Giovanni Cortez

Prof. Ginger Dellenbaugh

Music and Politics
October 27th, 2014

Final Project Proposal

WHAT: In its barest description, my project is going to be a collage composition of the

political 1960’s in America. Loosely inspired by DJ Spooky and Tom Waits’ work with

Allen Ginsberg, I am aiming to put the voices of “radical”* progressives in a Gil-Scott

Heron type of context, with music to back their speeches. What is most important to

preserve in this project is what Roland Barthes calls “the grain of the voice”, and outside

of a music space, the composition that backs these selected people must match both what

they are expressing, both singularly and as a movement, but also their influence and

places in history. (For example, any composition backing Martin Luther King must not

sound violent or physically abusive in any form). Ultimately, I stand by this project being

important and as a piece of political music because time and time again we have proven

in class that music and politics are inseparable, especially during a time like the 1960’s in

America. Putting these voices with this music to back them, to ascribe sounds showing

what the movements and speeches sonically sound like, will perhaps exhibit an

interpretation not explored by many before.

*I hesitate to call these entire groups/people radical, but it stands as a placeholder for
now. I believe it helps get my proposal across without compromising the vision. Through
the process of creating, a better word will be chosen and appropriately appointed.

WHO: Alas, the “who”, as I’m sure the “what” sounded rather cryptic without this

consequential piece of information. The whole of the composition still needs an

overarching title, but it will broken up by political movements/groups of 1960’s America:

 1. Civil Rights Movement
-Martin Luther King
-John Lewis
-Jesse Jackson

2. The Black Panther Party for Self Defense

-Huey P. Newton
-Stokely Carmichael
-Fred Hampton

3. The Young Lords Party

-Jose “Cha Cha” Jimenez
-Pedro Pietri
-Felipe Luciano

4. The Weather Underground

-Bill Ayers
-Karen Ashely
-Jeff Jones
These are neither all nor the only voices I am choosing to use, but instead some of the

most important that will be heard. The “voices” will also not only be subjected to those in

politics. I will draw from outside speakers and poets as well to add dimensions to what is

already being said. I am also on the fence on whether or not to do the group, “the

Yippies”. The Youth International Party was an anarchist group in the 1960’s that may fit

well in this collection composition, but it all depends on time. If I have completed the

others in a timely manner, I think I will include them.

METHODOLOGY:

Musically, all the compositions will be originals whether they be collages uses samples

and drum tracks or completely fresh, instrumented pieces. There will be a lot going on so

I am making sure to not lose track of every single sound bite I use. Every sample, voice,

speech, etc. will be noted and added to what is looking to be a very long bibliography.