Date
2014
Department
Worship and Music - Ethnomusicology
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Chair
Katherine Morehouse
Keywords
American, dance, drill, military, war
Disciplines
American Studies | Ethnomusicology | Military History | United States History
Recommended Citation
Slade, Colin, "Never Give a Sword to a Man Who Can't Dance" (2014). Masters Theses. 342.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/342
Abstract
War dances have long been a powerful means of preparing warriors for combat or the intimidation of an enemy, but they are also used in the ceremonial supplication of deity or celebration of victory. They are a fundamental artifact of many cultures throughout the world. Nevertheless, the United States of America boasts the most powerful military in history, yet it lacks a war dance. This is valid until one accepts a simple truth; military drill is a dance. However, Americans would object to such a proposition even though they have adopted and adapted military drill as their own, describe it in terms related to dance, and are inspired by its aestheticized performance. Thus arises the semiotic discussion about the purposes of military drill in American culture and what the nation stands to gain from understanding military drill for what it truly is--an American war dance.
Included in
American Studies Commons, Ethnomusicology Commons, Military History Commons, United States History Commons
