Blues as a Symbolic Resistance and Representation of Countercultural Groups in the United States in the late 19 – early 20 centuries
Introduction. This article examines the blues music tradition from the perspective of the use of symbolic representations by the creators of this form of culture, which formed a unique “hidden transcripts” transmitted by certain socio-cultural groups that lived and worked in a certain historical era. Since the blues tradition in the United States originates in black communities, in terms of the self-representation of representatives of this groups to the dominant culture, we can talk abut the music of this socio-cultural period of American history as an instrument for conveying “hidden transcripts”. Methodology and sources. The author used the comparative-historical methodology in the context of studying the relationship of domination and subordination between groups and individuals. All subordinate groups use resistance strategies that go unnoticed by superior groups. Open public interaction between dominant and oppressed groups is defined by the term “public transcripts” and criticism of power that takes place offstage by the term “hidden transcripts”. Forms of hidden transcripts are coded demonstrations by oppressed groups to resist and oppose themselves, their way of life, and the difficulties of inequality to dominant groups. Results and discussion. In the context of any dominance-subordination relationship, spaces of autonomy for oppressed racial and social groups were formed, in which there was an opportunity for self-expression as acts of resistance to existing inequality, which found its expression in songs, folk tales, clothing, language, and religious expression. The development of hidden transcripts depends not only on the creation of relatively uncontrollable physical places and free time, but also on the active human agents who create and disseminate them. The bearers are likely to be as socially marginalized as the places where they gather. Conclusion. Oppressed or marginalized groups create not just their art and culture as a social group caught up in a certain cultural context, but a culture of integration into society, as well as a culture of interaction with the social hierarchy in which these groups have a rather low position. Groups excluded from the decision-making process or weakly involved in it, develop their own models for demonstrating their presence in society, and also try to convey their content to all other members of society, whether groups and individuals close or distant in status and hierarchy.
Authors: Maksim P. Zamotin
Direction: Sociology
Keywords: sociology of music, anthropology of music, hidden transcripts, African-American blues music tradition, technology of enchantment
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