Blues v. Rock ‘n’ Roll: Reactions to the Music

Balazs, Nicolette Tande Orsay

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Blues v. Rock ‘n’ Roll: Reactions to the Music

Balazs, Nicolette Tande Orsay

Abstract

Music and cultural history have been studied for many years, yet comparative studies on reactions to different types of music are often overlooked. While early blues and rock ‘n’ roll music in the United States and the reactions they elicited have both been studied separately (to a certain extent), very little research has been done to compare reactions between the two types of music. Drawing on previous blues and rock ‘n’ roll scholars as well as primary sources such as newspapers and interviews, this thesis will compare how the two genres were similar, which demographics reacted positively and negatively to each genre, and what the reactions say about the ways in which related genres elicit responses from the general public.