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Books

Kant Get No Satisfaction

Stuart Hanscomb reviews Philosophy at 331/3rpm by James F. Harris

I find it surprising that it has taken so long for someone to dedicate a book to intellectual themes in rock music. That thought-provoking issues have often found expression in, and formed the substratum of, rock Iyrics since the mid-sixties is certainly not news to most rock fans, and yet it has taken nearly thirty years for this to be formally acknowledged in an academic format. I can only assume that Harris’ very rock’n’roll opening line;

“Rock music has received very little attention and practically no respect from the self-appointed guardians of American culture.”

bears some truth.

The seven chapters, covering themes of alienation, freedom, rights, sexual and racial politics, religion, mysticism and hedonism among others, are composed of numerous headed subsections that give the book the (possibly accidental) feel of the inner sleeve or lyrics sheet of an LP.

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