Description
[Kurt Cobain] marked something like the end point of rock stardom, the point when even actual rock stars rejected the role... Which may be fortunate, since it seems to be disappearing anyway, as Shumway argues in this smart, provocative, and emotionally charged book. I'd hate for that to be true, but in the worlds of media and culture we're in the grips of changes as profound as any since the invention of the printing press. In that enormous context, the loss of rock stardom may seem trivial. But, as the old prerock era Gershwin song says, not for me. -- from the foreword by Anthony DeCurtis
About the Author
David R. Shumway is a professor of English and literary and cultural studies at Carnegie Mellon University and author of Creating American Civilization: A Genealogy of American Literature as an Academic Discipline.
Reviews
Elvis was the prototype, but he wasn't a template. Shumway's other examples of the rock star share a penchant for capturing and expressing social issues and cultural conflicts in both their songs and how they present themselves, onstage and off. -- Scott McLemee Inside Higher Ed Will appeal to anyone interested in modern American popular culture or music history. -- Marshal Zerigue New Books Rock Star: The Making of Musical Icons from Elvis to Springsteen... will appeal both to music readers and college-level audiences who follow social and cultural trends. This makes for a much wider-ranging survey than your typical music book can offer. Midwest Book Review A minor masterpiece... Clear, stimulating prose. The Journal of American History
Book Information
ISBN 9781421413921
Author David R. Shumway
Format Hardback
Page Count 264
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 499g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 22mm