9/1- This Machine Kills Fascists

I began preliminary research on my thesis topic- analyzing the relationship between music and politics decade by decade from the 1940s to the present day. I began by searching music websites such as Pitchfork, Consequence of Sound, and NPR to find articles and editorials that might be of interest to me, as well as to find writers who I could possibly reach out to and contact for mentorship. I found several articles about modern protest music that I can use to discuss current day music and politics. I then started drafting a timeline beginning with the impact of Woody Guthrie and the emergence of protest music in the 1950s. I focused on the history of the song, "This Land is Your Land," and its significance as one of the earliest, most well known protest songs.

"One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple,
by the relief office I saw my people. 
As they stood hungry, 
I stood there wondering if God blessed America for me.”
-"This Land is Your Land," written by Woody Guthrie, unrecorded verse.