Divas, Ingénues & Vixens
Music does not exist in a vacuum; this premise feeds Dr. Amity Bryson's life in the arts. She truly believes there are more people than not who have a running playlist in their daily lives—the soundtracks of our emotions, experiences, hopes, and dreams. The context of this music is key to understanding the historical and social context of living.
For more than twenty years, Dr. Bryson taught the course “Divas, Ingénues, & Vixens,” which examined music history through the lens of gender, class, and race. Now, she is curating a playlist that captures the essence of these lessons, featuring music that excites and inspires her.
Explore the "Divas, Ingénues, & Vixens" playlist on Spotify, thoughtfully curated by Dr. Bryson to complement your understanding of music's impact through gender, class, and race. This playlist offers:
A diverse selection of music from various genres and eras.
Insightful connections to the historical and social contexts of each piece.
Celebrations of the profound impact women have had and continue to have in the world of music.
Want to be more involved in the conversation? Check out the suggested reading.
“Women’s Voices across Musical Worlds” by Jane A. Bernstein, ed. (Northeastern University Press: 2004)
“She’s a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock and Roll” by Gillian G. Gaar (Avalon: 2002)
“RESPECT: Women and Popular Music” by Dorothy Marcic, 2nd ed. (TeeCeeBee Publishing: 2015)
“Women, Music, Culture: An Introduction” by Julie C. Dunbar, 2nd ed. (Routledge: 2016)