holy profane, The
Book Description
The intersection of sacred and secular reveals profound truths about the human spiritual experience, and Teresa L. Reed's exploration uncovers this dynamic within the rich tapestry of African American music. This compelling study examines how deeply rooted religious consciousness flows through seemingly worldly musical expressions, from the pioneering sounds of Rosetta Tharpe to the complex narratives of Tupac Shakur.
Reed traces the spiritual threads that connect West African musical traditions to contemporary American genres, revealing how blues, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, and rap carry forward ancient religious sensibilities. The book illuminates how artists like Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Earth, Wind & Fire embedded sacred themes within popular music, creating a unique cultural dialogue between church and street.
Through careful analysis of lyrics and their historical contexts, Reed demonstrates how Pentecostalism influenced secular music, how minstrelsy shaped perceptions of black spirituality, and how the figure of the black preacher resonates throughout popular culture. The study reveals how artists navigated the complex journey from gospel to mainstream success while maintaining spiritual authenticity.
This work offers readers insight into how spiritual expression transcends traditional boundaries, showing how the divine manifests in unexpected places. For those seeking to understand the deeper currents of American spiritual life, Reed's examination provides a fascinating lens through which to explore faith, culture, and artistic expression.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)
📄 Length: 183 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Negers
- ✓ Explore Musique populaire
- ✓ Explore Popmusik
- ✓ Explore Histoire et critique
- ✓ Explore Popmuziek
- ✓ Explore African Americans
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
