University/Organization
Georgia Regents University
Title
Accentuate the Negative? On Teaching Biographical Details in Jazz History
Synopsis
Jazz history professors and book authors may be prejudicing their students’ impressions of jazz by including negative biographical information about the major musicians. This author not only questions whether such details serve any purpose, but discusses how these details are actually contradictory to the goals of the class as well as detrimental to a balanced and respectful view of the musician’s historic musical contributions and stature.