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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. Who wrote "There's a mickie in the tastin' of disaster" (90)?

2. What literary figure does Marcus allude to in "Sly Stone" when identifying how Sly speaks in the music?

3. Who said "when I was a boy . . . I was the hero in comic books and movies. I grew up believing in a dream"?

4. Who, according to Marcus, gave Staggerlee the cruelest epitaph?

5. What is the mood in the Riot album?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Marcus define pop culture optimism and pessimism in "Sly Stone"?

2. Why did Marcus entitle a section "Mystery Train" in "Elvis"? Why is this also the title of the book?

3. According to Marcus in the section "Sly Versus Superfly," why does Riot matter?

4. In "Elvis," what is Elvis' "Rockabilly Moment" (141)?

5. According to Marcus in "Sly Stone," why did Sly Stone create the album Riot ?

6. 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)?

7. 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?

8. According to Marcus in "Elvis," what was ironic about Elvis' natural, spontaneous appearance and sound in his music?

9. What type of risk does Randy Newman make in his music? What risk does he avoid?

10. In "Elvis," Marcus discusses the Pink Cadillac as being the downfall of Elvis. What does the Pink Cadillac symbolize and how is it Elvis' downfall?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Randy Newman and Robert Johnson. How are their styles similar and different? How is their subject matter similar? Different? Imagery?

Essay Topic 3

Marcus stakes a claim that Elvis Presley is one of a kind and could not be easily replaced. What is unique about Elvis Presley? How does he succeed where other failed? Why is Elvis able to stay at the top when other more seasoned artists fall off the charts and out of mind after getting their break?

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