Presenter: Dr. Arthur C. Bartner

Senior Professor of Music Director, "Trojan" Marching Band University of Southern California Los Angeles, California

The Cultural and Educational Significance of The American Marching Band and Its Transformation from a Military Unit to a Transmitter of Popular Culture.

ABSTRACT

The Entertainment phenomenon of the American marching band has contributed significantly to the cultural fabric of the American entertainment industry. Its presence in mainstream American entertainment has been especially propagated by the collegiate marching bands. The collegiate marching band model has been historically a significant component of Entertainment on local and national levels. With their foundation in the American military bands of the 19th century, college marching bands have evolved into a unique blend of music and choreography, "pageantry," which has become a mainstay of the American music industry, and successfully transmits popular culture to a mass audience.

Since 1970, under the leadership of Dr. Arthur C. Bartner, the University of Southern California "Trojan" Marching Band has established itself as "the" trendsetter in bringing popular culture to vast audiences via live performances, music, television, motion pictures and multimedia.

This presentation will provide explanation of this phenomenon with historical perspectives, information of effectiveness and structural elements for success as an element of the Chinese cultural/entertainment industry and in the development of persons making significant contributions to the betterment of Chinese and American Society.

back