Jazz and the Soapbox

Term Paper # 109913

African-American Studies
Communication
Music Studies > Blues, Jazz

This paper discusses the use of jazz music as a means to convey a social message.

2,347 words () | 10 sources | MLA | 2006 United States

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that one of the grand impetuses behind the very birth of jazz was to send a statement; a political message. The writer maintains that essentially, jazz was invented as a musical soapbox. The writer points out that not everyone has the same take on the genre, as with most art forms, and that even the artists themselves disagree as to the particulars of whether their music carries an intentional message or not. The writer points out that the fact remains, however, that jazz is one of the first instances of popular music that conveys some sort of social message. The writer concludes that jazz artists have been consistent, progressive voices for change in the U.S. and while at times, the white establishment has drowned them out, jazz as a vehicle for uplift, and as a cultural expression of black identity, remains strong to this day.

From the Paper:

"Obviously, jazz musicians, in no small part, care about their environment and their culture, and see their music as a way to propound that concern. What about the musicians who see it differently? While not as numerous as the proponents, there are many who would like politics to stay out of entertainment altogether. There is a whole subgenre of punditry literature that enjoys berating artists who dare take a stand; the most famous diatribe of all being Laura Ingraham's 'Shut Up and Sing'. In addition to the notorious conservative talking heads, there are also some jazz artists who would concur."

Sample of Sources Used:

All About Jazz Staff Writers. "Jazz and Social Protest". Allaboutjazz.com. Edited: 10/28/2003. Visited: 5/11/06. <http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article_print.php?id=661>
Ammon, Jost. "Jazz." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Edited: 5/11/06. Visited: 5/11/06. <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jazz&oldid=52582309>.
Baskerville, John D. "Free Jazz: A Reflection of Black Power Ideology". Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 24, No. 4. (June 1994), <http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0021-9347%28199406%2924%3A4%3C484%3AFJAROB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-C>
Clarke, Donald. Billie Holiday: Wishing on the Moon. Munchen, Piper 1995.
Harris, Jerome. "Jazz on the Global Stage." The African Diaspora: a Musical Perspective. Ed. Ingrid Monson. New York, NY: Garland, 2000.