A Study of Musicology and Social Discourse in Mid-Twentieth-Century America
Abstract
Social scientists and philosophers generally agree that music pervades most cultures and helps formpeoples identities and worldviews. This thesis examines music associated with mid-twentieth-centurydiscourse movements in the United States to establish musicological patterns and analyze their relationshipto social discourse. Documented historical accounts and music-chart ratings across movements were used todetermine the popularity and historical significance of songs. The present study finds that mid-twentiethcenturypopular music reflected and amplified belief systems held during the era and reciprocally affectedsocial action. This work identifies how music interacted with the counterculture movement, the civil rightsmovement, and the antiVietnam War movement, and reveals an intimate and multifaceted relationship withmusic across multiple subgenres. This exploration of the youth-powered mid-twentieth-century musicindustry shows how larger-than-life performers emerged and exerted tremendous influence on young people,thus developing youth identities and fueling youth activism during the era. Ultimately, this thesis suggeststhat music can help practitioners who are responsible for resolving social imbalances and maintaining peaceto explain the belief systems and motivations of people involved in discourse, especially for those such asthe youth of most cultures, whose personal identity and worldview formation are commonly in flux duringthe coming-of-age process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1126782
Entities
People
- James B. Briggs
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School