As individuals we are taught to devote ourselves to singularity: that we all have one talent, one “true” love, one “best” friend, one favorite book, the list goes on. This black and white mentality is the reason people with double majors are viewed as masochists, and when a parent says they love their children equality the response is a storm of skepticism. However, in Kingsolver’s case this mentality manifests in her reluctance to join the Rock Bottom Remainders because “Why should good writers play mediocre music?” (129). In “Confessions of a Reluctant Rock Goddess” Kingsolver utilizes her rock band experience to emphasize the importance of being oneself especially when it deviates from societal expectations with regard to what is “right.”
Kingsolver asserts that we have multifaceted personalities, thus such singular
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She supports her claim by highlighting multitasking ,specifically in her experience as a single mother and an author: “phone consultations with your editor and washing the breakfast dishes. Writing a novel in the pediatrician's waiting room. Grocery shopping and teaching your child to read.” By underscoring the common place of multitasking in our society Kingsolver asks if we are allowed to acknowledge our multiple identities for the sake of prosperity why not also for “fun”? We all have a “closetful of other lives” which is not just evident from Kingsolver experience as an author, mother, and “Literary Rock Goddess”, but the experiences of many especially children. For instance, in Sarah Kay’s Ted Talk “How Many Lives Can You Live” she explains how as a child she thought she “was going to get
Our entire lives have been shaped by the events happening around us. Along with us many factors in our day to day lives have evolved too, including musical genre. One such genre is rock. Rock is a genre for the youth, by the youth, it has evolved to stay with the times and stand up for what’s right. In this essay I will prove why rock is a good example to show how genre has been defined, maintained, constructed and negotiated through the past 60-70 years since the very first Proto Rock song came out.
...and trying to hook up with guys or girls or whatever, you know, and it’s like the music is more of a background thing,” revealing the disruption of solidarity with regard to music through extensive drug use (Kavanugh and Anderson 21). Furthermore, detachment is caused by those who believe
When the music group Radiohead first burst on to the music scene seven years ago, it became immediately evident through information means such as music articles, album covers, and an extensive website, that this particular band was not just another long-haired, head-bobbing grunge group only out to sell as many albums as they could. This band had a much greater mission than that. It was to inform as many people as they could of their political, social and economic convictions through their personal website. While dozens of other websites have cropped up about Radiohead, this website remains uniquely their own because of its direct listing name and multi-faceted page within a page of personal comentaries, many written in a barely legible free-hand style, of such issues as upcoming protest rallies, animal testing, predictions on Middle East genocides, wrongful government spending, and barely sqeezed in daily journal entries on their current music progress. With Radiohead's political accusations constantly being updated in oversized bold print, their political cartoons of talking teddy bears appearing on a vast amount of web pages, and an often rushed-looking hand-written on their musical progress, it becomes evident that this website was created more as a world news commentary than a self-indulgent display case of itself.
Popular music in the United States throughout the decades have always consisted of different genres of music and during the late 70’s and early 80’s, many of the popular bands consisted of only male artists and members. In an era dominated by male artists, Fleetwood Mac featured their lead female singer Stevie Nicks, who went on to transcend the gender expectations of the time and pursue a solo career in the midst of heavy adversity. Fleetwood Mac’s lead singer, Stevie Nicks, is a prime example of the evolution female artists have endured as they struggled to gain equal footing in this male dominated industry. This essay will examine the different factors contributing to Stevie Nicks’s popularity, along with her breaking these normative masculine roles and the way she combined different genres and personal
I strode in front of 400 frenzied eighth graders with my arm slung over my Fender Stratocaster guitar — it actually belonged to my mother — and launched into the first few chords of Nirvana’s ‘Lithium.’ My hair dangled so low over my face that I couldn’t see the crowd in front of me as I shouted ‘yeah, yeah’ in my squeaky teenage voice. I had almost forgotten that less than a year ago I had been a kid whose excitement came from waiting for the next History Channel documentary.
Simon Firth "changed [his] usual habits" in 1968, choosing The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet over "The Beatles’ more comfortable music," and was rewarded with "the most interesting rock record [he had] ever heard" (30). My musical snobbery ended in my junior year of high school, when my typical (and boring) choice of anything ‘alternative’: Metallica, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, was replaced with Garth Brooks, Blackstreet or my mom’s favorite, the Dave Matthews Band.
Packalén, Elina. "Music, Emotions, and Truth." Philosophy of Music Education Review. N.p.: Indiana University Press, 2008. 41-59. JSTOR. Web.
The term “Jerusalem Syndrome” refers to when a visitor to the city leaves with a full fledged belief that they are the messiah, an angel or the devil himself. Rebecca Kozak, a 17 year old Writing student based in Victoria can be said to have developed both San Francisco Syndrome and New York Syndrome in her travels. She takes herself as a Frisco Beatnik poet and a New York rocker girl all at once. The surprising thing is that she is correct on both counts! The Frisco side of her is an eccentric intellectual who can quote whole chunks from Arthur Rimbaud’s A Season in Hell, then segue into a spiel about the “Brechtian films of our times,” with references to Jim Jarmusch and Harmony Korine. This Kozak will make grandiose statements such as: “At
As many people know modern television produces many good and bad consequences to the viewer. However, as a whole, the positive effects of TV clearly out weight the negative ones. In Barbara Ehrenreich’s passage, The Worst Years of Our Lives, she asserts that what’s being televised, immobilizes the viewer from actually doing the activities portrayed on TV. Yet, all the events on television have been imitated from what is going on in real life. Television is not something that drains a person from everyday activities, but something that encourages them to try new ones and escape the crazy, stressful moments of life. Not only is TV something that exemplifies new hobbies that can be taken on, but it is also a moment where a family can come together and laugh at all those funny moments in Full House and The Simpsons. Lastly, and possibly most importantly it informs people on what’s going on around
Josh Delmar Zimmerman is responding to a problem that has been increasing as social media and technology have evolved; the stereotypes imposed by society depending on the kind music you like. His bold language and extreme sincerity seek to a wake up call towards social judgment. The author claims our culture has enacted us to judge and label depending on the likings of the young community. His article states that “uncreative” people would try to categorize and profile someone’s identity from the way they dress or behave. Throughout his article, Zimmerman defies social judgment towards the punk community by supporting his claims with personal experiences as a young adult who had to overcome society’s stereotyping and judgement.
Rock and roll’s sheer existence has seemly coexisted with multitudes of generations’ hormone infested teenagers for decades. Since its appearance and establishment within the mid 1950’s, rock and roll has undoubtedly managed to capture the hearts of millions and presently still continues to. Ideally, when addressing the genre of rock and roll, artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard may occasionally come to mind. However, it seems so that it’s impossible to envision rock and roll without its king, Elvis Presley. Many individuals may be familiar with Elvis Presley as one of America’s most musically influential figures of all times. Infamously recognized as the “King of Rock n’ Roll”, Elvis Presley has forever been engraved within the
According to Mark Edmundson, in his article “Can Music Save Your Life,” he questions the effects of music in a person’s life. Edmundson found a connection in Bob Dylan’s song, “Like a Rolling Stone”. He states that, based off of Dylan’s lyrics, he can tell he had been betrayed and is letting everyone have it. Dylan’s music puzzled Edmundson. “Other music made me temporarily happy, or tranquil, or energized.” (Edmundson paragraph 5) After Edmundson over played “Like a Rolling Stone”, he went back to listening to music based off of his mood. His opinion on pop music was that it suggests life makes sense. He questions if music is what a person runs to, to hide from their feelings and fears. Edmundson shares the opinion of philosopher, Allan Bloom,
From truck driver to Rock and Roll image, Presley’s fascinating arrogance and dance moves became endlessly reminisced in American history. His record-breaking profession set a bar higher to numerous artists. Gifted in both lyrics and acting, his appearance alone speaks for its self. Marcus’ criticism of rock 'n' roll music arises with singers Harmonica Frank and Robert Johnson. Marcus measured these singers to be the forerunners to old-fashioned rock 'n' roll music. Harmonica Frank brands his streak on rock music with the impression of uncontrolled liberty that he represents in his music and his routine. Robert Johnson, on the other hand, speaks the obstruction that Americans surface when they are not capable to accomplish the American vision. Johnson also reports the truth of this malicious
Music can be traced back into human history to prehistoric eras. To this day archeologists uncover fragments of ancient instruments as well as tablets with carved lyrics buried alongside prominent leaders and highly influential people. This serves as a testament to the importance and power of music, as well as its influence in society. Over its many years of existence, music’s powerful invocation of feelings has allowed it to evolve and serve many purposes, one being inspiring change. American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel.” This fuel is the very things that powers the influence of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society, that author Glenn C. Altschuler writes about in his book, “All Shook Up – How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America.” Between 1945 and 1965 Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed American society and culture by helping to ease racial integration and launch a sexual revolution while most importantly developing an intergenerational identity.
In the late 90's, it was suggested that youth who took part in heavy metal culture had higher than average rates when it came to substance abuse, depression, greater delinquency, and problems with both educational systems and family relations (Scheel, 1995). For many, an obvious picture could be woven between these listed behaviors and suicidal tendencies of youth. However, a study conducted on a sampling of fans showed that less than 1% reported feelings of sadness when listening to their music of choice (Scheel, 1999 p.263). This study alone shows that other factors are key in the attitudes and emotions of youth outside of their preference for heavy metal music. An idea suggested by Hereld offers a different view of the thoughts on heavy metal and suicide. This idea is that many youth's are defined by the content of the music they listen to, and that heavy or alternative music choices are to blame for any type of negative behavior that occurs (Hereld, 2014 p.10). With the combination of controversy woven into heavy metal, and the rash of scares incited in the peak times of it's popularity. It becomes easy to see why heavy metal was associated with devience and the coruption of youth, but through taking a closer look at various studies, one can easily find the benefits of such extreme