Rock 'n Roll Youth Culture and History
The atmosphere in the United States during the 1690s was one of change and innovation. The music, and therefore the youth culture, was undergoing a rapid conversion to the long excepted mediocrity to a new phenomenon known as “rock and roll.” The music was new to the majority of America. As the video stated, the music had been around in African American venues for years, but performers like Elvis “made it ok for white people to listen to” this sensational new sound. Fans of rock and roll were intrigued by the new styles that were being presented. Rock and roll had an innovative new life behind the music, and it invigorated the youth of the nation. On top of this, rock music was being presented to the masses by attractive cool young men. The boys wanted to be like them, and the girls wanted to be with them. The changes that normally happen when people break the teenage years were amplified by the incredible new experience that was rock and roll. It was more than just music, it was a culture. For teens looking to define themselves and break free of their childhood, rock offered an amazing outlet for their need for self-expression, as well as their desire to be “cool.” It was little wonder that this new culture grabbed millions of young Americans and solidified itself in the hearts and history of the nation forever.
Alex Schreiner