The Office of Workforce Development and Community Education is pleased to offer a Jazz Diplomacy: Cold War, Civil Rights and American Culture class.
This course looks at the use of one of America’s great cultural creations – jazz – as a diplomatic tool. Starting in the 1950s, jazz was used as a way to counter Soviet propaganda, highlighting the contribution of great musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. But how did those musicians reconcile their status as global ambassadors of American culture with the challenges of the Civil Rights movement at home? The answer is manifested in the music they played, the compositions they created in response to encountering new cultures, and the musicians they inspired around the world. The course also looks at cultural diplomacy today and the continued effectiveness of American “soft power.”
Please check the registration page for more information and to register.