The guitar figures prominently in the visual stories Americans tell themselves about themselves and their histories, identities, and aspirations. As meaningful to hear as it is fun to play, the guitar has unique expressive possibilities in the visual arts. This illustrated lecture introducing Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art will explore the guitar’s symbolism in American art from the early nineteenth century to the present day, demonstrating the instrument’s capability of denoting myriad historical topics, from race and ethnicity to class and gender—as well as the American music industry itself.
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