Revolutionary Songs, Sounds, and Stories

Catalog description

Revolutions have soundtracks. In moments of intense social, economic, and political upheaval, individuals and communities use music in multiple ways: as an expression of dissent, as a way to build momentum, as an expression of individual self or collective identity, as a means to navigate through seemingly incomprehensible changes. This course explores the relationship between music and revolution, focusing on examples from the United States and Europe. Our goal is to compare these historical moments so that we can explore how music simultaneously encourages, hinders, and memorializes transformative change. What do we consider to be revolutionary? Why do revolutions seem so central to the modern world?