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  • Essay / Music as a tool for protest and social change - 1915

    “Music is particularly wonderful. It is incapable of being touched, but it affects anyone capable of hearing sounds. It can seemingly evoke any emotion; we respond instinctively to happy tunes, sad songs, beautiful melodies, inspiring anthems, soulful anthems and majestic orchestrations. (Doolan, Robert. 1985) There is no doubt that music is an integral part of society; it has been at the side of civilization, whether it is the lyres and flutes of the ancient Greeks or the way it calms or excites emotions and keeps armies in order during battle. Within society, there has also been social unrest and a desire for change. Protest is the expression of a society's concerns about current events that affect it, whether through public gatherings, picketing, riots or even bombings. Protesting through music is a powerful way to engage people. Amidst what life throws at individuals, music has comforted the soul, aroused individualistic thoughts and opinions, and music brings people together into groups who have the same attachment or concerns towards their surroundings. Whether rock, jazz, blues, rap, hip hop, dance, spiritual or world, music has inspired artists to express their expression and their vision of society. Music is a universally effective protest tool for generating social change and unrest because it continues to unite like-minded people. "Music is a common experience and a large part of societies. In fact, anthropologists note that all human communities, at all times and everywhere, have engaged in musical behaviors. Music as a mode of human activity is a cultural phenomenon constituting a fundamental social entity in that humans create music and create their relationship to music... middle of paper .....re, Robin D, (. 2006) Music and revolution: cultural change in socialist Cuba: New YorkPaxton, Tom (2011). "Music as a tool of social protest: Welcome to Squidoo". 2002). A Sociological Basis for Music Education 43. Pp 40-49Vietnam War Protest Music (3 of 3) - YouTube - Stream yourself. , Dick. (2010). Blackbeat Books: New York, 7 billion inhabitants | 7 billion shares. (2011). The Gandhi Tour: Music for Peace. Retrieved November 15, 2011 from .