"Laughing Just to Keep from Crying": Time, Culture and Authenticity in the Early Recording Industry for Southern Music

Author

Benjamin H. Bradlow , '08

Date of Award

Spring 2008

Document Type

Restricted Thesis

Terms of Use

© 2008 Benjamin H. Bradlow. All rights reserved. Access to this work is restricted to users within the Swarthmore College network and may only be used for non-commercial, educational, and research purposes. Sharing with users outside of the Swarthmore College network is expressly prohibited. For all other uses, including reproduction and distribution, please contact the copyright holder.

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

History Department

First Advisor

Bruce Dorsey

Abstract

In this thesis, Bradlow examines the national commercialization of American blues and country music beginning in the 1920s and ‘30s. Primarily through interviews, newspaper, and the music itself, Bradlow looks at the regional and socio-economic common ground of two genres divided by race and their relationships with northern, white, business-class record executives. Both genres of music were pressured to be “old-time,” authentic, and original. Using colonial/post-colonial theory, Bradlow pays particular attention to the presentation of blues and early country as backwards in time in order to use time as a cultural commodity theory.

Comments

Recipient of the Paul H. Beik Prize in History, awarded in 2008.

Recommended Citation

Bradlow, Benjamin H. , '08, ""Laughing Just to Keep from Crying": Time, Culture and Authenticity in the Early Recording Industry for Southern Music" (2008). Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards. 594.
https://works.swarthmore.edu/theses/594