Rock and Roll

Rock and Roll have evolved to be a platform for many controversial topics in music and in the world. One of the most controversial is an audience and their perception of sex and its interpretation through the use of music. Older generations believe Rock and Roll is corrupting the youth in promoting sex and the youth are just being “young and free” Artists of rock music, throughout its history, have used their music to respond to the political and social issues surrounding them. Some have used their music as a means to express their political or philosophical views, while others have used their music to demonstrate a certain event or time in history. For example, consider how The Doors, Donovan, and Jimi Hendrix each put their own spin on the “psychedelic” experience or how Dylan’s songs, “The Time’s They Are A-Changin’” and “Subterranean Homesick Blues” are a call to break with the norms of the past and take a cynical look at the generation gap. To comment on social and political issues, bands such as Country Joe and the Fish, with their song “I Feel like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag”, used their performances at Woodstock to protest the Vietnam War, while the Supreme’s “Love Child” and the Temptation’s “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” take a realistic look at the urban issues of single parenthood and poverty. For this project, you will research and create a presentation on the influence a single social or political issue has had on rock and roll music during the years 1955-1973. Your focus may be on one rock and roll band or on a rock as a whole. Use the topic you selected in Module 2 and the sources you cited in Module 5. Present your topic by writing a paper with a minimum of 550-700 words.  Your paper should be written in APA format and use a 12 point font. The project must include: A thesis statement An introduction, a body and a conclusion A minimum of three (3) sources Reference to one social issue as indicated above and at least one musical group or on rock and roll in general and how the music was impacted by the social issue At least two (2) links to outside songs or videos