Music has historically allowed people to express displeasure without fear of censorship or retaliation. Beginning with the broadside, explain how this has been the case. Continue your historical tracing by thinking of other types of music that you know. Why are musicians allowed this freedom? Do you think this is the case in every country?
What will be an ideal response?
Broadsides were often political in nature, and because there was no known composer for most of them, the anonymous authors could freely express their opinions. Songs such as "The Liberty Song" expressed political points of view that could have meant trouble for someone giving a speech in a public forum. Interestingly, music has been used in this manner in America long after the Revolutionary period, and even continued when composer's names were connected with their songs. In the Vietnam era, music groups made powerful statements against the war, and although some songs used veiled language, others contained open criticism of the government. A more recent example occurred during the 2002 American presidential campaign when the country group "Dixie Chicks" overtly criticized President George Bush. In some countries, performers would be jailed for verbally attacking a living president or leader. America's freedom of speech equally applies to song.
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Jean Rouch's Les Maîtres fous ("The Mad Masters"), a documentary record of the ceremonies of possession performed by Ghana's Hauka cult, caused a scandal in both Europe and Africa because:
A. the film draws parallels between the cult's rituals and the employment of African domestics in French colonies. B. the ceremonies, long abandoned by the Hauka cultists, were meticulously scripted and staged for Rouch's camera. C. of the frequent onscreen nudity of the Hauka priests. D. the ceremonies' participants adopted the identities of the colonialists who rule them.
Which is one of the basic philosophical beliefs of the Classical Period?
a. Might makes right. b. What is true is universal and eternal. c. God and nature are one and the same. d. Truth is what your feelings tell you is true. e. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Which most accurately describes a mobile?
a. It moves when its motor is activated. b. It hangs on a wall. c. It hangs from the ceiling. d. It moves when there is an air current. e. It hangs from the ceiling and moves when there is an air current.