CAT 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Soundgarden, Subculture, Cyndi Lauper
Socio-Musical Articulations (Homologies)
● Performances as a demonstration of masculine power
○ Musical virtuosity- instrumental solos
○ Loud volumes
○ Female musicians as outliers
● “Power Ballad”- long song forms with dramatic shifts in dynamics
○ Lyrics focusing on failed romance
○ Guitar solos as the emotional “peak”
○ A break from the extreme partying (to reflect on partying)
Hypermasculinity
● Displays of masculine prowess, combined with drag-like style
○ Tights, stylized hair, makeup
● Brown - masculinity in heavy metal allows members to “‘escape’ or transcend class
through a sci-fi/gothic/heroic/tragic dramatization, made possible by consumption [of
heavy metal] stylization itself” (220)
The Heavy Metal Panic
● 1984, 1985 - multiple suicides are blamed on Heavy Metal artists in the US
○ Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne individually sued based on lyrical content,
subliminal messages supposedly embedded
PMRC
● Parental Music Resource Center
● Organization led by Tipper Gore identifying artists, albums with questionable lyrics
○ Satanism, drug use, overt sexuality, violence
○ Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Prince, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper
Metal becomes mainstream
● Sunset Strip metal bolstered by MTV videos
○ Heavy Metal Mania, Headbanger’s Ball as dedicated late-night metal
programming
○ Pop metal acts during primetime programming (Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Poison)
● A visual demonstration of idealized metal values
○ Excess and hedonism in all forms
Thrash vs. Glam
● A more “authentic” version of heavy metal
○ A rejection of Glam’s hypermasculinity
● Directly drawing on NWOBHM and Hardcore punk influence
○ Metal’s virtuosity combined with Hardcore’s intensity
○ NWOBHM denim and patch stylization
Norwegian Black Metal
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Performances as a demonstration of masculine power. Power ballad - long song forms with dramatic shifts in dynamics. A break from the extreme partying (to reflect on partying) Displays of masculine prowess, combined with drag-like style. Brown - masculinity in heavy metal allows members to escape" or transcend class through a sci-fi/gothic/heroic/tragic dramatization, made possible by consumption [of heavy metal] stylization itself (220) 1984, 1985 - multiple suicides are blamed on heavy metal artists in the us. Judas priest, ozzy osbourne individually sued based on lyrical content, subliminal messages supposedly embedded. Organization led by tipper gore identifying artists, albums with questionable lyrics. Judas priest, motley crue, def leppard, prince, madonna, cyndi lauper. Sunset strip metal bolstered by mtv videos. Heavy metal mania, headbanger"s ball as dedicated late-night metal programming. Pop metal acts during primetime programming (bon jovi, van halen, poison) A visual demonstration of idealized metal values. A more authentic version of heavy metal.
