Politics and Music: Class Meetings

Professor Courtney Brown

Meeting #19: Nonmovement Social and Political Protest Music, Part II
SELECTIONS played in class:
Video Selections:
George Harrison: Bangla Desh (From "The Concert For Bangladesh")
Bob Dylan: A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, Blowin In The Wind (From "The Concert For Bangladesh")
Billy Joel: The Downeaster "Alexa" (From "Billy Joel Greatest Hits, Volume III")
Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson: Scream (From "History On Film, Volume II")

QUESTIONS and DISCUSSION: Today we completed our discussion of the Bangladesh concert and began to characterize various types of protest music, ranging from the folk song of Billy Joel, "The Downeaster 'Alexa,'" to Michael and Janet Jackson's "Scream." What areas of controversy can you hear in Billy Joel's song that might be objectionable to the environmental movement, and why? Can you analyze "Scream" so that you can understand all of its symbolism? What is meant by the space ship, and why does it seem to come from somewhere distant before arriving on Earth? What is meant by the exploding ceiling glass? What is meant by the cartoon figures and the announcer on the video screen in the background? What is being protested in this song? Can you relate some of Bob Marley's political philosophy to the content of the "Scream" video? If so, where is Babylon reflected in the video, and where is the concept of inner captivity? What is meant by Michael's head movements when he meditates, and why is this important to the point of the song? This is a very complicated song and video. Spend some time thinking about it. There are also Dylan-type themes in the song. Can you find them?