Response Paper — Janis Joplin History of Rock, F21 —
After reading three source documents posted, write a response paper conveying your
thoughts and feelings. The readings include an interview with Joplin, an article excerpt on her time with Big Brother and the Holding Company (Big Brother, for short) and the album Cheap Thrills, and 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 (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.
Use a one-inch left-justified margin (strictly enforced), double-spacing, and 12-point font.
Response papers should be an examination of how you, the author, felt about the subject matter.
