National Council on Public History

Steven Garabedian, Assistant Professor of History, Marist College

Proposal Type: Structured Conversation

Seeking: Additional Presenters

Abstract: Popular music is a key site of common interest, curiosity, and energy. It is an inclusive means by which historians can explore inclusive and alternative histories for lay audiences. But, is this rich resource of wide general currency being utilized for all it is worth? This proposal seeks all parties interested in exploring the possibilities of music in public history.

Seeking: Do you use music in your public history teaching or museum work? Are you a historian-musician, who incorporates music into your pedagogy or research? Have you used musical items as historical source materials, or in fact conducted oral histories with musicians, professional or non-professional?

If you are any or all of the above, please contact me. I am starting from scratch in terms of personnel, but would love to put together a panel exploring the promise and pitfalls of using music as a means to alternative and inclusive histories. I conceive of this as a Structured Conversation, but if a Traditional Session makes more sense, then we will do that.

All art affords learning potential, of course. But, unlike film or painting, only popular music can communicate so much, so broadly, and so quickly to a wide general audience. Live or recorded, music — particularly of the rock, country, blues, soul, funk, or folk varieties, for instance — can do a lot, and reveal a lot, even in its 3-minute pop form.

In my classroom and in my scholarship, I have used the blues of Willie Dixon to explore black history and the peace movement in the U.S., the music of Janis Joplin to open up the topic of feminism for wary undergraduates, and Randy Newman’s “Sail Away” or The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” to discuss slavery, the Civil War, and counter-narratives to American Exceptionalism. These are just some of the ways I’ve used popular music to reach a general audience of learners. I’m sure you have more. Contact me.

If historians often find themselves in the role of exploding myths and challenging the erroneous currents of “common sense,” then music is a way to do it in a way that welcomes exploration rather than pointing fingers.

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Steven Garabedian,Steven.Garabedian[at]marist.edu

If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.

All feedback, and offers of assistance, should be submitted by July 3, 2015.

Related Topics: Civic Engagement, Museums/Exhibits

Discussion