Part 6: A Word on Politics

The political analysis of music has gained enormous traction recently, appearing in all studies of music, from Schenkerian analysis to music theory all the way to ludomusicology (the study of video game music). This politically focused study is intriguing because so much music is closely tied to social activities, and illustrates that anti-social music, in composition or performance, is quite rare. In other words, music is almost always influenced by the time period it was written in, and by the audiences it was written for. 

The political approach also clarifies that not all arguments about music are strictly musical. Some are simply political arguments about what school of thought you adhere to in any given environment. This politics-centered approach is highly malleable, meaning its conclusions are easily manipulated to say or mean whatever one can argue politically. A political approach can assign intent to composers long passed, or can advocate for causes and ideologies that the composers themselves never even encountered or adhered to. Researchers, students, or authors can simply find a social issue, and craft an argument based in music that supports their ideas, and this can be plausible if you argue that music is an entirely subjective art. 

I don’t believe that political findings are invalid when paired with music, but without an equal and anchoring strictly musical counterpart these findings are unable to be definitive or wholly accurate. While I have been enlightened and intrigued by my own study of politics and its connection to music, I also believe that music is not entirely subjective–there is something objective in music, a universal constant that applies to any music, anywhere. That universal constant is listening. As we build on that foundation we gain a proper place for political analysis of music, and the greater benefit of knowing what our musical foundation should be, regardless of culture, education, or experience.

This article is part six of a series on listening theory. Stayed tuned for part seven next week!