Effects of rock 'n' roll on Society

This paper will be concerned with the effects of rock and roll on society. Throughout its history, rock and roll music has had a profound impact on its fans. In addition to providing a source of entertainment, rock and roll provides its fans with a particular, identifiable fashion. This fashion, which undergoes changes with each passing generation, provides a unique identity and lifestyle for its adherents. From the origins of rock and roll in the 1950's, this fashion has evolved through a variety of movements, including folk rock, acid rock, punk rock, heavy metal, and rap. In each of these movements, however, it can be seen that the prevailing style of rock and roll music and fashion has always had a powerful influence on the youth of the time. In this regard, it has been noted that rock and roll music "acts as an acute and often liberating expression of generation-wide feelings and emotions."'

In fact, the birth of rock and roll itself had its roots in the expression of a generation of youth. In the years following the Second World War, studies found that there were more teenagers in America than ever before. This increase in the youth population was attributed to a "baby boom," or an abnormal increase in births. In addition to the increase in numbers of teenagers, it was found that the

"'History of Rock," The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated -History of Popular Music, Volume I, Ashley Brown, ed. (Freeport, N.Y.: Marshall Cavendish, 1989), 2.

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ical awareness. One notable example can be seen in the Crosby, Stills and Nash song, "Ohio," which was concerned with the atrocity of the Kent State shootings. Another way in which rock and roll affects society is in the way it often creates controversies. The root of most of these controversies is the generation gap that exists between parents and their adolescent children. On another 5 level, they represent the ongoing struggle which exists between the authorities and the rebellious youth culture of contemporary society. Controversies of this sort were evident when rock and roll first became popular in the 1950's, and they can still be seen occuring today in the 1990's. In 1% the early years of rock and roll, for example, many adults and authority figures were outraged at the sexual and racial connotations of the new dance music. Most of the protests came from church groups in the Southern United States, where an effort was being made to preserve the moral way of life which existed in the past. Southern ministers were especially outraged at Elvis Presley and the way he wiggled his hips to the beat of black music. Some protesters went so far as to call Presley an "agent of the devil" and to try to get hi

Category: Arts - E