MUSIC THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

In times of growing political tension, music is more than just a backdrop to protest – it becomes a powerful tool for expressing identity, building solidarity, and drawing lines between “us” and “them.” This lecture explores how protest music can both unite movements and deepen social divisions. Focusing on the case of the Dutch farmers’ protests, we will examine how music has been used to rally support, create a shared sense of belonging, and express resistance – but also how it can foster exclusion and reinforce polarised thinking.

Drawing on insights from music studies, political science, and cultural analysis, this talk invites the audience to reflect on the emotional and political power of sound in shaping today’s public debates. How do protest songs bring people together and how might they push others away? And what does this mean for democracy in an age of polarisation?

You can visit eacht college individually, or buy a combiticket for all four dates:
25-09: Sounds of protest: music, resistance, recognition
30-10: Sound Against Silence: Music in Pro-Palestinian Protest
27-11: Sounds of precariousness: why do musicians protest?
21-12: Sounds That Unite, Songs That Divide: Protest Music in Polarised Times

This programme is in English.