How Does Music Affect The Social Movement

From the Civil Rights Movement to the Black Lives Matter movement, music continue to be the expression of all that is contained in the movement. It shows the struggles, the passions, the history of the movements. It gives hope, brightens the day, rallies, and unifies the people of movements.

When looking at the racial system of apartheid in South Africa, the question of music must be discussed. The central debate among musicologists and ethnomusicologists is whether the music from black south Africans during this time was a result of the resistance movement against apartheid. The other side of the argument is that the music of this time and place catalyzed the movement itself and without an outlet like music the resistance would not have occurred. I believe that the music is a representation of what people experience and gives voice to how people feel already. Music is a product of society and shows the heart and direction of a group of people. In this essay, I will examine what the background of apartheid and the significant

Art has undoubtedly become a decisive aspect of our culture; embedded in the way we learn and grow on a daily basis. Art forms such as music, television and dance dominate our society as an outlet of freedom of speech for humanity. The evolution of music has rapidly exceeded its original classifications, developing new genres with greater appeal to an audience, hence its influence on society has expedited. In recent times, lyrics (specifically rap lyrics) have been introduced into the court room as a form of documented confessional evidence, evidently challenging law’s authoritative nature. This essay will closely follow the genre of rap and its relationship with law, through cases based in the United States of America (USA). In addition, the trial of Simon Bikindi in Rwanda and Smith v The Queen will be used to form an acute analysis on the influencing factors of relevance, identity, freedom of speech and current constitutional law.

In cultures all over the world, music can be seen encompassing many aspects of life for many individuals. It is a form of mass communication that"speaks directly to society as a cultural form", and often reflects a collection and pattern of personal experiences (King 19). Music is so influential because it communicates on three different levels: the physical, emotional, and cognitive. Not only does it operate in a nondiscursive way, by affecting the physiological mode of the body, causing one to move and dance, but it also encourages one to think. This paper will explore music as a form of protest; showing how a political message, in general form, is presented through music.

The words “civil rights” trigger a sense in the human mind. One of remorse, passion, and hope in a cause worth fighting for. Those weathered by its raging storms refer to it as a turning point in American life after over a century under segregation that can only be described as a necessary silence that African Americans were forced to take on the matter. However, the human mind found itself a way to express those feelings that flowed from its veins. That expression of power and revolt was music. Music acted as the horses that pulled pearlescent chariots of liberty and freedom to the front doors of the White House through public protests, involvement of musical artists, and its impact on the lives and culture of those who were oppressed.

Evaluation: Though focusing mainly on the genre of funk, this article talks about music throughout the civil rights movement and how it played important roles in keeping up morale and in some cases even swaying the opinions of other. It specifically deals with funk as the “storytelling” genre (similar to blues) because it told the stories of different civil rights movements. This is especially important in drawing comparisons between current and past music’s storytelling abilities and how important it is that the stories are told.

Music, “…one of the most widely used and appealing forms of communication…”, is universal and used for different purposes (Root, 2005, p. 7). Among the uses are “…play or entertainment, which humans of all ages engage in to stimulate feelings of joy, tension, and interaction, and enrich their experiences by adding mental complexity, counteracting boredom and lethargy” (Root, 2005, p. 7). In addition, music expresses “…emotions such as love, sentiment, or anger” (Root, 2005, p. 7). Ultimately, it communicates values showing the reality of society and culture. Anyone listening to “a few records [helps] enrich [their] feelings, extend [their] sense of love or despair, and feed [their] fantasies or fire some real relationship” (Cooper & Haverkos,

Music: It surrounds the world, it’s life’s soundtrack. Music is everywhere: in the elevator, playing softly over a store’s speaker, at parties, studying, on a ride in the car, a jingle from a commercial; everyone has a genre, band, song, or artist that helps them pass time. For over 50,000 years, music has been around, lingering in the minds of people. Used in some of the toughest times in history, listening closely to past music can inform a general idea of the events and problems of the time frame it was constructed.

‘How many years can some people exist, before they’re allowed to be free. The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.’ When we think of the US Civil Rights movement, there are always several pieces of rhythm come to our mind. Music, indeed, proved its unique magic throughout history. During the US Civil Rights movement, there were a group of people who weren’t politicians, yet made a huge impact, encouraged the process of the movement only using their talent and courage, they were musicians. Without the impact of music during that period, the world may not have become the same as it is today.

“Music and social movements have been widely celebrated as two catalysts that can elevate the human condition by lifting spirits and undermining subordination” (Reds 10). The 1960s were a time in American history that by many can be described as chaotic. A time in history where folk music was revived, also called contemporary folk, and seeked to challenge the racial boundaries in America. A time in which Pop and Rock music were influenced by contemporary folk and revealed the discontent of the young American generation towards the Vietnam war, established institutions, and middle class values. A time where music channeled the social movements taking place in America. Music of this period represents a unique connection between music and

The social landscape of our country has become a volatile solution of opposing opinions, and revolutionary ideas. This environment becomes the breeding ground for significant social change music that’s comparable to the pioneers like Jon Lennon, Bob Marley, and Jimmie Hendrix. Major social biases like gay rights or the war in the Middle East are being protested with music. One of the more notable events that is being perused by artists is the subject of police brutality, and racism which is backed by the Black Lives Matter campaign. Artist like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Common have all created protests songs supporting this movement calling for justice. One of the most notable songs in that has influence the Black Lives Matter movement is Kendrick Lamar’s Alight.

The United States is a country which was formed by the hard work of the First Nations people, the British, and African Americans. Unfortunately, blacks were subjected to slavery. In the 1900’s blacks were becoming more discontented, thus began the emergence of the civil rights movement. Along with rallies and peaceful protests, music played a very important role in bringing change to a society where white supremacy reigned. In addition to their efforts, jazz and blues artists also contributed to the building of a strong America.

To what extent can music provide a means of resistance for challenging the power relations of racism, class and gender?

Music is a popular form of art that uses sounds to express ideas and emotions through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color (Dictionary). Not only is it used for entertainment purposes but artists also use music to voice their opinions and get messages across to their listeners. ‘‘‘Protest songs’ are based in the philosophy that social protest, intended to achieve social change, is the fundamental purpose of music,” states Lawrence M. Berger (Berger 58). Protest music is a form of nonviolent protesting that raises awareness of social issues that occur in today’s society in a peaceful manner. This type of music comes in various forms and genres, including

Music is an important part of life. Its role as a form of art and entertainment is a significant one but more important is that it serves to reflect and reinforce societal norms and values. It is not only used to entertain but also serves as a form of social commentary (Baran, 2009). For instance, the emergence of Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in America after the Second World War was a means of advancing the black race and it helped blur the line between white and black as more young white people became aware of the distinctions that existed in the society. The Hip-hop and rap of the 1980s and 1990s had almost the same effect, awakening in Black Americans a sense of