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Bad Reputation: Joan Jett and Questions of Canon
by
Jessica Lillian Brown
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts
at
Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 2011
© Copyright by Jessica Lillian Brown, 2011
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
The undersigned hereby certify that they have read and recommend to the Faculty of
Graduate Studies for acceptance a thesis entitled “Bad Reputation: Joan Jett and
Questions of Canon” by Jessica Lillian Brown in partial fulfilment of the requirements for
the degree of Master of Arts.
Dated: August 16, 2011
Supervisor: _________________________________
Readers: _________________________________
_________________________________
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
DATE: August 16, 2011
AUTHOR: Jessica Lillian Brown
TITLE: Bad Reputation: Joan Jett and Questions of Canon
DEPARTMENT OR SCHOOL: Department of Music
DEGREE: MA CONVOCATION: October YEAR: 2011
Permission is herewith granted to Dalhousie University to circulate and to have copied for non-commercial purposes, at its discretion, the above title upon the request of individuals or institutions. The author reserves other publication rights, and neither the thesis nor extensive extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author’s written permission. The author attests that permission has been obtained for the use of any copyrighted material appearing in the thesis (other than the brief excerpts requiring only proper acknowledgement in scholarly writing), and that all such use is clearly acknowledged.
_______________________________ Signature of Author
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ............................................................................... vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................ vii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................... 1
CHAPTER 2: “I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL”......................................... 9
2.1 EARLY CAREER .................................................................9
2.2 “I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL” BACKGROUND ..............................18
2.3 MUSICAL ANALYSIS ........................................................21
2.4 CONTENT AND MUSIC VIDEO ...........................................23
2.5 PATTI SMITH AND CROSS-GENDER COVER SONGS .............27
2.6 BLACKHEART RECORDS AND AUTONOMY ...........................31
2.7 “I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL” FOR YOUNG WOMEN......................38
2.8 JOAN JETT AND PUNK......................................................40
CHAPTER 3: “BAD REPUTATION” ............................................ 46
3.1 “BAD REPUTATION” BACKGROUND....................................46
3.2 MUSICAL ANALYSIS ........................................................48
3.3 “BAD REPUTATION” AND GENDER .....................................51
3.4 JOAN JETT’S BAD REPUTATION.........................................55
3.5 MUSIC JOURNALISM........................................................56
3.6 JOAN JETT AND PAT BENATAR ..........................................58
3.7 WOMEN AND THE ELECTRIC GUITAR .................................62
3.8 THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME .................................68
CHAPTER 4: “ACTIVITY GRRRL”.............................................. 73
4.1 “ACTIVITY GRRRL” BACKGROUND .....................................73
4.2 MUSICAL ANALYSIS ........................................................74
4.3 THE START OF RIOT GRRRL .............................................77
4.4 JOAN JETT AND THE RIOT GRRRLS....................................83
4.5 MIA ZAPATA AND THE GITS .............................................84
4.6 FETISH..........................................................................88
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION....................................................... 94
BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................... 102
Abstract
Acknowledgements
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2 “I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL”
Early Career
“I Love Rock ‘n Roll” Background
Musical Analysis
Content and Music Video
Patti Smith and cross-gender cover songs
Blackheart Records and Autonomy
“I Love Rock ‘n Roll” for young women
Joan Jett and Punk
CHAPTER 3 “BAD REPUTATION”
“Bad Reputation” Background
Musical Analysis
“Bad Reputation” and Gender
Jett’s Bad Reputation
Music Journalism
Joan Jett and Pat Benatar
Women and the Electric Guitar
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
CHAPTER 4 “ACTIVITY GRRRL”
“Activity Grrrl” Background
Musical Analysis
The Start of Riot Grrrl
Joan Jett and the Riot Grrrls
Mia Zapata and The Gits
Fetish
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
