Anthems: Community, Land, and Song - Paperback

by Nancy S. Love (Author)

An examination of struggles for national sovereignty and social justice as seen through patriotic anthems and songs of resistance.

Anthems are songs of loyalty and devotion with religious or quasi-religious meanings, typically associated with nation-states. Singing patriotic songs together encourages a sense of shared identity and unified community among citizens. Anthems compares traditional American anthems, such as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful," with anthems of resistance from contemporary social movements, such as Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, and Standing Rock. Although seldom fully recognized by political scientists, musical song plays a significant role in struggles for national unity and social justice. While America's national anthems celebrate a unitary (white) nation, these alternative anthems challenge the definition of sovereignty as property that characterizes modern Western democracies. They offer an alternative vision of a multicultural democracy still struggling to emerge. Written from an interdisciplinary perspective on culture, economics, and politics best described as critical theory, Anthems is intended for scholars, students, and, most important, citizens.

Author Biography

Nancy S. Love is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Government and Justice Studies at Appalachian State University. Her previous books include Musical Democracy and Trendy Fascism: White Power Music and the Future of Democracy, both also published by SUNY Press.