Music in the Post-9/11 World

Music in the Post 9/11 Worldis the first book to examine the crucial role that music has played in the world's reaction to the attacks of September 11, 2001. Less than 12 hours after the hijacked planes had crashed in New York and Washington, members of the U.S. Congress hastily convened a news conference on the Capitol steps with a spirited--if somewhat ragged--performance of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." This was just the first of the myriad musical responses to the events of the day. The editors of this volume have assembled an interdisciplinary team of international scholars to reflect upon the place, broadly speaking, of music in the post-9/11 world. Several authors eloquently describe how the events of September 11 served as a direct catalyst for artistic expression and commentary. This is one dimension of music in the post-9/11 world. Others approach the topic from a different angle, demonstrating how political and military actions that were initiated in the wake of 9/11profoundly altered the environment in which music was created and performed. Bills like the Patriot Act have indirectly affected popular music by discouraging the expression of dissent, while major media conglomerates--that control radio, TV, and newspapers--have self-censored the music that is heard over the airwaves and reviewed in the media. For students of popular music, history, and cultural studies,Music in the Post 9/11 Worldwill be a provocative collection.