A few weeks ago, I discussed my fascination with the way music can often add ironic commentary (intentional or unintentional) to an image. Then, by wonderful serendipity, I discovered some of the footage of Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally. If you've not seen it, watch just the first minute or so of this clip of Beck's entrance:
Notice the music Beck chose for his entrance? It's "Hoedown" from Rodeo by Aaron Copland. "What's so strange about 'Hoedown?' you might ask. After all, Copland's music is as American as apple pie and overeating with that pie. True, but in this instance, Beck's use of Copland's music lays a shiny veneer of irony over the proceedings. In early 1953, Copland's Lincoln Portrait was slated for performance at a concert celebrating Eisenhower's inauguration. Fred Busbey, a Congressman from Illinois, publicly questioned Copland's socialist leanings, and Eisenhower's staff responded by yanking Lincoln Portrait from the concert. That's right, Beck used music from a composer known for socialist leanings who also happened to be a homosexual and is even the happy result of our immigration policies as both his parents were Russian immigrants. This rally to "restore" America used music from a composer who represents the marvelous diversity of this country, not the homogeneous ideal for which many attending the rally falsely pine.
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5 comments:
I found your blog through the Hardin's, and my husband teaches percussion at OBU. I have lurked for a while, but had to comment on this post, since once I read it to my husband he told me that Copland was also a Jew.
I would be interested to see Glen Beck's response to hearing that the music was composed by a socialist gay Jew with Polish-Russian parents. Not quite his target demographic.
Missy
Missy
It only proves the left wrong about Glenn Beck - Only you the left wingnuts progressives are the bigots but always say the right is. You need to look into the mirror to see the racist / bigots / idiots.
Thanks, Missy, and glad to have you as a reader. I think your comment points to the irony I see in Beck's use of this music. And anonymous, please try to keep a civil tone here. If you read the post carefully you'll see that I wasn't attacking Beck, but merely pointing out that many of the positions he holds are in conflict with the person who wrote music we recognize as distinctly American. Perhaps Beck knew all the history I pointed out and was using it in an ironic fashion, but I find that political commentators rarely employ irony. If you have information to the contrary, I'd love to see it.
Andrew, it's clear you don't understand the positions Beck holds. Except the socialism one. He is actually against that. Love you brother, but you're believing NPR's propaganda over actually listening to the man himself.
Liz, thanks for your comment, but I don't get all my information from NPR. I actually try to read and listen widely because all media is slanted especially in our days of massive punditry. If you read carefully you'll notice that the irony comments were actually directed more at the tea party than Beck himself.
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