1st Edition
The Different Faces of Politics in Literature and Music
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 how they have always tried to influence, challenge, and, in some cases, undermine one another.
This volume will serve as an indispensable source for researchers and academics in political science, the humanities and performing arts.
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.
