The purpose of this blog is to look at interviews of American musicians who have fought social and political injustices. This MUS300 course is intended to explore music that deals with controversial issues that are both social and political. I am currently taking this class in order to fulfill my upper level class that is outside of my major (ULOD). I also enjoy music so that is an aspect that drew me into taking this class. In this class, I would like to further my understanding of music that is about resistance, revolution, and liberation since i do not have much knowledge on this topic.
This video is about Joe Glazer
http://www.folkways.si.edu/video/usa.aspx
Joe Glazer was a singer and songwriter that associated himself with labor unions. His songs are about the labor movement, and fighting for the interest of the working class. He believed that music was a very important part of the labor movement in that it uplifted and motivated other workers. Joe Glazer sang at some political rallies for people such as John F Kennedy and Bill Clinton. Glazer liked to sing for people who had similar spirit and beliefs as himself.
The primary issue Joe Glazer dealt with in his music was the rights of the working class. He sang in order to fight for safer working conditions as well as fair wages. One of his most known labor songs is "The Mill was Made of Marble". This song fought for safer and cleaner working conditions in mills for the Textile industry. He saw this movement as a war because he said that you can have the best arguments in the world, but you have nothing if the workers do not stick together. He used his music in order to keep the workers fighting together and build their spirits. Joe Glazer wanted his music to have a specific meaning, and wanted it to inspire people want to "do or die" for the cause.
Joe Glazer adresses the issue of workers rights, which include fair wages and safer working conditions. Since I am taking this course in order to fulfill my ULOD teir I chose an artist I had the most interest in. I was drawn to this artist because the subject he fought for of workers rights peaked the most interest for me.
Extra information links
http://www.wfma.net/glazer.htm
http://www.folkways.si.edu/explore_folkways/joe_glazer.aspx
Nice start! You'll have a good handle on our next unit when we begin talking about Wobblies and the Labor Movement! I like links at the bottom but I could not follow the first one; make sure it is activated, ok?
ReplyDelete