music

The late 1920s and 1930s were a time when many Americans endured the humiliation of rampant racism as well as crushing poverty. Yet most mainstream popular music (exemplified by the Tin Pan Alley style) avoided these issues and focused instead on escapist themes of privacy and romance.

Why might this have been the case? Do you feel that contemporary popular music also focuses on escapist themes like the 1920s and 1930s or do you feel that it tackles the relevant issues of the day? Do you feel that popular music works best as an escape from the problems of the world or as a forum to explore and engage in such issues? Please be as specific as possible in citing examples