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Music in the Cold War

Characterized by military apprehension, economic competition, and political conflict, the cold war was the term used to refer to the relationship established between the US and the USSR after World War II (Whitfield 377-392). Accordingly, these two states engaged in various proxy wars as they differed in their governance of each respective state. The two states considered themselves as sworn enemies and they were determined to outdo each other in relation to the ways in which the two states were run and governed. Though the cold war is considered as one of the political wars that characterized this period, researchers argue that the war between these two states was beyond political and military competition.

According to research studies, the cold war was also a cultural war with the states involved fighting for the sustenance of their different cultures. Because of the wars, the two states feared the possibility of cultural delusion in their states, and for that reason, they embraced the use of various artistic forms to help prevent this (Whitfield 377-392). Though many argue that the cold war had a significant effect on the culture and lives of the citizens in these states, others argue that the impact was vice versa. That artistic components such as music, literature, and film had effects on the cold war itself (Rosen 1). More specifically, music is considered to have had the most significant effect on the cold war. This is because, out of all other artistic elements and components, music was the most exploited, and more music groups and musicians came up with various compositions that impacted the cold war. Accordingly, researchers argue that music composed during this time had significant impacts on the cold war including augmenting the wars and conflict during this time, as well as, reducing and possibly bringing to an end the tension that was experienced during this time (Rosen 1). In essence, music had a great impact on the cold war, which is the subject of this paper.

This paper examines the impact of music in the Cold War. Specifically, the paper examines music as a weapon of war, music a cultural expression, music as a diplomatic tool, and music as a source of encouragement.

Impact of Music on the Cold War

In order to understand the impact of music on the cold war, one must consider the various ways in which music was used and exploited during this time. A closer examination on the exploitation of music during the cold war reveals that music was used in four key ways, including as a weapon, as a form of cultural expression, as a tool for diplomacy, as well as, a source of encouragement (Schmelz 3-16). These uses of music can be divided into two main broad categories to illustrate the impact of music on the cold war. These categories include the impact of music on the augmentation of the war and the impact of music on the reduction and end of the war.

Escalation of the War

Increasing and accelerating the war is the first impact of music on the cold war. Musicians and other musical composers established various musical compositions are considered as having been responsible for the escalation of the cold war during this time. This is because the states at were used their musical compositions weapons of war and forms of expression, thus increasing the disparities between the states at war (Whitfield 377-392). By increasing the disparities between the states, music indirectly fuelled the war between the states, as the two states fought to express their cultures through music.

Music as a Weapon of War

As previously mentioned, the cold war was largely influenced by music and other artistic forms of expression. Music impacted the cold war in various ways, with one of the ways being fueling war between the two states. According to Cusick, music during the cold war was used, not only as a weapon of war, but also as a weapon for torture (Cusick 1). The first use of music as a weapon of war and torture was demonstrated by the US troops in 1989. As a strategy for inducing a Panamanian surrender, the US troops played loud music as a form of weaponry known as “acoustic bombardment” (Cusick 1). As researchers explain, acoustic bombardment was a form of war attack in the battlefields that was considered to have a negative effect on those to whom it was being imposed. Specifically, this form of war weaponry was said to be an alternative to other lethal methods of armament. This is because, this type of weapon was used for torturing enemy troops through sensory deprivation and sexual humiliation, thus fostering more an increment of battle and war in between the states at war (Cusick 1). Using music as a weapon of war encouraged an increase in war and conflict because it prompted retaliation from enemy troops who were initially subjected to this form of weaponry. When prisoners were captured, they would also be subjected to various musical compositions that were designed to force them into revealing the secrets of their home troops. Detainee interrogations during this time were highly characterized by playing of music, which had a psychological effect on those under interrogation. This, therefore, illustrates how music fuelled wars and conflict during the cold war.

Music as a Cultural Expression

Evidently, music was and still is primarily used as a form of expression for the composer and his people. Musical compositions during the cold war were highly characteristic of cultural expression and attitudes (Whitfield 377-392). For that reason, most of the music composed during this time was created to reflect the different cultures of the people and communities in the society during this time. Though the composition of music as a form of cultural expression has a positive connotation to it, its overuse in the period during the cold war transformed these forms of music into political idioms (Whitfield 377-392). This transformation saw the escalation of the cold war because most people used music to express their political ideologies regarding the cold war. Music that was used for political expression slowly took over the society, and it in turn saw the increase of political protests in the different states. Using music as a form of cultural and political expression was is considered as a way through which music impacted the cold war as it promoted negative thinking in individuals under the name of “freedom of political expression”. Most people believed that they had a right to their political thought, and because these thought differed across cultures, the possibility of fighting among each other increased because of these differences. For that reason, music can be said as to having impacted the cold war by escalating the war into new levels that were not existent before.

Curtailing the War

Research studies on the impact of music on the cold war also identify the curtailing of war as one of the impacts of music on the cold war. Though music may have played a role in increasing the war, researchers and historians also argue that music composed during the cold war had a significant effect on the reduction of the cold war. Musical compositions were used to discourage the two cultures that were at war with each other form going into war. Instead, such music spoke for the need for peace between the US and the USSR, by educating individuals on the importance of maintain peace with each other. In addition to this, such music was also used to illustrate the disadvantages of going to war and the negative effects that this had on the society at large. Two main uses of music have been identified with relation to curtailing the war including the utilization of music as a diplomatic tool and as a source of encouragement.

Music as a Tool for Diplomacy

Music was also exploited as a diplomatic tool during the cold war. As Fosler-Lussier explains in her article, musical compositions were used for the enhancement of the image of the cultures that were at war with each other (Fosler-Lussier 1). Specifically, the US utilized various forms of music such as jazz and folk music to enhance America’s image to the rest of the world. Accordingly, the US state department deployed American musicians to various parts of the world to perform various forms of music as a way of illustrating their diplomacy during the Cold War. These musicians played the role of cultural ambassadors as they used their music to reach out to the different populations of the world and spread their message across (Eschen 55). They met various groups and populations and educated them on the culture of Americans, as well as, their thought regarding the cold war. By doing this, music was used to discourage war between the states, thus bringing to an end the cold war that had had a significant effect on the society at the time.

Music as a Source of Encouragement

The period during the cold war also saw the composition of musical pieces that were solely aimed at encouraging people during their trying time at the war (Cortright 12). Musical compositions were used to encourage the military soldiers as they went to war and after they came back from war. Such musical compositions encouraged these soldiers that they would come out as victors from these wars, thus urge them to march on to their success. Contrastingly, there were various musical compositions that encouraged the need for peace and stability, thus discouraging the states from going to war with each other (Cortright 37). Such music inspired these states to stop fighting with each other and embrace peace and harmony for a better future and society for the generations to come, thus reducing the possibility of individuals engaging in war. By encouraging people to stop engaging in war, music impacted the cold war through curtailing the cold war and its effects on the states at war.

Work Cited

Cortright, David. Peace: A History of Movements and Ideas, UK: Cambridge University Press,

2008. Print.

Cusick, Suzanne G. Music as torture / Music as weapon. 23 March 2006. Web. 7 December

2011. <<http://www.sibetrans.com/trans/a152/music-as-torture-music-as-weapon>>

Eschen, Penny M Von. Satchmo Blows Up the World. Jazz Ambassadors Play the Cold War.

Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004. Print

Fosler-Lussier, Danielle. American Musicians in Cold War Cultural Diplomacy. 15 January

2006. Web. 7 December 2011.

<<http://mershoncenter.osu.edu/expertise/force/musiciandiplomacy.htm>>

Rosen, Charles. Music and The Cold War. 7 April 2011. Web. 7 December 2011.

<<http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/apr/07/music-and-cold-war/?pagination=false>>

Schmelz, Peter J. Introduction: Music in the Cold War. The Journal of Musicology,

26.1(2009): 3-16

Whitfield, Stephen J. The Cultural Cold War As History. West Virginia Quarterly Review,

(1993): 377-392.