Rebel yell : rock music as an expression of youth culture

Abstract

Throughout the more recent decades, rock music has enshrined itself as one of the corner-stones of contemporary culture. It is central to crucial arguments concerning the nature of music, of culture, and of modern society. Yet, despite encouraging developments in recent years, the study of rock music remains oblivious to sociological theory. "Rebel Yell" seeks to affirm the sociological implications of rock music. One cannot address rock music as if it were a culturally-isolated movement. 'Rock' is, moreover a warren of subcultures arid historical cults which can only be understood , in a socio-historical context. In order to arrive at a more thorough understanding of 'rock culture' in Malta, this study attempts to analyse the values of local rock groups by scrutinising their lyrics with reference to Hall's prioritised list of values (1986). Argumentation is further substantiated by relevant extracts from in-depth interviews that were conducted with local rock personalities and verbal or lyrical quotations of foreign rock bands. This study primarily aims at giving the reader a better insight of rock sub-cultures in Malta and abroad, and showcases rock, as the reactionary counter-cultural movement that the large part of its elements betray it to be.