MUS 197B FYS: Music as Resistance: Primary vs Secondary

Primary sources are original materials used by historians to reconstruct a certain event in the past or moment in history.

They are original documents, physical objects, relics, or artifacts created during the time under study by witnesses who lived through the event.

These sources were either produced at the time of the event, or (as in the case of memoirs and autobiographies) published at a later date.

Typically, primary sources include:

• Unique documents or manuscripts - letters, diaries, journals, writings, speeches, photographs, scrapbooks, etc.
• Historic records of an organization - correspondence, memoranda, minutes, annual reports, etc.
• Government documents - records, maps, and statistical data Artwork and artifacts
• Music and audiovisual materials - recorded performances, music releases, liner notes, etc.
• Speeches and oral histories - printed transcripts or audio recordings
• Photographs and advertisements
• Electronic computer files - including emails

Primary sources should be read critically and should not be taken as the literal truth.  

When analyzing a primary document, one should take into account who the author was, why they were writing the document, and who (if anyone) was its target audience.  

• Did the author have any biases that influenced the way the document was written?  
• How reliable is the author? 
• Start by reading for content, then ask yourself the above questions — how do they affect your understanding of the document?

It is essential to place the document into historical context and not judge its content by today’s standards, always keeping in mind differences between the time it was written and the present.

Berman, Judy. "‘This Is America’: 8 Things to Read About Childish Gambino’s New Music Video." New York Times, 8 May 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/arts/music/childish-gambino-this-is-america-roundup.html?smid=url-share. Accessed 18 October 2025.

Secondary Sources are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources.

They can cover the same topic, but add a layer of interpretation and analysis.

Secondary sources can include:

• Most books about a topic.
• Analysis or interpretation of data.
• Scholarly or other articles about a topic, especially by people not directly involved.
• Bibliographies
• Textbooks
• Websites
• Documentaries (though they often include photos or video portions that can be considered primary sources)

Secondary sources are commentaries on and discussions of primary sources.  

When using secondary sources, it is important to strive to be objective, even though this may not always be completely possible. 

When writing a history research paper, primary sources are used in conjunction with secondary sources.  

It is important to evaluate the importance and relevance of the primary document to the assignment.

It is also very important to assess the document critically and evaluate its authenticity, authorship, language, and reliability.  

• Who was the author?  
• What are their motives for writing the document?  
• How reliable do you think they are?
• What kind of language is the author using?
• Who is their target audience?  
• How relevant is this document to your topic?

Caston, Emily. "Pop, Protest, and Transformation: Peter Christopherson’s “Tainted Love”." Traveling Music Videos. Ed. Tomáš Jirsa and Mathias Bonde Korsgaard New York,: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024. 89–104. New Approaches to Sound, Music, and Media. Bloomsbury Music and Sound. Web. 20 Oct. 2025. <http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781501398025.ch-5>.