Toby Manning, "Mixing Pop and Politics: A Marxist History of Popular Music" (Repeater, 2024)
New Books in Critical Theory
Deep Dive
Why did Toby Manning decide to write a Marxist history of popular music?
Manning was inspired by his lifelong passion for music and his involvement in activism, combined with his teaching of literature and theory. He wanted to apply a Marxist lens to music, exploring its political and social implications.
What is Fordism, and how does it relate to pop music?
Fordism refers to a factory system of mass production and consumption, which also extended to social democracy and welfare capitalism. By the 1950s, it shaped popular music as a mass-produced product that both reflected and sometimes rebelled against this system.
How does Toby Manning view the relationship between music as a commodity and as a medium of rebellion?
Manning argues that music often originates from marginalized communities, carrying implicit or explicit messages against societal norms. Capitalism eventually commodifies this music, leading to a struggle that produces innovative music before it is homogenized. However, new forms of music always emerge from the margins.
What surprised Toby Manning about the intersection of disco and politics?
Manning was surprised by the extent to which disco was a grassroots phenomenon, emerging from queer, black, and Puerto Rican communities. He also connected the disco backlash to MTV's initial refusal to play black artists' videos, seeing it as a racist and homophobic response to societal tensions.
Why did Toby Manning find the 1990s the most challenging period to write about in his book?
Manning struggled with the 1990s because he knew it too well and disliked many aspects of the era, such as the rise of lad culture and borderline racism. It was difficult to balance the chapter's content while reflecting on his personal dislikes.
Do artists intentionally create political music, or does it emerge unconsciously?
Manning believes that while artists often claim they don't intend to make political music, they are unconsciously influenced by their social and political environment. However, some, like Steely Dan, are deliberately satirical and aware of the socio-political undertones in their work.
What message does Toby Manning hope readers take away from 'Mixing Pop and Politics'?
Manning hopes readers take away a sense of optimism and hope, understanding that despite capitalism's efforts to control music, new forms of expression continually emerge from marginalized communities, reasserting their voices.
What is Toby Manning's next project likely to focus on?
Manning is considering a deeper exploration of the 1977-1982 period, which he calls the 'long 80s.' This era shaped contemporary pop music and the political system we live in today, making it a rich area for further analysis.
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