Last night I watched a documentary on PBS called “Get Up, Stand Up” that discussed the birth and development of protest music in the 20th century. The show covered all the basics including Bob Dylan, Live Aid and (of course) Bono. It was very informative and even included a significant section on Joe Hill, the man considered to be the father of the American protest song (Did you know that the phrase “pie in the sky” came from a Joe Hill song?). Throughout our short history, it is obvious that art, music and most recently celebrity have all played an important role in providing a voice for the American people through which they can show their concern with current events and the establishment. Considering the current state of world affairs, where are the artists and musicians now? The only example of a present day protest song in the documentary was System of a Down’s “Boom” and who even knows that song. As we sit back and watch the news from Baghdad scroll along the bottom of our television screens the death toll in Iraq is about to reach the 2,000 mark for military casualties. Even Madonna, the Queen of Controversy, chickened out two years ago and withdrew her much discussed “American Life” video from rotation on MTV. When I first saw the video, even I was astounded by its vivid war imagery. But after seeing the news footage of yesterday’s bombings in Iraq, her video is only more relevant. Instead we get her recently televised documentary that veils her call for social responsibility in a schmaltzy Kabbalah-driven lexicon . Even American poets seem to have more guts than Madonna, but (unfortunately) no one reads poetry anymore.
Despite having participated in my fair share of protests and marches, I am not a political activist. But I do believe that art can be used to illuminate the concerns of the people, whether it be the masses or the few. Today’s artists and musicians talk about making an impact through art, but now I’m starting to realize that they really are a part of the “Me Generation.”
1 comment:
I would guess that there are tons of artists out there making statements, but unfortunately none of them are in the public eye. look at the dixie chicks. they said something about george bush and they are suddenly marginalized. they cut their sales in half or more. same with michael moore - while he may have gained some loyal followers with farenheit 911, he pissed off (and made others feel guilty) tons of people. no one seems to want to take a stand based on the fact that they will piss someone off. sad.
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