Since the inception of rock music in the 1950s there was a sentiment of transgression evident in the message and attitude of the music. This sentiment was mainly aimed at perceived figures of normative cultures who rockers and their followers perceived as a threat to their cultural identity. To properly understand the transgression present in rock music it is essential to understand the history of rock music and how rock music became associated with transgression of culture. Therefore, to understand the transgression present in rock music it is vital to analyse the beginnings of rock music in the 1950s. Furthermore, to properly understand how rock music and the transgression present in rock music became a driving force of culture it is essential …show more content…
to discuss the influence of British invasion bands such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles had not just on the genre of rock but as well as the transgression present in rock music. As rock music became widely popular in many countries the culture of transgression began to change, that is rock diverted into different sub-genres. One such sub-genre that evolved in this time period was the hippie movement. The hippie movement used the transgression invoked by rock music to express their frustration with the normative culture which they say as a culture filled with hatred and instead use the transgression to promote peace and love. Another major cultural movement that evolved out of rock music but still utilized the transgression present in rock music are the punks. The punks unlike the hippies did not promote peace and love by using transgression. Instead the punks used a pure form of transgression, which emphasised protesting and rebelling against the normative culture at every possible possibility. But as these major cultural movements voiced their voices of transgression the masses in a way became scared of the message and instead went running to a more normative rock culture. Furthermore this normative rock culture had very little of the transgression attitude instead the new normative rock culture was that of materialism and excess. But as normative culture dictated the direction of rock music for a decade the transgression that was previous evident in rock music had seemingly been extinguished. That was until the early 1990s when grunge music, a sub-genre of rock that incorporated both hippie ideals with the protest of punk, exploded on to the music scene re-establishing the transgression evident in previous decades. The transgression evident in rock music has had a rocky and changing history over the past fifty year but it is essential that the transgression in rock music is heard or else rock music cannot be truly expressed. To start off the journey of transgression in rock music discussing how rock music got the trait of being transgressive is essential.
The start of transgression in rock music dates back to the birth of rock music in the 1950s with many acts such as: Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Elvis Presley, establishing themselves as rock musician and at the same time through their methods and style of playing established rock music as part of transgressive culture. To be established as part of the transgressive culture an act must be “against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense” (Williams, Lecture 4). And in the time period of the 1950s the style of music that rock musicians played, that is blues and gospel, was much faster than what was normally acceptable resulting in the normative culture looking down and marginalizing the people who play rock music along with the followers. At this time period another reason as to why rock musicians, especially white musicians were labeled s transgressive is due to the music in which they were playing which was blues music. Furthermore, blues music was not considered music for white people in the 1950s, it was at the time considered music made for and by African-Americans, and so members of the normative culture refused the idea of whites playing music of African-Americans for white …show more content…
audiences. As the 1950s faded into the 1960s rock music and the transgressive culture associated with rock music began to reach out into different countries and continents, mainly to the United Kingdom. The significance of rock and the transgression in rock spreading into different countries is that “the ways in which global trends are interacting with locally based customs and social practices to create new layers of meaning”(McDowell, Lecture 3). When rock music and the transgressive culture of rock music interacted with the local customs and social practices of the local United Kingdom it created not just new listeners of rock music but also a new interpretation of rock music and the transgressive culture of rock music. What the new layer now added to the transgressive culture of rock music is a distinctively United Kingdom set of problems. Main newly incorporated ideas are social issues like poverty, the ridged class system which was a major component in British life since it dictated what was acceptable or was not acceptable in social and professional situations. But with the introduction of the transgressive rock culture it allowed for people who could not previously express their frustration with their social and political system to have a voice and express their displeasurement with their system. As the rock and the transgressive message in rock started to mature and evolve at the end of the 1960s a few major groups evolved one such group were referred to as the hippies. The hippies still embodied the ideals of the transgressive culture in rock, by listening to rock related music, but they also established their own spin on the meaning of transgression and how to express transgression. The newly established spin was one of establishing the normative culture as a culture of hatred, materialistic, and warmongering, which was evident from numerous rallies against the war in Vietnam and many other peaceful demonstrations. While establishing themselves as outsiders and going against the normative culture by considering themselves peaceful and loving, essentially the hippies were trying to establish themselves as a transgressive culture. To further the transgressive appearance they tried hard to “be out of place”(William, Lecture 4) by wearing clothing that the normative culture would not wear, also by attending protests and anti-Vietnam war demonstrations which were, at the time, considered out of place because it was socially established that during a time of war the ruling party should not be questioned because they are fighting a war and they need the support of the country, so by even just protesting they became transgressive in nature. Another sub-culture group that evolved from rock and used the transgressive culture of rock were the punks. The punks were different from the hippies in main ways, unlike the hippies the punks did not believe in peace and love instead punks believed in more of a consistent protest, a more of an anarchy approach to transgression. Moreover, punk did not believe in going to rallies to protest the current injustices committed by the government instead everything they did from the lyrics present in their songs to their clothing was considered a protest, in essence everything the punks did was an attempt at transgression against the normative landscape. Therefore since the act of transgression is “an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense.”(Williams, Lecture 4) and the punk movements sole purpose is to go against the rule of law or code of conduct and be sole individuals rather than a member of the collective normative behaviour. Therefore the punks found refuge in the transgressive culture found in rock music but slightly altered the style of rock music to establish their twist on rock music. But as hard as both the Hippies and the punks attempted to establish a transgressive culture through the use of rock music, the normative culture soon became the dominant power in rock rock. As the normative culture invaded rock music in the 1980s many of the transgressive voice heard during the 1970s became drowned out by the normative culture. The reason why the transgressive culture had been forced out of rock is due to the insurmountable popularity of rock music .Which therefore resulted in normative culture adopting aspects of the transgressive culture, simple due to the fact that the transgressive culture had now became so popular that the normative culture could no longer ignore the transgressive nature of rock music and as a result must accept it due to rock music’s popularity. An modern analogy that is used to represent the appropriation of the transgressive culture of rock music to the normative culture is that of Bansky and modern graffiti, in which many modern graffiti, which at one time considered vandalism and part of a transgressive culture, are now being appropriated for use by the normative culture so that begs the question: What does it mean to move a wall[covered in graffiti]? And beyond legality, who does the wall really belong to, and now does the art belong to the gallery? To everybody? To nobody? We’re operating in this space where there’s this lawlessness that opens up possibilities that would be much harder to encounter in other cities.(Luis Croquer) The resulting appropriation of graffiti by galleries, the normative culture, is the same issue occurred when rock music was appropriated by the normative culture is that the original meaning is no longer in context, which results in the true meaning of the original cultural tradition, that is the transgressional meaning, to be warped and changed by the normative culture. But as the normative culture had a hold of rock music the transgressional culture of rock music was still present but had be forced to become further transgressive due to the fact that normative culture had control of rock and any rock music that did not fit the normative culture of rock was now forced deeper into transgression. The result was a movement in music known as grunge which combined two of the biggest transgressional movements into one movement. Grunge incorporated the romanticism of the hippies, meaning grunge took the idea of peace and love, and mixed it with the anger expressed in punk music. As what occurred during the British invasion “the ways…global trends are interact with locally based customs and social practices to create new layers of meaning”(McDowell). But instead of reaching a new audience or adding new social aspects to the rock music, like the British invasion in the 1960s accomplished, grunge music instead reiterated and rejuvenated the transgressive message present in rock music. Grunge accomplished this rejuvenation of rock by using the message present with the hippies and incorporated the anger felt by the punks. Another reason that the transgressive message was reiterated in the 1990s is that many people felt betrayed by rock since it had been adopted by the normative culture, which resulted in a revolt by rock listeners who attempted to flee back to the transgressive culture of rock music, and in the process found the transgressive message of grunge music. The influence of the transgressive culture has been a major factor in the development of rock music over the latter half of the twentieth century.
The transgressive culture first appeared in rock music at rock music’s inception in the 1950s. Where early rock musicians and their listeners used rock music and the transgressive culture to rebel against the normative culture. Then in the 1960s rock music expanded to the United Kingdom. As rock music started to become popular in the United Kingdom the transgressive message in rock music also became popular due to the newly added transgressive meanings of social and economic issues. Then as the 1970s approached two major users of the transgressive meaning in rock music appeared. One such group that emerged in this timer period were the hippies that used the transgressive culture to protest the appeared hatred by the normative culture. The other major group that used the transgressive culture in rock music at this time period were the punks. The punk used transgressive culture to protest the normative culture at any and every possibility. They protested at every possible action of the normative culture because the associated the normative culture as everything that is wrong with the world. Then in the 1980s the transgressive culture of rock was exterminated by the normative culture who had now adopted rock music as normative culture due to its mass popularity. Finally, in the 1990s the transgressive message of rock reappeared in
grunge music. Furthermore, grunge music used the previous message of the hippies and the anger of the punks to rejuvenate the transgressive message of rock music. This rejuvenation of the transgressive culture of rock resulted in the normative culture losing a strangle hold of rock music and instead rock returned to the culture of transgression. Overall, the transgressive culture of rock has always been important in rock music.
Rock n’ roll gave people the voice they did not have in the early years. As the genre of music became more wide spread, people actually began to speak out. Altschuler touches on the exploration of how the rock n' roll culture roughly integrated with replaced and conflicted with preceding cultural values. Many of these values were very touch topics. Besides black civil rights, sexuality were one of the most sensitive t...
In closing, the undoubtable influence of music, more specifically of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society is responsible for a number of changes to the status quo. These range from sexual liberation and racial desegregation all culminating with other influences to create an intergenerational identity. Despite the desperate attempts of older generations to smother these influences, these changes ultimately shaped the years that followed, molding the country into what it is today. Along the way these changes as well as individual involvement in them has also eased the lives of many through empowerment and a feeling of community and purpose. Despite a lull and renewal Rock ‘n’ Roll continues to serve as an agent of influence and change in today’s youth culture and continues to burn in the heart of past generations of loyal fans.
This book provides a very detailed outline on how and where rock and roll originated. It places much emphasis on the transition from Black to White rock artists and how society reacted to this change. Szatmary also presents sufficient information on the many aspects of rock and roll, ranging from what the lyrics are about, to the beginnings of rock and roll and new age rock.
Rock ‘n’ roll and 20th Century Culture According to Philip Ennis, rock ‘n’ roll emerged from the convergence of social transformations which resulted from World War II (Ryan 927). Despite its pop culture origins, rock music is arguably one of the strongest cultural factors to develop in this century. Artists such as Lennon, McCartney and Dylan defined the emotions of a generation and, in the last decade, it as even been acknowledged by members of the establishment which it hoped to change as a major influence in the country. In order to understand how rock went from a sign of rebellion to a cultural icon, it is necessary to understand where it came from.
The rise of rock and roll into the limelight is to a large extent attributed to the teenagers of the 1950’s. Early rock music listened to by teenagers during the 1950’s was formed by blending together Rhythm and blues with country music. This kind of ...
The ‘60s were the age of youth, as millions of children’s from post World War II became teenagers and rebelled against the conservative fifties. Denying civil rights to African-Americans and liberation to teenagers in previous decades and Vietnam War, created a vortexes which lead to massive rebellion against the status qua. Music of the 1960s was characteristic of the revolution that was going on during the decade. It was a time of rebellion and counter-culture in which the teenagers and college students were critical of government, business, religious institution and other various aspects of life. Era marked by civil rights movement, Vietnam War, environment of drug abuse and sexual freedom formed new music like: folk rock, soul and psychedelic rock. These genres starkly contrast the teen idol music of ‘50s pop mainstream. Writes John Covach; “World was exploding, and rock musicians were listening more closely than ever.”(Covach, 152) Such stark contrast in pop music directly relay to changing social culture in America, which further echo’s the relationship between music and culture.
Not only did race relations play a big factor in the 1950s, it was a start to a lot of controversy in the beginning between African Americans and whites. Before they connected with each other because of the style of the music. This type of music deeply emphasized integration for African Americans and also during this time they were trying to gain civil rights. “At the center of that struggle, rock-n-roll unsettled a nation that had been “living in an ‘age of anxiety’” since 1945 (All Shook Up, 7). Most artists were criticized and punished for not supporting their own races and staying in their boundaries. For example, in Norfolk,
In conclusion this report has helped us understand the significance of Music in America. Also, the impact it has on music we listen too. Music is very much like a big chain reaction. Rock ‘N’ Roll, much like music today, stood out and was in a way rebellious. Parents now hate Rap and we love it. People in the 70’s loved Rock ‘N’ Roll and parents hated it. This shows that maybe no matter how much older people deny it, the time gap and generation gap is not too far apart. Without Rock ‘N’ Roll the World would without a doubt be changed. Any guess to that of which way would be a good one.
Although considered the day Rock ‘n’ Roll was born, many other events in American history have given foundation to this much loved idea. Rock ‘n’ Roll is much more than just music, rather it is the movement which underlines cultural imperialism. Rock had been promoting a culture of comfort and freedom from social constraints as well. Although the style of ‘Rock music’ is easily adaptable into many different sounds, it is still thoroughly identified by its definingly amplified rhythm. The sudden worldwide popularity of rock and roll resulted in an unparalleled social impact. Rock ‘n’ Roll influenced lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equaled. The social impact is so large that rock stars are worshipped worldwide. In its early years, many adults condemned the style of music, placing a stigma on its name, and forbid their children from listening and following its ways. Many considered Rock ‘n’ Roll culture as a bad influence to all people, but as the genre aged and the now not-so-young crowds had matured, Rock was respected and
The American rock band Nirvana impacted American culture and society by paving the way for the punk rock subculture into mainstream corporate America. Punk rock music stems from the rock genre but has its own agenda. The crux of punk rock is that it is a movement of the counterculture against the norms of society. Punk rock in itself is made up of a subculture of people who rejected the tameness of rock and roll music during the 1970s. (Masar, 2006, p. 8). The music stresses anti-establishment and anti-authoritarian ideas in its lyrics as well as scorns political idealism in American society. Before Nirvana unintentionally made punk rock a multi-million dollar commercialized genre of music, underground rock paved the way for the punk rock genre by creating core values that punk rockers drew upon.
Rock and Roll is commonly known as the greatest music ever created. Most people do not know that Rock and Roll emerged out of the United States in the 1950s. Artists during this time like Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and Bob Dylan were the first major stars among the birth of Rock and Roll in America. Since the 1950s, we have seen a rise in Rock and Roll culture. A peak in the 1960s-1970s was when the world began a musical, political, and social revolution. The revolution takes place during some tense times in the world- The Vietnam War, Political Issues with Cuba, JFK Presidency/Assassination, Malcolm X’s Assassination, Martin Luther King’s Assassination — you name it. The world was in a turmoiled state of mind, but what
After many of World War II’s harmful effects, the 1950s served as a period of time of musical change that reflected the dynamic of society as well as the traditional norms and values. Many factors contributed to this transformation. For example, the civil rights movement heightened many racial tensions, and the music produced consequently manifested this tension in itself. Rock-n-roll and R&B music universalized music typically associated with African-Americans, and many African-American musicians gained fame; however, as with any relatively-widespread success, there were many musicians as well who missed their opportunities due to the same racial segregation. While “radical” genres such as R&B and rock-n-roll laid the foundation for music future forms of music, the standard pop, jazz, and country music adhered to traditional values, and thus continued to maintain popularity amidst phenomena such as the Elvis craze.
Being that African Americans were if not just getting their foot in the door as being looked at as human and beginning to be accepted in U.S. society at that time. Executives in the recording industry encouraged white artists attempt to replicate the sound of popular black musicians for profit. This resulted in music like rock-n-roll that is largely associated with whites and the African American pioneers who laid down the foundation for the music are forgotten or better yet not even heard of. Cultural appropriation is still remains a concern even
Music has continued to change throughout each decade, but the 1960s was the most influential decade in the history of music. Starting in the early 1950s, rock music was first introduced. Major record labels were releasing new “cover songs” which were originally made by black artist, but now by white artist (Rock and Roll). These cover songs changed a few lyrics from the original songs to avoid copyright issues and to also make the song more appropriate for the white listeners. The biggest star of the 1950s was Elvis Presley, who was known as the “King of rock n’ roll”.
Music is an outlet to all aspects of life and culture is a significant way of forming people and the way they live. Although not always seen directly culture has an overbearing influence on the music that is produced and made popular. The political Climate of the early seventies was full of fire with issues such as Vietnam and constant protest throughout the county. Later in the 70’s the end of the Vietnamese conflict brought the rise of the Watergate scandal and Iran Contra. These issues swept headlines and ingrained people’s thoughts. Social issues also played a big role in the developing culture of the seventies. Protests and constant outbreaks about gay rights and women’s rights seemed to overtake the country in storm. Later in the Decade the social climate changed to a celebration of the Past and a can-do attitude. Political and Social climates had an overbearing influence on the attitude that was being developed throughout the seventies. This climate was also transparent in the music world of this decade. In the early 70’s music lyrics were being created that were representative of the popular method of protest and social change. Music is a common way of expression and during this time artist and groups took the most of their popular music by expressing viewpoints on present issues. In the mid to late seventies the birth of new styles that broke from the old seemed to dominate the music industry. These new types of music ranged from disco to television pop. The music of the decade represented the culture and was greatly influenced by events and beliefs of the 70’s. At this time in American history, music and life became closely nit. In the late 1970’s, national issues settl...