1st Edition

The Different Faces of Politics in Literature and Music

Edited By Mario Thomas Vassallo, Andre P. Debattista Copyright 2024
288 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge India

288 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge India

288 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge India

This book highlights the links between politics and governance and the arts. The essays in the volume show how literature and music have challenged those in power risking political censure. In addition, they also try to delineate how patronage has been used for propaganda, or to stir up national fervour. They focus on the tension and symbiosis between the politician and the artist foregrounding... Read more

 

Politics, Literature and Music – An introduction

André P. Debattista and Mario Thomas Vassallo

 

Part 1 - Politics in Literature

 

1. Sacred Scripture: A guide to politics and governance, past and present                   

Edward Warrington

 

2. Everything and nothing: The question of politics in Shakespeare’s work.

Why does the question matter?

Mario Aquilina

 

3. William Morris: Art, politics and the context of creativity

Petra Caruana Dingli

 

4. Journalists as social and political observers

André P. DeBattista

 

5. Narratives, national epics and collective identity

André P. DeBattista

 

6. The role of autobiographies in the construction of Maltese political narratives

André P. Debattista

 

7. A narrative of major political aspects in twentieth century Maltese literature    

Terence Portelli

 

8. Oliver Friggieri’s political literature: From appropriation to universality

David Aloisio

 

 

Part 2 - Politics in Music

 

 

9. Mobilising the masses through music and songs: The global phenomenon of music and politics

Mario Thomas Vassallo

 

10. Political commitment and the operatic genre with particular reference to Verdi

John Galea

 

11. Modernity and Nazism in German Film Music: Werner Egk and Walter Gronostay

Max Erwin

 

12. A reflection of a changing Europe: The politics of Eurovision song contest

André P. DeBattista

 

13. Malta’s National Orchestra: A symbol of statehood

Michael Laus

 

14. Subtle or Irreverent: The political lyrics of Maltese kantawturi

Mario Thomas Vassallo

 

15. Politicians, rifts and music: Parody songs in Maltese politics

Philip Ciantar

 

16. 90 Village Band Clubs: A Maltese socio-political phenomenon

Mario Thomas Vassallo

Biography

Mario Thomas Vassallo is a senior lecturer of governance, politics and public administration. He is the Head of the Department of Public Policy, University of Malta, and serves as Rector’s Delegate to the Institute for Public Services. Vassallo hosts the series AGORA, the weekly political talk show on Campus FM, the University of Malta’s radio station. His academic works have been published by Maltese and international publishers.

André P DeBattista lectures at the Institute for European Studies at the University of Malta and is a political scientist and occasional columnist. He is Research Associate at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, Brussels and a Contributing Editor to The European Conservative. He is the author of several scholarly papers and press commentaries covering the themes of politics, international relations, political discourse and the dynamics of religion and public life.