Sound and Resistance: Music and Protest Across the Globe

About this course:

From the rhythmic chants of civil rights marches to the anthems of anti-colonial movements and the sonic resistance of punk, hip hop, and experimental noise, music has long been a vehicle for protest, solidarity, and radical imagination. This course explores the many ways music has been used to challenge power, articulate dissent, and build collective identity across diverse historical and cultural contexts. We examine a wide range of case studies—including anti-apartheid songs in South Africa, Nueva Canción in Latin America, the role of gospel in the U.S. civil rights movement, punk in Thatcher-era Britain, indigenous musical activism, feminist and queer protest music, and digital-age movements like Black Lives Matter and #MahsaAmini. Through close listening, critical analysis, and engagement with both scholarly and primary sources, we explore the complex relationships between sound, voice, visibility, and political action. We also consider the ethical dimensions of music and activism and look at the risks and limits of sonic protest. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to the video for 30 days.