Any sort of musical mass media makes them an easy conduit for propaganda. While the radio as a medium allowed accessibility into the homes of citizens, Hitler propagandized jazz. Through careful restrictions, “lively propaganda swing arrangements” and “Nazi-approved numbers” flooded state-sanctioned radio stations. However, there’s not enough information on whether or not this was effective.
What’s difficult about propagandizing musical mass media is the subjectivity behind music itself, particularly lyrical content. (I’m starting to sound like the authors we’ve been reading lately) I’m sure that if you played an instrumental jazz piece for someone, they would not be able to identify it as “Nazi Jazz” unless they knew the specific composition rules behind it.
The argument that music is relative does not apply in this context. If a piece of music with lyrics is propagandized, the people in power control the message of the song, thus destroying any possibilities of its misinterpretation. This is what makes music effective.
Another way that musical mass media can serve as a platform for propaganda is to serve as a reflection for what the music represents. For example, classically-inspired compositions can represent the complexity behind a culture (In this sense, Nazis promoting the Aryan Race). However, it’s interesting to see how Nazi Germany targeted jazz as a platform for propaganda, considering its ethnic roots. Was this a populist appeal? The research in the quarterly academic review stated that the propaganda was only effective it sat well with listeners initially, in that they agreed with it.
However, compositions with lyrics can be effective, only if they have a strong hook; Especially if they are marketed as children’s songs. Think about it- a song like “Ring Around o Rosie” with propagandized lyrics would be effective. Of course, the research behind the effectiveness of radio and music propaganda is lacking.
I would argue that the medium that which propaganda is distributed is more important than the musical conduit for it. If nobody can see or hear the messages, then it does not work.
This week’s response is a little shorter than what I usually put out- I did not want to stretch an argument too far, and I feel as if I’ve made all the points concisely.
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