Entry #1 - Matt Kolenda

In the book, It Still Moves: Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the Next American Music by Amanda Petrusich, the author makes inquiries about Americana music, and how it has shaped our culture. Petrusich begins her journey in New York City, and eventually she decides to travel South because she feels that’s where the most American art has originated from. Petrusich wants to understand how some of her favorite songs “have been preserved, rearranged, revisited, and reaimagined” (Petrusich 16). As Petrusich embarks on her journey to find out more about her favorite music, she provides astounding detail to her readers. It makes the book a lot more appealing to read because you feel like you’re right there with her. The thing that appeals to me the most is her outlook on life, and how it’s plain and simple. In order to escape this form of lifestyle, you have to embark on your own journey where you’re in charge of your own destiny.
In a way, Petrusich is challenging the way that society operates. She wants to encourage people to pursue what they love, and not be stuck in the same daily routine.

As I was reading the book, one thing that I’ve observed is Petrusich’s sense of detail, and how those details make her point that much clearer. For example, in chapter 2, Petrusich provides a lot of historical events that occurred in Memphis, Tennessee, and how those events have shaped the American culture. That allows the reader to understand the reason why she decided to travel to Memphis in the first place. Another thing that I’ve observed is that Petrusich tends to go off topic sometimes which makes things very confusing to me. Sometimes, I tend to lose track of what exactly is taking place in the book. However, when Petrusich goes back to the topic, her outstanding details allow me to get back on track, and actually have a better understanding of what she’s trying to say.

Throughout the book, Petrusich tends to mention many important figures such as John and Alan Lomax, Elvis Presley, Sam Phillips, etc. and their contributions to the American culture. Petrusich tends to be very respectful of the things that they’ve done to further the Americana culture, and the reader can actually see how she has developed her own point of view from these people. For example, this is what Petrusich had to say about John and Alan Lomax: “Along with his father, Alan Lomax is responsible for the preservation and distribution of much of Southern American music, and subsequently, could arguably claim ownership for the past fifty years of rock ‘n’ roll” (Petrusich 15). We can clearly see that Petrusich has a lot respect for these people and the things that they have accomplished. We can also see how Petrusich was inspired to embark on her own journey to find out where most of her favorite songs have come from.

MK