Running Head: Protest Music Casas 1

Protest Music Dating form 1960-2016: A Literature Review.

Christian A. Casas

University of Texas at El Paso

Running Head: Protest Music Casas 2

Abstract.

The controversial side of music deals with a lot of dispute in the American industry.

Artists have found themselves focusing on conjuring an abstract emphasizing the need for

change in American society. Lots of famous names such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley,

NWA, and many more have contributed to creating a change in society. The call for equality in

rights, freedom, work, race and other topics have inspired many artists to reach out to

communities and raise awareness for their desired cause. Many of these music activists have

proven progress through their works in music, thus contributing to society.

Protest Music Dating form 1960-2016: A Literature Review.

Music has served to be one of the most efficient ways to reach out to a community. The

sub-genre of Protest Music carries the same foundations of music and expands them with a

purpose of change. The human desire of a difference is what fuels protest music to be so

powerful. Many occasions have proven protest music to be the heart of the inspiration behind

people.

Protest music has proven to be the essence of many movements in history and present

time. Present times Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is the epitome to represent the use of

music in protest. Artist Kendrick Lamars song Alright from To Pimp a Butterfly is chanted

across BLM gatherings to express the peoples feelings. Lyrics from the song speak or

suppression and the hate for inequality; protest music speaks for the people. Without the

influence of the music, the BLM movement would not have been as effective. Reason behind this

statement is the logical explanation stating that the less people aware of the protest music
Running Head: Protest Music Casas 3

promoting the movement, then the less people will support the movement itself. Therefor protest

music contributes to raise awareness and spark and interest in the people.

Protest music is a topic that holds much information. To fully understand every

aspect of protest music, the following questions can be asked and analyzed to broaden

knowledge on protest music:

1. What consequences, positive or negative, have artists faced when presenting this genre

of music to their audience?

2. How has or does the audience perceive this music and demonstrate support or rejection

of the ideology?
3. How has modern protest music gone to influence newer sources of music including

listeners and artists to bring greater attention to the cause?

These questions help to view and understand the meaning, inspiration, enthusiasm and heart it

has taken people to create protest music and allow others to follow and support it. To begin the

analysis this paper will first formally introduce question number one.

What consequences, positive or negative, have artists faced when presenting this genre of music to

their audience?

Artists all around the world have faced consequences for showing support or opposing

certain political opinions. Some of the consequences faced by artist may be negative, as well as

positive; regardless the artists always fulfill the goal of being heard. The Hip hop and Rap genres

tend to be some of the most filled with protest remarks due to their ability to easily express anger

and firm attitudes. Both genres are also the most heard by the younger generation from the year

2000 and on. As it says on http://impactofrapmusiconyouths.weebly.com, Hip hop has been

vital in promoting social and political awareness among the youth of today.
Running Head: Protest Music Casas 4

Rap music educates people from several different perspectives and raises

many social issues.. Most artist reach the positive consequence of achieving

an audience. An example of this concept from a different genre could be

Artist John Lennons Give Peace A Chance during the Antiwar movement in

1969. John Lennon succeeded in getting the message across to promote

more peaceful options. Even though Lennon got the message across, the

artist and supporters of the Antiwar movement failed to convince the

government to reach more peaceful ends. One of the negative consequences

could be failing to achieve the task or goal the protest music and

disappointing an audience. Alongside all the consequences, artists receive

more attention and higher popularity which can be positive or negative

depending on what the artist wants.

How has or does the audience perceive this music and demonstrate support or rejection of the

ideology?

Protest music reaches audiences that not only enjoy the music but also support a

movement, making them consist of big audiences. Audiences respond to the movement using the

music as their ally. Protesters are found chanting lyrics of songs that promote their feelings.

Referencing the BLM movement, protesters chant the lyrics of Alright by Kendrick Lamar.

The song expresses strong social attention to black lives being discriminated. BLM supporters

chant the lyrics to mirror their emotions to other people.

The opposing side of protest music might be considered vulgar and therefor rejected.

Audiences may give a lot of negative criticism to express their rejection. A controversial genre is
Running Head: Protest Music Casas 5

Rap due to how much it can promote violence and negative attitudes while expressing strong

social, political or other topics. Certain songs may even be banned or canceled by authority

figures such as recording labels or even the government to demonstrate the rejection of the

negative concept. In a survey conducted by the author, a visual can demonstrate that the majority

of people consider Rap to easily become vulgar.

How has modern protest music gone to influence newer sources of music including listeners and

artists to bring greater attention to the cause?

As music becomes a more common luxury for society to have, artists have been inspired to

sprout from many different places. New technology has made sharing easier for the average member

of society to spread new concepts, including protest music and social movements. Modern Protest

music is music made to be the topic of talk; this is the reason why it can be so controversial. Sharing
Running Head: Protest Music Casas 6

the protest music may influence the listener and increase support or even opposition of a movement.

Regardless, the music reaches people and inspires them to support, oppose, or create.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, protest music may generate a very comprehensive meaning which can be

explored by the question presented at the beginning of this analysis. As explored through the

questions, artists can experience positive and negative consequences of achieving a greater audience

to support, or to fail in achieving their goals. The example is artists John Lennons Give Peace A

Chance during the Antiwar movement, where the movement did not succeed in convincing the

government to not go to war. Support of protest music can be evident in the chanting of lyrics during

a march as it has happened in the BLM movement. Rejection of an ideology can be found in the

negative criticism expressed by the people, as well as the actions taken by the government to ban

music. Overall, protest music has proven to serve a great influence in modern society as new artists

emerge to defy norms. Protest music has proven to be the most effective way to reach the people.
Running Head: Protest Music Casas 7

Sources.

1. Robert, A. R. (1969). "The Times They Are A-Changin"'. The Music of Protest. Retrieved

from http://journals.sagepub.com
2. Craig, C. W. (2007). Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and

the Rise and Fall of American Soul.. 352. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books.
3. Erin, E. S. (2011). Antiwar. Top 10 American Protest Movements. Retrieved from

http://content.time.com.
4. Impacts of Rap Music on Youths. Retrieved from

http://impactofrapmusiconyouths.weebly.com