Rock 'n' Roll Plays Itself: A Screen History

Rock n roll burst into life in the 1950s, but showbusiness remained in control, creating cash-in movies to exploit the new musical fad. John Scanlan explores rock's relationship with the moving image over seven decades in cinema, television, music videos, advertising, and YouTube, showing how it was exploited, inspired film pioneers, and caused transformations over half a century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2022
Publisher: Reaktion Books

Rock 'n' roll burst onto the scene in the 1950s, sending shockwaves reverberating across the globe, fueled by captivating images of unruly youth projected onto cinema screens. However, the realm of show business held tight control, orchestrating a series of cash-in movies to capitalize on the emerging musical phenomenon. In this captivating cultural exploration, John Scanlan delves into the seven-decade-long relationship between rock and the moving image, encompassing cinema, television, music videos, advertising, and YouTube. Throughout his journey, Scanlan unveils the intricate ways in which rock has been exploited, the profound influence it has had on film pioneers, and the remarkable transformations it has undergone over half a century. From the iconic figures of Elvis Presley to David Bowie, and from the groundbreaking films of Scorsese to the DIY documentarists like Don Letts, this is a singular retelling of the story of rock, tracing its journey from birth to old age through its captivating onscreen existence.

Weight: 536g
Dimension: 148 x 253 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789145724