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Description: |
Many Americans call themselves democrats (small –d) and think they live in one of the world’s great democracies. Yet there is reason to doubt such claims. One might doubt that our political system can be called a democracy. One might doubt that democracy is a good idea. From its inception in ancient Athens, after all, democracy has always been an object of fear and hatred, associated more with anarchy and uprising than with good governance (whether that is a good or bad thing is one of the issues we will debate). This class will investigate these (and other) issues by exploring the concept of democracy and the various political conflicts over it. What is democracy, and what is its relationship to revolution or insurrection? What sorts of activities should democratic citizens engage in? What is so great about democracy anyway? We will address these questions partly by reading what political theorists from various traditions (conservative, liberal, radical, feminist, and Black political thought). Yet we will also explore them by looking at how musicians have grappled with them, potentially including music of Julius Eastman, Olivier Messiaen, and Steve Reich, performers like Paul Robeson and Marian Anderson, and a host of others. In looking at these writers, composers, and performers, we will address the question of what it means to be a musician-citizen in a democracy, and how contemporary and historical musicians and composers have engaged with that question. The class will examine and potentially engage in live performances when possible. |