Question: Petrusich sets out on a journey to find out more about Americana music. How does the place we come from influence the type of music that is made?
As Petrusich sets out on her journey to find the true origins of Americana music she comes across many different types of areas and people. As she goes to Sun Studios in Memphis, TN in chapter 3 she finds a lot of the music that influenced many of the people there was mainly blues and some rock n' roll such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. I have come to believe that an artists music reflects a lot about their lives and even their childhood. Many artists in today's music industry have come from a rough childhood and have based most of their music off those hardships and have succeeded. One major example is Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, who grew up on a trailer park, was raised by a single mother, and later in life fell into multiple drug addictions. Those hardships not only shaped his character, they greatly influenced his character. In Eminem's later life his best friend Proof was murdered and a lot of his recent music has been a tribute to Proof.
During Petrusich's journey she comes across many great black blues artists. If you take a look at the time that she discovers these artists, it is during a time of great financial or racial hardship. "Eighty percent of everything ever built in America has been built in the last fifty years, and most of it is depressing, brutal, ugly, unhealthy, and spiritually degrading..." (Petrusich 21). This quote shows that Americas music industry at its peak was during a time in which the country was overcoming wars, depressions, and racial inequalities.
We can see that even in today's society, our surroundings completely influence the type of music we listen to or the type of music that is produced. Our music industry has been overcome with the idea of young adolescents partying, drinking, and having sex and the result is songs released by Ke$ha, LMFAO, and Lady GaGa. In other parts of the country that is considered the "hood" which revolves around drugs and gang wars, we get music made by Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and the Game. The music that is produced around us is greatly influenced by our past locations.
As Petrusich sets out on her journey to find the true origins of Americana music she comes across many different types of areas and people. As she goes to Sun Studios in Memphis, TN in chapter 3 she finds a lot of the music that influenced many of the people there was mainly blues and some rock n' roll such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. I have come to believe that an artists music reflects a lot about their lives and even their childhood. Many artists in today's music industry have come from a rough childhood and have based most of their music off those hardships and have succeeded. One major example is Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, who grew up on a trailer park, was raised by a single mother, and later in life fell into multiple drug addictions. Those hardships not only shaped his character, they greatly influenced his character. In Eminem's later life his best friend Proof was murdered and a lot of his recent music has been a tribute to Proof.
During Petrusich's journey she comes across many great black blues artists. If you take a look at the time that she discovers these artists, it is during a time of great financial or racial hardship. "Eighty percent of everything ever built in America has been built in the last fifty years, and most of it is depressing, brutal, ugly, unhealthy, and spiritually degrading..." (Petrusich 21). This quote shows that Americas music industry at its peak was during a time in which the country was overcoming wars, depressions, and racial inequalities.
We can see that even in today's society, our surroundings completely influence the type of music we listen to or the type of music that is produced. Our music industry has been overcome with the idea of young adolescents partying, drinking, and having sex and the result is songs released by Ke$ha, LMFAO, and Lady GaGa. In other parts of the country that is considered the "hood" which revolves around drugs and gang wars, we get music made by Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and the Game. The music that is produced around us is greatly influenced by our past locations.
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