Module 06 Course Project - Critical Analysis

Popular Music and Cultural Impact

Name: Rodney Wheeler

Institution: Rasmussen College

Course: G380/AMH3304 Section 01 Visions of America Since 1945

Date: 01/05/18

Popular Music and Cultural Impact

Music largely reflects the artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner. Musical composure within a particular time reflects upon the culture of that time frame. From a cultural perspective, the behavioral pattern of individuals in a particular culture predominately relates to their music. Put differently, music and culture are intertwined, rather flow together. What our forefathers used to comprehend during their time, the generation of today would hold their era as lame and in a couple of years that follow, the music we perceived to be cool will credibly be outdated. This disposition holds nothing against music but just a manifestation and a representation of what is changing without deviation through time.

Comprehending music and cultural impact, I am going to consider in detail the 1952 “Wheel of Fortune” hit by Kay Starr(in-text citation needed, further missing in-text citations will be noted as (*) but not all missing in-text citations are noted. In literature and mythology, wheel of fortune refers to a revolving device that is spun by a divinity of fate which selects random changes within the affairs and matters of man. The pop vocalist impeccably blends her style as she sings it, as one would expect, in a brilliant way, imploring to her wheel of fortune to keep turning and not let her down, as it proved, all she said and impended through her musical career.

Please bring in lines from the song to analyze. Slip them into your narrative and discuss what they mean and how they fit into this point in history.

During the era, mass culture started dominating the United States which accounted for the majority of critics who lacked any distinctive or interesting taste property. In particular, television network executives wanted to ply for the largest audience potential, therefore having to shape their programs in order to minimize the offended number of viewers. For the most part, mass culture paved way for diversity. If the audience did not Biblical epics there were Western Movies, comedies, and quiz shows(*). In other words, the culture furnished something for everybody and once it became popular, certainly as rock and roll, mass culture could ideally make it vast and huge.

However, the immense attribute of mass culture did not necessarily imply that other types of cultures were crowded. All the same, transcriptions of classical music sold well within the '50s as a majority of theater companies, symphony orchestras, art museums typically survived, despite the fact that urban dwellers shrank their audiences. Books also sold well having the culture existing as a varied one.

Kay Starr was among the most influential pop vocalist during her time(*). Her singing talent was disclosed early, having her maternal Aunt egging her on the musical platform at the tender age of 13 to enter a talent contest at Dallas Radio station at Dallas’s Melba Theatre(*). She eventually took the third place and accorded a chance of performing live on air(*). Soon afterward, she won the vote of listeners and was awarded a 15-minute spot that was thrice per week of which she mainly sang hillbilly numbers(*). Later, Kay moved with her family to Memphis and she landed herself a radio show and from then she noticed her potential through her musical journey as an influential vocalist(*).

During the era of her musical release, the post-war generation was just a beginning. There was a paranoia about communism, a political theory favoring collectivism in a classless society which made a majority of good people behave and act badly. Racism was rampant as well, across many parts of the U.S, especially within the south. Despite the political issues, music and culture blended and conformed to a much desirable form of livelihood (Dwyer, 2015).

References

Hendershot, C. (2003). Anti-communism and popular culture in mid-century America. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland.

Dwyer, M. D. (2015). Back to the fifties: Nostalgia, Hollywood film, and popular music of the seventies and eighties.

Assignment Rubric:

Analyze the meaning of the lyrics, and discuss how this song represents an element of popular culture/American society. The main focus of your essay should be regarding symbolism, and the symbolic nature of the song you have chosen. (32/40)

--I have some notes on this in the main body of the essay, lines from the song are needed to complete your analysis.

Background into the musician or musical group you have chosen is given. (20/20)

--This is done in your essay.

Demonstrates knowledge of some of the social and political issues present in American and, if relevant, international culture that were going on at the time of the song's release. (14/20)

-- Events are mentioned but fairly generally… I would love to see some specifics. Try to put this song’s lyric’s (see my suggestion above) into context of 1952. How are they an artifact or symbol of the time? –I googled the lyrics, this is one of those type of songs I warned about in the live lecture to avoid or give me a call about. I think you could work the game show reference… they were so hot at this time. I would name a few specifically: I've Got A Secret, Queen For A Day,

Price is Right, and To Tell the Truth to name a few. Or, maybe domestic containment and speaks to traditional roles of woman?

Research, documentation of research, and grammar (10/20)

--Paper is missing in-text citations in the main body of the essay. Remember, any time you take a slice of information, fact, detail, name, date, or idea from another source, you need to cite it in your essay. Paper needs more research, remember our golden rule of at least 3 sources for an academic paper of this size is needed. There are a few other grammar things noted in the main body of the essay. Please let me know if you have any questions about these edits.

Katie