Janis Joplin History of Rock
After reading three source documents posted, write a response paper conveying your thoughts and feelings. The readings include (1) an interview with Joplin, (2) an article excerpt on her time with Big Brother and the Holding Company (Big Brother, for short) and the album Cheap Thrills*,
and (3) an essay by Ellen Willis, from a feminist/gender-politics perspective. You do not need to refer
to all three sources in your paper, but do read them all.
Since this is not a formal paper, you have some freedom with regard to structure. It should have a
measure of objectivity, but mostly should convey your reactions in critical-thinking and emotional
terms. Feel free to listen to relevant songs or consult other sources (please include a Works Cited list.)
A few suggestions to use, or not, as you wish:
• Joplin’s views of her music, career, friends, etc.; how she connected with the San Francisco scene
• Conditions, contradictions, or paradoxes in Joplin’s (or any woman’s) performing career
• Your own thoughts on the music involved
• How Joplin fit(s) into rock history overall
• Any observations by the authors (or their subjects) that may still ring true
Also include a few impressions on the authors’ respective styles.
Compose a response papers of how you, the author, felt about the subject matter on Janis Joplin History of Rock.
- Use a one-inch left-justified margin (strictly enforced), double-spacing, and 12-point font.