BRAIN OR BRAWN, MONTH YOU WERE BORN...

III.

I agree--"gender" has become a buzzword, especially in academia, and in gay circles. So, were you trying to address the idea that men have no role models and how men relate to feminism? Because I don't recall reading anything like that. In fact, I was startled how little feminism came up when discussing men. It did more so in that last chapter...maybe I just don't remember it, or maybe it's because "feminism" wasn't so mainstream before the mid-70s. I can understand skipping the gay stuff, but then feminism must be repeated for every person discussed. The pages and pages of Springsteen stuff was a mini-bio of him and his relationship with his father through song. I saw nothing applicable to the subject of "how rock and roll changed gender in America." And if Springsteen is the only modern living feminist male rocker you could think of to write about, that's really sad. Same with all the pages on Townsend and the Who--there was barely a hint of anything to do with gender or feminism. It just wasn't clear enough.

I think you also missed on a great opportunity with Sleater-Kinney. I know you mentioned them in passing, but I think they are just as important as PJ Harvey (who should have had several pages devoted to her) if you're discussing modern female rockers. I've seen them several times, and I don't even like their music that much. Their show is amazing, and it's because they are using bands like the Who as a template. Carrie Brownstein rocks the fuck out like she's Townsend, and has said pretty much that he's her role model. When "In the Woods" came out, Carrie admitted that she's always been a huge classic rock fan, and saw no issue with that and her feminism. Some of those interviews may be worth searching for. I know one was in Seattle's free paper.

I think that using Elvis's songs as a way to judge what he thought of women is ridiculous. Did he even pick his own songs? He sang them because he was paid to sing them...maybe he liked them, maybe he believed in them, who knows? He didn't write them, so there is no proof they are from his heart. The songs can mean just as much to an Elvis impersonator. It's just as impersonal.

So really your book isn't about gender, it's about the treatment of women in rock n' roll? Feminism in rock? That seems to jive with the content better than "gender," which is so general.

I don't mean to say that I didn't like it or don't appreciate it as a gift. :) I certainly learned a lot from it. I just didn't learn what I thought I'd learn...

--SM of heresyourwater.com/blog