Abt. Geschichtswissenschaft
Book Recommendation by Alexandra Kolesnik: "Populism and (Pop) Music" from Manuela Caiani & Enrico Padoan
Populism and (Pop) Music (2023) from Manuela Caiani & Enrico Padoan
This thought-provoking book explores the largely overlooked relationship between populist politics and popular music. Focusing on Italy—a country with both a long history of populist movements and a vibrant pop music culture—Populism and (Pop) Music reveals how sound, performance, and fan practices contribute to the rise and reproduction of populism.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the authors trace how pop music creates cultural opportunities for political messaging, how political actors strategically use music to shape identities, and how listeners interpret these connections in their everyday lives.
Moving beyond the Italian case, the book offers a broader analytical framework for understanding how popular culture and politics intersect today. It is a compelling and timely study, opening new perspectives for anyone interested in populism, cultural sociology, or popular music studies.
More Ideas & Insights recommendations could be reached at our Public History Unit webpage every week.