Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley: Music, text, and context (Jamaica).

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study attempts to fill a void of rigorous scholarship on Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley (1945–1981) and enhance our understanding of his enduring importance as one of the leading figures in popular music of the last half century.
The first three chapters of the dissertation present a detailed biography of Marley, based on a critical examination of all secondary sources and original research in Jamaica. These chapters emphasize not only the events in his personal life, including relationships with family members, business and musical associates, but the historical and political context in which they took place in Jamaica. The existing material on Marley's life is geared towards a trade market and is largely superficial, incomplete, and undocumented. These chapters are intended to correct and improve upon existing biographical sources.
Beyond inconsistencies and inaccuracies, the most serious liability of the literature on Marley to date is its lack of direct engagement with his music. Marley was first and foremost a composer. To understand his significance, it is necessary to examine his songs through the lens of musical analysis. Towards that end, the dissertation continues with three chapters devoted to a thorough analysis and interpretation of selected songs by Marley. These are grouped into three basic categories according to subject matter: (1) socio-political songs, (2) songs dealing with his personal life and religious beliefs (Rastafarianism), and (3) love songs. A chapter is devoted to each category. The songs are examined using a composite system based on traditional Roman numeral analysis, narrative analysis, and interpretation of the song texts themselves in a larger context of culture, history, and biography. This analytic model is tailored to popular music and allows for the study of the interrelationship of music, text, and context.
Analysis of his songs reveals Marley's remarkable subtlety and versatility as a composer, in his skillful treatment of form, harmony, declamation, instrumentation, word painting, and his unfailing sensitivity to the text.
The dissertation concludes with a thorough discography, including singles, albums, and box sets (vinyl and CDs). It provides information on album and song tides, year, producer, studio, and label number.