ROCK AND ROLL, CRT, AND AMERICAIN THE 1950S MUSICAL COUNTERNARRATIVES IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH.

Critical Race Theory and oppositional culture theory both offer a lens through which various texts can be explored particularly as these texts enable or challenge status quo conceptions of American culture. Rock and roll music represents an intriguing, highly malleable, assortment of media texts from a range of genres. This paper is an exploration of rock and roll music from the 1950s era through the lens of Critical Race Theory as well as the theory of oppositional culture. Three major artists are the focus of the analysis--Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley. What emerged were nuanced countemarratives to the dominant mainstream narrative that underscore complex issues of race, class, gender during the 1950s rock and roll era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]