to hear the message won’t listen for it. As well, people will not put in the effort to make a change in today’s society. Music is not one of the best ways to deliver a protest message in modern

    Read More

  • Hip-hop, Reggae, and Politics

    5107 Words  | 11 Pages

    Musically hip-hop spawned the age of DJ’s. With strong influences from Reggae, hip-hop has developed into an empowering form for the expression of ideas, power, revolution and change. Power and empowerment have emerged from these musical styles that now have many commonalities. Hip-hop and Reggae are both forms of protest music. “Protest music is characterized by objections to injustices and oppressions inflicted on certain individual groups…. typically, the intent of protest musicians is to oppose the exploitation and oppression exercised by dominant elites and member of dominant groups”(Stapleton, 221). Hip-hop has developed as a new form of protest music void of the common acoustic guitar. The goal of protest music is to promote freedom through music.

    Read More

  • How Did The Beatles Influence Popular Culture

    1703 Words  | 4 Pages

    When historians look back at the twentieth century, a time when technological innovation brought divided people closer than ever, the Beatles will certainly be mentioned as the orators of the time period. Their music reflects the light-hearted enthusiasm shared by the people of their time, yet also transmits a feeling of global progression. By urging understanding, free expression and peace among nations, the Beatles helped sponsor the idea that young people and musicians are correct to engage in social and political issues. As a result, it is expected that musicians have something meaningful to say about the times they live in; similarly, youth groups continue to be at the forefront of many social issues concerning our times. Due to the Beatles hopeful messages, their music can be played anywhere in the world and be recognized and enjoyed; proving that all people truly desire similar things and share kindred thoughts and

    Read More

  • Rock And Roll Essay

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Most things have their beginnings in something small: a word, a breath, or idea; but not music. Music begins with a single vibration. It explodes and carries on, morphing worlds of unrelated personas. It lives rampantly in the mouths of millions of unruly and free-spirited teenagers, like a fever. The rock 'n roll trend that defiantly rose against the conformist ideology of the mid-twentieth century left remnants that commenced the start of a progressing society: a culture that redefined the rules of society and pushed social and moral limits while addressing social concerns.

    Read More

  • Protest Music Research Paper

    967 Words  | 2 Pages

    The greatest time of protest music was the 20th century that was related to World War, Black Lives Matter, and Vietnam Wars. In the time, the music spread widely and strongly developed in genres and contents. During World War I, some first anti-war songs were composed and performed, such as “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to be a Soldier”, which was the first songs to protest war (Hill, 2016). Also, in his article, Hill F.(2016) Pointed out that the songs did not really direct to authors’ purposes, but they often used patriotism and homesickness in order to persuade stop wars such as “Lorena” and

    Read More

  • Music, Technology and Society

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    Music is found in every know culture, past and present. It is also, already being composed for the future. It is widely varied between all times and places. Since scientists believe that the modern humans arrived in the African culture more than 160,000 years ago, around 50,000 years ago, it is believed that the dispersal of music has been being developed between all cultures in the world. Even the most isolated tribal groups are thought to have had a form of music.

    Read More

  • Music and Cultural Identity

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music plays a huge role in the structure of a society. It can have both negative and positive influence on cultures and communities. First, musical sounds and instruments can be a dividing factor between the people within the same culture. These opposing social and economic identities within these cultures can lead unnecessary animosity between the members. However, music can also be one of the forces that unite members of a culture and provide a sense pride for everyone. This makes it easier for people to display their identification to that culture.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Globalization on Music

    1786 Words  | 4 Pages

    The influence that music has throughout the world is immeasurable. Music evokes many feelings, surfaces old memories, and creates new ones all while satisfying a sense of human emotion. With the ability to help identify a culture, as well as educate countries about other cultures, music also provides for a sense of knowledge. Music can be a tool for many things: relaxation, stimulation and communication. But at the same time it can also be a tool for resistance: against parents, against police against power. Within the reign of imported culture, cross cultivation and the creation of the so-called global village lies the need to expand horizons to engulf more than just what you see everyday. It is important to note that the role of music in today’s world is a key tool in the process of globalization. However, this does not necessarily provide us with any reasons that would make us believe that music has a homogenizing affect on the world.

    Read More

  • The Role of Music in Society

    1731 Words  | 4 Pages

    Music has played a role in society since the dawn of man. Said to be the beginning of communication in early civilization, music and dance have influenced how we think, act and treat members of our own society. Song and dance is used in rites of passage ceremonies such as births, weddings and funerals throughout the world. Jamaican and Yoruba cultures have made many contributions to our society. The uses of this music as a vehicle for political issues, values, and beliefs have been used by many musicians from different cultures. I intend to discuss the Contribution of these two contemporary cultures music and their effect on society.

    Read More

More about Music as a Tool of Protest and Social Change

Open Document