Bruce Springsteen and the Rebel Youth Culture

Paper Summary:

This anthropological study analyzes how Bruce Springsteen has become more than a rock 'n' roll musician in his cultural influence on American youth culture. The writer notes that not only has Springsteen been a major musical influence in the rock 'n' roll genre, he reflects the social dreams and desires of American youth culture through a variety of class distinctions and lifestyles. In essence, the writer notes that Bruce Springsteen sings of different class backgrounds. Further, the writer maintains that Springsteen defines a rebellious and individualistic identity in youth culture through his lyrics and musical understanding of American social norms.

From the Paper:

"The type of feeling that calls for redemption of the poor people in the world can also be seen in his music on a domestic note. This forms the main corpus of lyrics and music that respond to the deeper troubles that youth sought within the often depressing and economically down turned post-Nixon era of American culture. Bruce Springsteen, although not above singing songs of the more carefree traditional songs of Little Richard, is more apt to be singing about the quest for freedom from authority for young people. After all, Bruce Springsteen had come from a middle class background, and he had known the suffering of being without money or of having a place to live. For instance, in "Born to Run", Springsteen uses a lyrical example of the desperation of youth culture, as the confines of social norms drives the young people to reach beyond barriers through escaping cultural isolationism."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alterman, Eric. It Ain't No Sin to Be Glad You're Alive: The Promise of Bruce Springsteen. Little, Brown & Company, 2001.
• Ceccola, Phil. Bruce Springsteen. Chelsea House Publishers, 1994.
• Celsi, Teresa. Bruce Springsteen. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1994.
• Cullen, Jim. Born in the U.S.A.: Bruce Springsteen and the American Tradition. HarperCollins Publishers, 1998.
• Derkins, Susie. Bruce Springsteen. Warner Brothers Publications, 1996.

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