Disco-funk: prerequisites for formation and genre-style features

Abstract

   The work considers the historical and theoretical aspects of the problem of the formation and development of the African American disco-funk style in the context of the pop culture of the USA in the last third of the 20th century, by analyzing musicological literature and compositions, the prerequisites for its formation are investigated and specific genre and style features of disco-funk that arose in the harmonious union of music and dance are revealed. The work unfolds a picture of the historical development of the disco-funk style in the context of genre-style changes in pop music of Western countries, as well as general socio-cultural trends of the second half of the twentieth century, characteristic of the United States and European countries. In the process of studying the history of the formation of disco-funk, it was revealed that the style has its roots in the distant past of African American culture and is associated with the development of not only jazz, but also pop music of the USA of the 20th century. The emergence of disco-funk was facilitated by certain socio-cultural events and circumstances. At the same time, the theme of disco-funk songs, addressed mainly to black audiences, reflected the new social status of African Americans, which developed by the 1970s, when African American men and women stood firmly on their land, fought for their rights and truly became equal members of American society. Disco-funk sincerely and boldly touched on the problems that blacks have faced in America for centuries, reflected the national mentality of African Americans and depicted the picture of the universe from the point of view of black US citizens.