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Since 1970 there have been many films portraying rock and roll artists. From Janis Joplin (Bette Midler in "The Rose") and Tina Turner (Angela Bassett in "What's Love Got To Do With It?") to Prince (Prince in "Purple Rain") and Eminem (Eminem in "Eight Mile"). How do these "biopics" promote the artists? In what ways do they differ from the "MTV"-style videos. What do you think the future holds for this particular kind of film? |
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Write a paper pairing unusual "couples" of rock artists in the 1970s and 1980s. Some suggested pairs could be Black Sabbath and the Carpenters; David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen and the Jackson Five and Pink Floyd. How is it that these very different kinds of "couples" coexist? |
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Susan McClary's challenging essay "Living to Tell: Madonna's Resurrection of the Fleshly" appears in her book of essays "Feminine Endings." (Univ. of Minnesota Press, 1991. After reading this essay (and seeing Madonna's video that is discussed in the essay) summarize McClary's point of view. In light of Madonna's musical position today should we reconsider McClary's point of view that Madonna is a "lightening rod" for exposing double standards? |
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Michael Jackson and Madonna defined the "music video" in the 1980s. Both artists were innovative and sensational dancers, both artists have a tremendous theatrical flair and both dealt with important social and political issues of their time. Take one video by each artist and give a class presentation discussing the contributions it makes to the music video genre. |
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J. Hoberman, film critic for New York's Village Voice, wrote a penetrating (and often challenging) essay called "What's Love Got To Do With It?" (Village Voice, Sept. 17, 1985, pp. 39-40, 43, 65 and reprinted in "Music in the U.S.A.: A Documentary Companion, edited by Judith Tick and Paul Beaudoin, Oxford University Press, forthcoming). After reading Hoberman's brilliant essay sample some of the current music videos appearing on MTV and VH1. Has there been a change in the way music videos are being made? Are there any artists who continue to be inspired by a more "avant-garde aesthetic"? |
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