ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the arguments made in the previous chapters by reaffirming the notion that jazz does not present, a priori, any specific or intentional message before interacting with society. Rather, it is through ourselves that jazz has been allocated a variety of messages and meanings. As time passed, places shifted and its styles changed – accordingly, we found symbols of hope, fear, decadence and modernity in jazz through our own subjective interpretations. In this sense, jazz has long been a symbol of more than just music. It is not only a symbol of freedom, but also an impulse to an unfulfilled struggle for democracy. At one time it drew close to Communism, while at another moment in history it adopted the function of anti-Communism. It embodies Americanism, while it could also create a base for anti-Americanism. Nonetheless, jazz was born in and remains a potent symbol of America. Yet, it must also be said that jazz goes beyond Americanism. The various routes jazz followed in the process of expanding its popularity outside America have obscured its roots, but this circuitous path has resulted in an enriched hybridity visible in jazz today.
