Rock, Folk, and the Environment

摘要

Mark Pedelty's Ecomusicology: Rock, Folk, and the Environment is an anthropological examination of the often-paradoxical relationship between music and the environment. Building on David Ingram's 2010 book The Jukebox in the Garden: Ecocriticism and Popular Music Since 1960, Ecomusicology attempts to reconcile contemporary ecocritical discourse with a discussion of popular music. However, unlike Ingram's emphasis on the analysis of lyrics and artists' public personae, Pedelty forgoes a focus on close reading of specific songs in favour of an investigation of the environmental impact of live and recorded music as well as music's potential as a tool to inspire environmental awareness. Throughout the book, Pedelty examines a wide span of musical activity (from U2's 360° Tour to local performances in Minnesota bars) as he explores 'the conundrum of making music sustainably' while also asking 'how might our music proactively promote sustainability?'.