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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What did some bullies call Elvis before he was a star and had grown side burns?
2. What literary figure does Marcus allude to in "Sly Stone" when identifying how Sly speaks in the music?
3. Marcus believes that "There's a Riot Goin' On" is an example of what?
4. What did Sly Stone call his band?
5. What is Sly Stone's given name?
Short Essay Questions
1. In the section "Sly vs. Superfly," what problems emerge from the black movies being made in the early seventies? How is real life different from the movies?
2. Why was "Short People" so controversial? What did this mean for Newman?
3. Describe Randy Newman's style; what does he sound like? What influences are in the music?
4. Why does Marcus compare the Fresh album by Sly to "Nietzsche's belief that he who gazes into the abyss will find the abyss looking back; that he who looks too long at monsters may well become one" (90)?
5. How does Marcus define pop culture optimism and pessimism in "Sly Stone"?
6. According to Marcus in "Sly Stone," how did Newton and Cleaver use the myth of Staggerlee?
7. Why did Marcus entitle a section "Mystery Train" in "Elvis"? Why is this also the title of the book?
8. According to Marcus in the section "Sly Versus Superfly," why does Riot matter?
9. Compare and contrast Sly and Staggerlee as presented in "Sly Stone: The Myth of Staggerlee in the sections: Introduction and "Sly Stone." How are they similar? How are they different?
10. What is the basic plot for the Myth of Staggerlee?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Elvis is a man but he is also a symbol. In an essay discuss at least three concepts that Elvis came to symbolize. How does he symbolize these concepts? What did he do to reinforce these conceptions?
Essay Topic 2
Rock 'n' roll always has its ties to race and it both enriches the music and hinders it. Pick one artist who dealt with race issues in his music (any of the artists discussed in Mystery Train do). In an essay identify what the racial tensions of the time were and how they factored into the music.
Essay Topic 3
Freedom is an American theme explored in rock 'n' roll. Choose one artist and using their lyrics identify their concept of freedom (or the lack of it). Does the artist's music reflect the American idea of freedom?
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This section contains 1,161 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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