Description
Explore the profound impact of folk music as a political tool in 'Reds, Whites, and Blues', a compelling analysis by William Roy. This brand-new trade paperback (US) from Princeton University Press dives deep into the social movements embedded within folk music, particularly focusing on the People's Songs movement of the 1930s and 1940s and the influential Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. With its rich archival material, 'Reds, Whites, and Blues' unveils how folk music served not just as entertainment but as a means of political expression and social bonding. Discover how these musical movements aimed to unite individuals through song, revealing the contrasting pathways they forged in society. While the People's Songsters struggled to transcend leftist activism, the Civil Rights Movement adeptly wove music into collective action, echoing in the resonant Freedom Songs during crucial protests and gatherings. This insightful exploration challenges perceptions of folk music's racial inclusivity and its galvanizing power, establishing a crucial link between culture and activism. Delve into a historical narrative that illustrates these dynamics vividly, perfect for students, educators, and history enthusiasts alike. Shipping is free for this item, and please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be canceled.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691162089
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2014
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
Music, and folk music in particular, is often embraced as a form of political expression, a vehicle for bridging or reinforcing social boundaries, and a valuable tool for movements reconfiguring the social landscape. Reds, Whites, and Blues examines the political force of folk music, not through the meaning of its lyrics, but through the concrete social activities that make up movements. Drawing from rich archival material, William Roy shows that the People's Songs movement of the 1930s and 40s, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s implemented folk music's social relationships--specifically between those who sang and those who listened--in different ways, achieving different outcomes. Roy explores how the People's Songsters envisioned uniting people in song, but made little headway beyond leftist activists. In contrast, the Civil Rights Movement successfully integrated music into collective action, and used music on the picket lines, at sit-ins, on freedom rides, and in jails. Roy considers how the movement's Freedom Songs never gained commercial success, yet contributed to the wider achievements of the Civil Rights struggle.
Roy also traces the history of folk music, revealing the complex debates surrounding who or what qualified as "folk" and how the music's status as racially inclusive was not always a given. Examining folk music's galvanizing and unifying power, Reds, Whites, and Blues casts new light on the relationship between cultural forms and social activity.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691162089
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2014
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
Music, and folk music in particular, is often embraced as a form of political expression, a vehicle for bridging or reinforcing social boundaries, and a valuable tool for movements reconfiguring the social landscape. Reds, Whites, and Blues examines the political force of folk music, not through the meaning of its lyrics, but through the concrete social activities that make up movements. Drawing from rich archival material, William Roy shows that the People's Songs movement of the 1930s and 40s, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s implemented folk music's social relationships--specifically between those who sang and those who listened--in different ways, achieving different outcomes. Roy explores how the People's Songsters envisioned uniting people in song, but made little headway beyond leftist activists. In contrast, the Civil Rights Movement successfully integrated music into collective action, and used music on the picket lines, at sit-ins, on freedom rides, and in jails. Roy considers how the movement's Freedom Songs never gained commercial success, yet contributed to the wider achievements of the Civil Rights struggle.
Roy also traces the history of folk music, revealing the complex debates surrounding who or what qualified as "folk" and how the music's status as racially inclusive was not always a given. Examining folk music's galvanizing and unifying power, Reds, Whites, and Blues casts new light on the relationship between cultural forms and social activity.