Rock n Roll & 20th Century Culture Essay -- essays research papers fc

Rock n spew and 20th Century Culture jibe to Philip Ennis, rock n draw emerged fromthe convergence of social transformations which resultedfrom World War II (Ryan 927). Despite its pop closeorigins, rock music is arguably one of the strongestcultural factors to develop in this century. Artists such asLennon, McCartney and Dylan defined the emotions of ageneration and, in the last decade, it as even beenacknowledged by members of the establishment which it hopedto change as a major influence in the country. In order tounderstand how rock went from a sign of rebellion to acultural icon, it is necessary to understand where it camefrom.According to Albert Murray, the African-Americanmusical tradition is fundamentally stoical yet affirmativein tonus (Star 3). Through the medium of the blues,African-Americans expressed a resilience of spirit whichrefused to be crippled by either poverty or racism. It isthrough music that the energies and dexterities of blackAmerican life are sounded a nd expressed (39). For the blackculture in this country, the music of Basie or Ellingtonexpressed a wideawake, forward-tending oscillation that onecan not only dance to but live by (Star 39). Although he later denied that he ever said it, SamPhillips-the man who discovered Elvis Presley-is reputed tohave said, if I could find a white man who had the blackamoorsound the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars(Decurtis 78). Certain radio stations would not play thework of black artists in the discriminate America of the1950s. But, nevertheless, rock n roll was an art formcreated by African-Americans. Little Richard, whose songsTutti Fruitti and Long Tall Sally became hits only afterwhite-bread versions were make by Pat Boone, said, Itstarted out as rhythm and blues (Decurtis 78). Through Elvis Presley, rock n roll changed the faceof American music, and influenced a hearty generationspolitical philosophy. Composer Leonard Berstein once said,He introduced the beat to everything a nd changedeverything-music, language, clothes its a whole new socialrevolution-the 60s come from it (Wattenberg 6B). To hiscredit, Elvis embraced rhythm and blues not as a from to beimitated, but as a form to honored and interprete... ...to American History. revolutionary York Houghton MifflinCo. Goodman, Dean. Dylan fans get tangled up in academicviews, Reuters (1998) February, p. PG.Harris, James F. Listen to the music the meaning ofclassic rock, The World & I, Vol. 11, 12 Ed.(1996) December, pp. 306.Ryan, John. The Seventh Stream The emergency of rock nroll in American popular music, (Book reviews)Social Forces (1994) March, p. 927.Star, Alexander. Hole in Our Soul The Loss of Beauty andMeaning in American Popular Music (book reviews) TheNew Republic, Vol. 210. (1994) May, pp. 39-42.Wattenberg, Daniel. Elvis as force for social change hassadly been forgotten, Rocky Mountain News. (1997)August, pp. 6B.