Background and Rock Aesthetics

Chapter 1 gives historical and aesthetic context to the topic at hand. It begins with a brief description of the long-standing relationship between popular song and theatre song, and places both popular music and musical theatre in the realm of folk art. There is a brief review of the history of modern popular song and of musical theatre, and specification of the changes that the advent of rock music heralded in both industries. Next is a brief survey of rock music in the theatre, and the sometimes uncomfortable relationship between rock music and theatrical content and performance. Last is a discussion of rock aesthetics, which helps the reader understand the artistic basis of rock music and begin to apply this understanding to performance.