This photo-book presentation examines the musical genre of rock and roll from the FUNCTIONALIST perspective

I) the role of many different pre-existing musical genres in creating rock and role

and

II) its role in changing society and major societal movements in that time (~early 1940s, late 1950s) specifically:

-the attitudes of the American teenage population/audience
-the Civil Rights Movement/overall racial equality

**focus is placed on two specific rock musicians, Elvis and Bob Dylan

v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiC__IjCa2s

- functionalism: the theory that all "parts contribute to the successful function of the whole"

- society evolves like an organism

- as time goes on, society becomes more and more complex

- the components of society are like organs --> each organ plays a specific function that serves the overall well-being of the organism

- these components help give society cohesion

- the combination of both the musical characteristics and the social implications gospel, country, swing, and jazz resulted in the creation of rock and roll

- GOSPEL: an African American spiritual musical genre

- a method of jubilation and audience participation

- characterized by spiritual lyrics, repetitious lyrics and rhythm patterns, rudimentary harmonies

- in the 1930s (Civil Rights), the messages of gospel music supported the message of many civil rights activists

- rock and roll took the passion, rhythm, harmonies, and trademark techniques (ex: call and response and wailing) of gospel

- SWING: a form of American music, characterized by a strong rhythm section, medium to fast tempos, risque lyrics, and improvisation

- accepted by mostly black audiences; others (older crowd) were used to more "classy" music and shied away from the spirited feel of swing

- the uniqueness of this genre lent itself to rebellion of the rock teenage generation; parents of teenagers who listened to rock and roll considered it to be coarse and profane

- the musical characteristics that define swing (fast tempo, lyrics) can also all be heard in rock and roll music

- COUNTRY/WESTERN: a genre of American popular music that originated in the South in the 1920s, influenced by American folk music

- it gained popularity through radio superstations and national broadcasting; during the 20s and 30s, radio grew in popularity, accessibility, and technology

- focused on the folk traditions of the White gospel community and cowboy themes through unique melodies and harmonies

- although some country melodies and harmonies can be heard in rock and roll music, the most important of this musical genre was its ability to gain attention of the national audience

- JAZZ: a soulful musical genre that came to be in attempt to revolt against "convention, custom, authority"; allowed for much freedom

- a method of diversification, building bridges between generations and races

- all races and genders listened to jazz; it also served the purpose of identity within the Black community and represented **rebellion**

- broke color barriers

- characterized by unique musical form, improvisation, syncopation (the triplet feel), and soloing, which all contributed to the creation of Rock and Roll

- Rock and Roll also utilized the jazz rhythm section of a bass, piano, guitar, and drums

- helped bridge the gap of segregation among young teenage Americans by broadcasting music by African-American artist and organizing live concerts for racially mixed audiences

- "rock and roll is a river of music that has absorbed many streams: rhythm and blue, jazz, rag time, cowboy songs, country songs, folk songs. All have contributed to the big beat."

- the term "rock and roll" has two meanings attached to it:

I) the rocking and rolling motion in in response to the fervor of black church rituals
- direct influence of gospel music

II) a sexual analogy
- teenage audiences became much more sexually free and open as a result of rock and roll, much to the despair of the older generation

- the height of rock and roll was a period of extreme rebellion

- the lifestyle was associated with sex and drugs; rock and roll musicians were known as heavy drinkers and drug used

- the popularity of drug use among musicians influenced the use of drugs and the perception of acceptability of drug use among the young audiences

- rock and roll also arose in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement and in bringing together white youth audiences and black music, it provoked strong racist reactions

- the younger generation was being pushed toward progress and integration by rock and roll which the older generation - in favor of segregation - looked down upon

Elvis Presley
- the "King of Rock and Roll", revolutionized the genre

- white Southerner who sang blues laced with country (rockabilly), and country laced with gospel

- bridged the gap between white and black music : rock and roll, simplified, became Black music played by White people

- diversified rock and roll, linked to the increasing diversity of Americans and the desire for true freedom of expression

- one of many musicians who faced the issue of authenticity and the commodification of black music: many were outraged that whites were performing black music

- vulgar, incompetent, and a bad influence

- "I'm straight as an arrow and I got to tell you, you stop, whether you're male or female, to look at him. He was that good looking. And if you never knew he was a superstar, it wouldn't make any difference; if he'd walked in the room, you'd know somebody special was in your presence."
~ Steve Binder, TV producer

- the ultimate sex symbol

- when Elvis first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, viewers were only able to see above his waist due to the fact that his dance moves were considered too sexually suggestive

- agency: when individuals use music in a variety of ways in creating and maintaining their identity and emotional states

- the use of music to "help create an experience", "express feelings symbolically", and "change mood"
McGinn, 02/06/14

- the music and performance Elvis put on brought *sex* and freedom to the forefront of teenagers' minds

- "His wiggle and that leg going; all of us started screaming when he did that...He could excite you with his music so much...it was like a sexual experience."

- when Elvis came onstage, girls would go crazy: screaming, quivering, shutting their eyes and reaching out

- teenagers concerned themselves only with rock and roll music, clothes, money, and magazines; parents blamed rock and roll music for "brainwashing" their children

- teens began to differentiate themselves from their parents and older siblings by the clothes and hairstyles they saw in their rock and roll musical idols

- boys wanted to do what rock stars did and look like them as well

- Civil Rights movement: a series of political movements for legal equality
- social movement: an organized social group that acts with continuity and coordination to promote or resist change in society or other social units
Mcginn, 04/08/14

- no American social movement was more connected to music than the CRM; protesters sang freedom songs, folksingers wrote about the pains of the South and racism of life
ex: American gospel - "We Shall Overcome" and artist Bob Dylan

Brown v. Board of Education 1954: rules segregation in schools to be unconstitutional

- although this law did not automatically solve racial inequality, it was a major breakthrough in the Civil Rights Movement; it planted the seed of the possibility of there being racial equality in society

- Bob Dylan, a folk turned rock star, pioneered civil rights movement protest music

- he wrote protest songs ("finger-pointing" songs), expressing frustration towards those who opposed change

- the lyrics he wrote challenged the social norm, calling for social and political equality for all

- "Chimes of Freedom"
Flashing for the warriors, whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
And for each and every underdog, soldier in the night
And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing

- "The Times They Are a-Changin'"
Come senators, congressmen please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up that hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside and it is rain'
It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'

Booker T. and the M.G.s (from left to right: Booker T. Jones, Steven Cropper, Lewie Steinberg, Al Jackson, Jr.)

- one of the first racially integrated rock groups

- the direct result of integrated rock and roll and the Civil Rights Movement