In Fear We Trust: A Mashup
2013
Role: Sound Artist
Background: In the summer of 2013, I was asked to compose a mashup piece. Far over-reaching the scope of the work, I used over 40 tracks to compose this work, and while the musical landscape covered everything from Bee-Gees, to The Doors, Rolling Stones and Abba to Oasis, Sinatra and Bob Marley, the context of the work was deeply political. In the aftermath of revelations by Edward Snowden, all of America and the rest of the world was in debate. One of the underlying emotions, not really confronted properly, was fear. Fear-mongering has been a known tactic, used for years to achieve political and personal ambitions. Through the study and use of speeches by American political figures (now and past) when dealing with fear, this piece analyzes this fear-mongering, and the rhetoric used therein.
About:
In time we hate that which we often fear – Shakespeare
In analyzing fear-mongering, this piece goes through iconic speeches, almost exclusively by American presidents (the only exception being Martin Luther King), and their words on, about, for, or against fear. The more one delves into these speeches, it seems the earlier presidents employed a different rhetoric, where resilience was liberty – not sacrifice, and courage was standing out in the storm than hiding in the shade.
Closer to the day, some of the issues – and the stances taken on them by the last few presidents, go beyond all reasonable limits and move us towards a society increasingly controlled through fear. One by one we’re asked to hand over our liberties, under the guise of keeping us safe. A mythical idea of security, when peace and safety are the least of the concerns for they who broaden bases and increase arms. This work is a critique and effectively is in 2 parts encircled by three ‘narrative’ sections. The two main sections of the track offer a contrast as becomes evident: the fear mongering of Bush and Obama in one half, and the idealism of people like MLK, and JFK in the other.
The track starts and ends with FDR’s words– ‘Only a foolish optimist, will deny the dark reality of the moment’, and ‘The only thing we have to fear is, fear itself’