This course will be a sustained investigation of the role that rock and roll has played in American society over the past fifty years and how that role has been represented. By analyzing texts such as rock criticism, rock journalism, concert posters, album covers, and popular film, among others, students will develop their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Specific questions of the course include (but are not limited to): how and why has rock and roll been written about? Is there academic or journalistic merit to the treatment of rock and roll as an art form? What defines a rock movement (i.e. punk, grunge) or phenomenon (i.e. Elvis, MTV) and who has the authority to do so? How do visual representations of rock and roll express meaning or feeling? What role can rock and roll play outside of its own community? How and why has rock and roll been appropriated to other uses? The ultimate goal of this course will be for students, through a treatment of rock and roll culture, to develop and hone the analytical thinking, reading, and writing skills essential for college work.