The protest singer: changing the politics of art
Pete Seeger has lived his life with the intent to improve the lives of those around him
Julie Robison
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Arts
The book is understandably left-slanted, but Wilkinson's somewhat mocking tone when describing Seeger's testimony in front of the Committee of Un-American Activities seems disrespectful. While Seeger himself may not have been a serious threat to the country, the truth stands that others were; Communists had been seeping into the country, posing a threat to America and her liberties. By history trying to belittle the Red Scare as Republicans paranoid about leftist activities, it diminishes future generations' understanding of what was really at stake. The book does provide the transcript of the actual trial, which is an appreciated primary document.
Regardless of his atypical lifestyle, he served in the military when called to service and has been married to the same woman, Toshi, for the past 60 years, with whom he has three children. His politics "are of the most extravagantly conservative kind. He believes ardently in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His interpretation of them are literal." It is with this foundation that he bases his activism work. Therefore, bipartisanship should always be possible if the people of this country hold tight to their founding documents as a common denominator.
Seeger's politics and activism aside, his greatest contribution to American culture is his music. Wilkinson reiterates that it "is no observation of my own that Seeger did more to make people aware of folk music in the middle of the twentieth century than any other performer." Seeger recalled a ballad festival in which, "Compared to the trivialities of the popular songs my brothers and I formerly harmonized, these songs had all the meat of human life in them. They sang of heroes, outlaws, murderers, fools. They weren't afraid of being tragic instead of just sentimental. They weren't afraid of being scandalous instead of giggly and cute. Above all, they seemed frank, straight-forward, honest."
Seeger is represented in this book as a very real part of America: the type of self-reliant man who depends on his own hard work and gumption to get the job done, as well as the kindness of neighbors and strangers. He doesn't balk against the system, but works within it to reform the wrongs and continue what is good. His vocation was his voice, his talent lying more in his banjo than a journalist's pen. Seeger is a reminder that we all have a role to play, a vocation to fill, and though things may not work out the way we intended, it could be leading us closer to the greatness we are meant to become.
Regardless of his atypical lifestyle, he served in the military when called to service and has been married to the same woman, Toshi, for the past 60 years, with whom he has three children. His politics "are of the most extravagantly conservative kind. He believes ardently in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His interpretation of them are literal." It is with this foundation that he bases his activism work. Therefore, bipartisanship should always be possible if the people of this country hold tight to their founding documents as a common denominator.
Seeger's politics and activism aside, his greatest contribution to American culture is his music. Wilkinson reiterates that it "is no observation of my own that Seeger did more to make people aware of folk music in the middle of the twentieth century than any other performer." Seeger recalled a ballad festival in which, "Compared to the trivialities of the popular songs my brothers and I formerly harmonized, these songs had all the meat of human life in them. They sang of heroes, outlaws, murderers, fools. They weren't afraid of being tragic instead of just sentimental. They weren't afraid of being scandalous instead of giggly and cute. Above all, they seemed frank, straight-forward, honest."
Seeger is represented in this book as a very real part of America: the type of self-reliant man who depends on his own hard work and gumption to get the job done, as well as the kindness of neighbors and strangers. He doesn't balk against the system, but works within it to reform the wrongs and continue what is good. His vocation was his voice, his talent lying more in his banjo than a journalist's pen. Seeger is a reminder that we all have a role to play, a vocation to fill, and though things may not work out the way we intended, it could be leading us closer to the greatness we are meant to become.
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