Sp9. Were the motivations for free jazz musicians in the 1960's to rebel against white middle class American society?
Contents
- 1 Discussion
- 2 Jazz and Rebellion
- 2.1 Reasons to think free jazz musicians motive to produce free jazz was as a rebellion against white middle class American society
- 2.2 Reasons to think free jazz musicians motive to produce free jazz was NOT as a rebellion against white middle class American society
- 2.3 Who were the 1960's free jazz musicians?
- 3 NOTES
Discussion
Jazz and Rebellion
Wikipedia: Jazz Age maintains that jazz was adopted by young Americans in the early 1920's as a rebellion against the stodgier Victorian style era mores and social behavior.
“1920s youth used the influence of jazz to rebel against the traditional culture of previous generations. This youth rebellion of the 1920s went hand-in-hand with fads like bold fashion statements (flappers), women smoking cigarettes, free talk about sex, and new radio concerts. Dances like the Charleston, developed by African Americans, suddenly became popular among the youth. Traditionalists were aghast at what they considered the breakdown of morality. Some urban middle-class African Americans perceived jazz as "devil's music", and believed the improvised rhythms and sounds were promoting promiscuity.[1] (bold not in original)
Several authors have claimed that a primary motivation for free jazz artists to make free jazz music was as a rebellion against white middle class American society.
“In the 1960's [Amiri] Baraka (aka Leroi Jones) attacks white institutions in white avant-garde forms, conventions, and diction. In part Baraka was drawn to the white avant-garde because of their rebellion against white middle-class society, but they were using white forms and ideology for their revolt. At this point Baraka has not found the right black form and ideology for his rebellion.”[2] (bold and bold italic not in original)
Reasons to think free jazz musicians motive to produce free jazz was as a rebellion against white middle class American society
Reasons to think free jazz musicians motive to produce free jazz was NOT as a rebellion against white middle class American society
There is little doubt that if you were a 1960's free jazz musician that you likely had somevresentments towards the ruling class in America. At that time the white middle class in America had a reasonable amount of political clout.
This, however, is not to the point. The point is whether it was these particular resentments against the American ruling classes that was the primary or fundamental motivations for producing free jazz. Since we are investigation motivations we necessarily must take into account the particular individuals who were the relevant free jazz musicians. It us only if we turn to individual;s psychologies and motivations that the main thesis could be proved or disproved.
To examine individual motivations for producing free h=jazz we will need to know who the relevant free jazz musicians are that are so being claimed to have thus rebellion motivation. So, who are these free jazz musicians and what can we learn about each individual,person;s motivations for playing free jazz?
Who were the 1960's free jazz musicians?
There is no question about who some of the most prominent figures were in 1960's free jazz. Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that there were many so-called secondary or non-primary musicians (in free jazz) who also had motivations relevant as to why any musician might desire to be playing free jazz.
Primary 1960's free jazz musicians
Non-Primary 1960's free jazz musicians
- Charles Mingus
- Biff
- Mole
NOTES
- ↑ Wikipedia: Jazz Age.
- ↑ "How You Sound??": Amiri Baraka Writes Free Jazz, William J. Harris, JazzOnline, p. 314.