The banjo as a key to American history

Thanks to Denis Hayes of Cork, who first sent us news of the Banjo Project documentary film ten months ago, and now sends this link to a recent interview with Banjo Project director Marc Fields on the ear.tyme website. The item, which includes two video clips, appears under the title 'How many films does it take to right the history of the banjo?', and quotes from a Project press release:

In its long history, the banjo has symbolized patriotism and protest, pain and pleasure, low entertainment and sophisticated leisure. It's been a black instrument, a white instrument, a laborer's pastime and a socialite's diversion, a young person's fad and an old-timer's friend. But mostly it's been a snubbed instrument. Whether it's Dan Emmett in blackface, the Jazz Age flapper whamming on a 4-string or Pete Seeger leading an anti-war rally with his long-necked Vega, the banjo has been the symbolic prop for stereotypes about race, class, gender, region and political persuasion right up to the present day.