Final Paper
Due: Thursday March 12, 5 P.M. (DropBox in Canvas)
Length: 2-3 pages
Choose one of the following topics:
1. Scenes: Choose one of the following three seminal rock cities—Memphis, Tennessee, London, New York City, or Lost Angeles—and describe how the rock and pop musical scene changed over the period of time covered by this course. Refer to those articles in your readings that discuss music in each city, and discuss the career of musicians associated with that musical scene, as well as the music businesses that may be found there (this could include radio, recording companies, recording studios, or well-known clubs).
2. The Songwriter’s Art. Discuss how song-writing has changed from the early 1950s to 1980. Who wrote the majority of songs at the dawn of rock? When does this model change? What factors complicate the notion of a “composer” in rock and roll? How were composers paid for their contributions? Refer to those articles in your readings that discuss songwriters, and discuss the musicians associated with those writers.
3. The Rock Writer. Little was written about Rock 'n' Roll during its formative years in the 1950s, but by the mid-1960s a new generation of journalists, historians and arts critics began writing about the music with passion and verve, convinced of the cultural and musical value of Rock. Pick two or more of the writers included in your anthology (or look up more of their work), and compare and contrast their writing topics and styles. How did they treat Rock music? DId their writing tend toward the personal, the sociological, or the historical? How do you see them fitting into the modern history of how we think of Rock music?
4. Music Analysis. Choose at least three songs from our listening list that have something in common (they may be by the same artist, or they may be on the same theme, or they may have the same instrumentation). Discuss the musical structure, instrumentation, arrangement, and production sound of the songs. Compare and contrast the songs, and evaluate why they are successful. You may refer to cover versions of each song to make your argument (see above for how to cite videos and songs.)
5. Style and Influence. Pick two major figures/bands from two different eras; the earlier figure must have a demonstrable influence on the latter. Discuss the career of the earlier musician(s) and how the later figure(s) modeled themselves upon the earlier one. Discuss as well how the later figure(s) expanded on the earlier style or took it in a different direction. How did each musician or band relate to the music business as it existed in that era?
A Few Formatting Guidelines:
Citations:
If you cite an article from the reader, just use "author, shortened form of article title"; e.g. Peter Guralnick, "Portraits in Blues," Music 9 reader.
If you chose to cite anything outside of your reader or long list, use MLA style
I've given examples on the syllabus regarding how to cite youtube videos and songs
No authorless citations! (Wikipedia)
Robert Christgau, "Chuck Berry." US punctuation INSIDE
Robert Christgau, 'Chuck Berry'. UK punctuation OUTSIDE
Songs with quotes (as in articles or book chapters)
"Heartbreak Hotel"
Albums in italics (as in book titles)
The Beatles's Revolver