Chilean New Song and the Question of Culture in the Allende Government: Voices for a Revolution

Polyphonic Revolution focuses on the cultural debate within the left during the Popular Unity government in Chile (1970-73).Seeking to map such a debate to situate the discourses and artistic productions linked to the Chilean New Song movement, this book demonstrates that musicians were part of the committed intelligentsia. They actively participated in the discussion and proposal of ways to integrate culture in the revolutionary process, playing an important political and cultural role. Analysis is based on the government-friendly press and records released between 1970 and 1973; thus verifying how the main trends observed in the cultural debate were expressed in the movement, the extent to which the positions defended by the musicians have been in tune with governmental purposes, and how they influenced the cultural policies debated and pursued by Popular Unity. Scholars of Latin American studies, cultural studies, and music will find this book particularly interesting.