Racism In Janis Joplin's Death Of Rock Music

When rock and roll comes to mind, we think of rock stars smashing their guitars in a seemingly explosive rage and crowd surfing through stadiums and rock halls, but it is so much more than just that. Through the folk rock of Bob Dylan, to the electric sound of Eddie Van Halen, to the female rockers of the twentieth century, culture has been molded because of rock and roll. Rock music has shaped society by helping to uplift feminism and to destroy racism. Rock music has aided in the fight to stop racism I many ways, be it songs, artists, albums, etc. Bob Dylan is a rock legend known for his anthems and his voice in the topics he most cared about. Those being equal rights, peace, and a better society. In his song “Death of

Janis Joplin is one of the most iconic women in rock, being a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and an overall rockstar. She released beloved songs like “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Piece of My Heart”. Dave White, the author of “Female Rock Stars Who Made Rock History”, explains how Joplin has shaped the genre and femininity. “Janis Joplin was one of the first female artists to break the "girl singer" mold that existed in folk and pop music in the mid-'60s. Her fusion of rock and blues-influenced both male and female artists.” In her time, the world had never seen anybody like Janis Joplin. She was her own woman, free and unique, not conforming to the idea that popped into one’s head when a female musician came to mind. At the time, only men were seen as true rock and roll artists, supposedly, being the only ones that could whip their heads, yell to the crowd, and make it big. She changed this and showed the world that the male dynasty in success would be over, and she meant business. Janis Joplin has opened many doors to women, but she is not the only one because other names come to mind, one of which being Brody Dalle. Brody Dalle is a punk rocker and former frontwoman of her band The Distillers, who also paved the way for feminism. ”The vocalist and guitarist of the Distillers and Spinnerette might not go down in the history books as one of the most famous frontwomen of all-time, but anyone who's listened to her work can't doubt how hard she rocks… Dalle opened up being a badass punk rocker to a whole new generation of frontwomen, which was particularly important in the time right before today's feminist movement.” Dalle has paved a way for women who want to be like her, in the sense that they are different from what they are thought to be. The “perfect feminine image” is usually described as a tidy woman, cooking and cleaning, keeping to her place. Women