The English punk band The Clash put it this way: “Let fury have the hour/Anger can be power/If you know that you can use it.” In this seminar we will explore music that attempts to put anger to use; first looking at specific touchstone political crises for punk artists who felt compelled to create in the face of injustice; rage; and oppression. We will then trace the rise of hip-hop as informed by a strong tradition of protest culminating in hip-hop music of the Trump era. Ultimately; we will ask: what makes good political music? can political art be good art? what happens when revolutionary culture is co-opted; packaged; and sold? We will create and DJ a radio show; to be broadcast on WALF utilizing the new Media Lab; exploring the music of protest from the 1970s to today. Punk and post-punk artists may include: The Clash; Gang of Four; Minor Threat; Patti Smith; and Bikini Kill. Hip-hop artists and albums we will listen to are: Public Enemy; NWA’s Straight Outta Compton; Killer Mike; Dead Prez; Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah albums; noname’s Room 33; and Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. Additions as suggested by the class are more than welcome!
Prerequisites
Be in the Honors Program