New Critical Perspectives on the Beatles: Things We Said Today (Pop Music, Culture and Identity)

The Beatles are probably the most photographed band in history and are the subject of numerous biographical studies, but a surprising dearth of academic scholarship addresses the Fab Four. __New Critical Perspectives on the Beatles__ offers a collection of original, previously unpublished essays that explore 'new' aspects of the Beatles. The interdisciplinary collection situates the band in its historical moment of the 1960s, but argues for artistic innovation and cultural ingenuity that account for the Beatles' lasting popularity today. Along with theoretical approaches that bridge the study of music with perspectives from non-music disciplines, the texts under investigation make this collection 'new' in terms of Beatles' scholarship. Contributors frequently address under-examined Beatles texts or present critical perspectives on familiar works to produce new insight about the Beatles and their multi-generational audiences. The Beatles Are Probably The Most Photographed Band In History And Are The Subject Of Numerous Biographical Studies, But A Surprising Dearth Of Academic Scholarship Addresses The Fab Four. This Book Offers A Collection Of Original, Previously Unpublished Essays That Explore New Aspects Of The Beatles. The Interdisciplinary Collection Situates The Band In Its Historical Moment Of The 1960s, But Argues For Artistic Innovation And Cultural Ingenuity That Account For The Beatles' Lasting Popularity Today. Preface. How Did They Do It? / Walter J. Podrazik -- 1. Introduction: Making It New With The Beatles / Kenneth Womack -- Part I. The Beatles In/as History: 2. Getting Better : The Beatles And The Angry Young Men / M Atthew Schneider; 3. Mystery Trips : English Gardens, Mystery Trips, And Songs Your Mother Should Know : The Beatles And British Nostalgia In 1967 / Kathryn B. Cox; 4. Blackbird Singing : Paul Mccartney's Romance Of Racial Harmony And Post-racial America / Katie Kapurch And Jon Marc Smith -- Part Ii. Artistry And The Beatles: 5. Beatle Country: A Bluegrass Concept Album From 1966 / Laura Turner; 6. Spatial Counterpoint And The Impossible Experience Of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / Gabriel Lubell; 7. Blue Jay Way : The Imagery Of Pure Consciousness In Select Beatles Songs / Gayatri Devi; 8. George Harrison And The Influence Of American Popular Song / David Thurmaier -- Part Iii. Fandom And The Beatles: 9. The Beatles Christmas Records -- Unwrapped : A Closer Look At The Fan Club Discs / Tony Paglia; 10. She Said She Said : How Women Have Transformed From Fans To Authors In Beatles History / Kit O'toole; 11. Crying, Waiting, Hoping : The Beatles, Girl Culture, And The Melodramatic Mode / Katie Kapurch; 12. Revolution 2.0 : Beatle Fan Scholarship And The Digital Age / Jeffrey Roessner -- Part Iv. Teaching And Writing The Beatles: 13. The Beatles In The Classroom : John, Paul, George, And Ringo Go To College / Punch Shaw; 14. The John Lennon Series And Factional Narrative Biography / Jude Southerland Kessler. Kenneth Womack, Katie Kapurch, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Beatles are probably the most photographed band in history and are the subject of numerous biographical studies, but a surprising dearth of academic scholarship addresses the Fab Four. New Critical Perspectives on the Beatles offers a collection of original, previously unpublished essays that explore 'new' aspects of the Beatles. The interdisciplinary collection situates the band in its historical moment of the 1960s, but argues for artistic innovation and cultural ingenuity that account for the Beatles' lasting popularity today. Along with theoretical approaches that bridge the study of music with perspectives from non-music disciplines, the texts under investigation make this collection 'new' in terms of Beatles' scholarship. Contributors frequently address under-examined Beatles texts or present critical perspectives on familiar works to produce new insight about the Beatles and their multi-generational audiences. Kenneth Womack, Ph. D. is Dean of the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University, where he also serves as Professor of English. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles(2007), the Cambridge Companion to the Beatles (2009), and The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four (2014). Womack is also the author of three award-winning novels, including John Doe No. 2 and the Dreamland Motel (2010), The Restaurant at the End of the World (2012), and Playing the Angel (2013). He serves as Editor of Interdisciplinary Literary Studies: A Journal of Criticism and Theory, and as Co-Editor of the English Association's Year's Work in English Studies. Katie Kapurch, Ph. D. is Assistant Professor of English at Texas State University. She has published es Front Matter....Pages i-xxv Introduction: Making It New with the Beatles....Pages 1-10 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 Getting Better: The Beatles and the Angry Young Men....Pages 13-30 Mystery Trips, English Gardens, and Songs Your Mother Should Know: The Beatles and British Nostalgia in 1967....Pages 31-50 Blackbird Singing: Paul McCartney’s Romance of Racial Harmony and Post-Racial America....Pages 51-74 Front Matter....Pages 75-75 Beatle Country: A Bluegrass ‘Concept Album’ from 1966....Pages 77-94 Spatial Counterpoint and the Impossible Experience of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band ....Pages 95-118 “Blue Jay Way”: The Imagery of Pure Consciousness in Selected Beatles songs....Pages 119-137 George Harrison and the Influence of American Popular Song....Pages 139-155 Front Matter....Pages 157-157 The Beatles Christmas Records... Unwrapped: A Closer Look at the Fan Club Discs....Pages 159-177 “She Said She Said”: How Women Have Transformed from Fans to Authors in Beatles History....Pages 179-197 Crying, Waiting, Hoping: The Beatles, Girl Culture, and the Melodramatic Mode....Pages 199-220 Revolution 2.0: Beatles Fan Scholarship in the Digital Age....Pages 221-240 Front Matter....Pages 241-241 The Beatles in the Classroom: John, Paul, George, and Ringo Go to College....Pages 243-262 The John Lennon Series and “Factional” Narrative Biography....Pages 263-278 Back Matter....Pages 279-285