Popular Music and the Politics of Novelty

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music, Theory & Criticism, History & Criticism, Reference
Cover of the book Popular Music and the Politics of Novelty by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale ISBN: 9781501307058
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: February 11, 2016
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic Language: English
Author: Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
ISBN: 9781501307058
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: February 11, 2016
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Language: English

Popular music, today, has supposedly collapsed into a 'retromania' which, according to leading critic Simon Reynolds, has brought a 'slow and steady fading of the artistic imperative to be original.' Meanwhile, in the estimation of philosopher Alain Badiou, a significant political event will always require 'the dictatorial power of a creation ex nihilo'. Everywhere, it seems, at least amongst commentators of a certain age and type, pessimism prevails with regards to the predominant aesthetic preferences of the twenty first century: popular music, supposedly, is in a rut.

Yet when, if ever, did the political engagement kindled by popular music amount to more than it does today? The sixties? The punk explosion of the late 1970s? Despite an on-going fixation upon these periods in much rock journalism and academic writing, this book demonstrates that the utilisation of popular music to promote political causes, on the one hand, and the expression of dissent through the medium of 'popular song', on the other hand, remain widely in practice today.

This is not to argue, however, for complacency with regards to the need for expressions of political dissent through popular culture. Rather, the book looks carefully at actual usages of popular music in political processes, as well as expressions of political feeling through song, and argues that there is much to encourage us to think that the demand for radical change remains in circulation. The question is, though, how necessary is it for politically-motivated popular music to offer aesthetic novelty?

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Popular music, today, has supposedly collapsed into a 'retromania' which, according to leading critic Simon Reynolds, has brought a 'slow and steady fading of the artistic imperative to be original.' Meanwhile, in the estimation of philosopher Alain Badiou, a significant political event will always require 'the dictatorial power of a creation ex nihilo'. Everywhere, it seems, at least amongst commentators of a certain age and type, pessimism prevails with regards to the predominant aesthetic preferences of the twenty first century: popular music, supposedly, is in a rut.

Yet when, if ever, did the political engagement kindled by popular music amount to more than it does today? The sixties? The punk explosion of the late 1970s? Despite an on-going fixation upon these periods in much rock journalism and academic writing, this book demonstrates that the utilisation of popular music to promote political causes, on the one hand, and the expression of dissent through the medium of 'popular song', on the other hand, remain widely in practice today.

This is not to argue, however, for complacency with regards to the need for expressions of political dissent through popular culture. Rather, the book looks carefully at actual usages of popular music in political processes, as well as expressions of political feeling through song, and argues that there is much to encourage us to think that the demand for radical change remains in circulation. The question is, though, how necessary is it for politically-motivated popular music to offer aesthetic novelty?

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book The Essential Hyland by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book The Dialectics of Creation by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book A Rather English Marriage by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Foundations of Indirect Discrimination Law by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book South from Ephesus by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Matthew: An Introduction and Study Guide by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Spinoza’s Authority Volume I by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book The History of American Literature on Film by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Surpassing Modernity by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Ardennes 1944 Peiper & Skorzeny by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Witch Child by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Bill Veeck by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book The Last Royal Rebel by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Landing Craft, Infantry and Fire Support by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
Cover of the book Hegel and the Art of Negation by Senior Lecturer in Popular Music Pete Dale
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy