Sound Targets: American Soldiers and Music in the Iraq War

Though a part of American soldiers' lives since the Revolutionary War, by World War II music could be broadcast to the front. Today it accompanies soldiers from the recruiting office to the battlefield. For this book, Jonathan Pieslak interviewed returning veterans to learn about the place of music in the Iraq War and in contemporary American military culture in general. Pieslak describes how American soldiers hear, share, use, and produce music both on and off duty. He studies the role of music from recruitment campaigns and basic training to its use in country before and during missions. Pieslak explores themes of power, chaos, violence, and survival in the metal and hip-hop music so popular among the troops, and offers insight into the daily lives of American soldiers in the Middle East.

Author: Jonathan Pieslak
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 05/04/2009
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.84lbs
Size: 9.28h x 6.02w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9780253220875

Review Citation(s):
Chronicle of Higher Education 05/29/2009 pg. 18
Choice 10/01/2009

About the Author

Jonathan Pieslak is Associate Professor of Music at the City College and Graduate Center, CUNY. He lives in New York City.