It’s a Boys’ Club, Isn’t It?: One Dimensionality in Portrayals of the Female Rocker

Location

King Building 321

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-28-2017 4:30 PM

End Date

4-28-2017 5:50 PM

Abstract

Motti Regev states in his article “Artistic Value and the Case for Rock Music,” “Women are rarely accorded the status of “great” rock artist…” (94). In this paper I will argue that the reason for women’s lack of credibility as rock artists stems from society’s ingrained belief that women can only be one dimensional. I will use examples of how rock critics and the media downplayed female rock artists such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Betty Davis, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Tina Turner, and Alanis Morissette by limiting them to a singular label (i.e. “angry,” “sexy,” etc). By comparing their experiences to their male counterparts I will explore how gender affects the way society allows male rock musicians to be multifaceted yet denies the same for women.

Keywords:

feminism, rock music

Notes

Session III, Panel 14 - Art | Identity
Moderator: Jennifer Fraser, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology

Major

Musical Studies

Advisor(s)

Ellen Sayles, Musical Studies; Office of the Dean of Studies

Project Mentor(s)

Ben Geyer, Music Theory

April 2017

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Apr 28th, 4:30 PM Apr 28th, 5:50 PM

It’s a Boys’ Club, Isn’t It?: One Dimensionality in Portrayals of the Female Rocker

King Building 321

Motti Regev states in his article “Artistic Value and the Case for Rock Music,” “Women are rarely accorded the status of “great” rock artist…” (94). In this paper I will argue that the reason for women’s lack of credibility as rock artists stems from society’s ingrained belief that women can only be one dimensional. I will use examples of how rock critics and the media downplayed female rock artists such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Betty Davis, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Tina Turner, and Alanis Morissette by limiting them to a singular label (i.e. “angry,” “sexy,” etc). By comparing their experiences to their male counterparts I will explore how gender affects the way society allows male rock musicians to be multifaceted yet denies the same for women.