Routledge Popular Music and Human Rights (Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series)

Popular music has long understood that human rights, if attainable at all, involve a struggle without end. The right to imagine an individual will, the right to some form of self-determination and the right to self-legislation have long been at the forefront of popular music's approach to human rights. At a time of such uncertainty and confusion, with human rights currently being violated all over the world, a new and sustained examination of cultural responses to such issues is warranted. In this respect music, which is always produced in a social context, is an extremely useful medium; in its immediacy music has a potency of expression whose reach is long and wide. This two-volume set comprises Volume I: British and American Music, and Volume II: World Music. Review 'Anyone interested in the topic of popular music and human rights can begin here. The volume gives an empirically grounded introduction to a variety of perspectives on the topic. It shows how human rights issues in popular music are embedded in everyday identity politics and media consumption. Moreover, the volume illustrates the complexity of music as a medium of expression in creating pleasure and discontent, coherence and unrest, individualism and collectivity.' Fabian Holt, Roskilde University, Denmark About the Author Ian Peddie has taught at Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of Sydney, and West Texas A&M University. His books include The Resisting Muse: Popular Music and Social Protest (2006) and a study of class in American literature. He has published widely on twentieth century British and American culture. He is currently editing a collection on music and protest since 1900. Kieran Cashell, Kevin C. Dunn, Deborah Finding, John Hutnyk, Stephen A. King, Stefan Mattessich, Neil Nehring, Sam O'Connell, Ian Peddie, Christopher A. Scales, David Thurmaier, Sheila Whiteley, William Anselmi, Aaron Corn, Paul D. Greene, Angela Impey, Mark LeVine, Valdis Muktupavels, Rajko Mursic, John M. Schechter, Gerry Smyth, Andreas Steen, Sergei I. Zhuk.