Date on Senior Honors Thesis
5-2020
Document Type
Senior Honors Thesis
Degree Name
B.A.
Department
Classical and Modern Languages
Degree Program
College of Arts and Sciences
Author's Keywords
music; hair; funk; punk; rap; France; message
Abstract
This thesis is an introspective study of our culture by looking at the meaning and messages in hairstyles of popular musicians. It seeks to understand how popular musicians have shaped their sense of style by the political and social movements of the time especially focusing on punk rock, funk, and rap genres in the United States and France. The research also considers the similarities and differences found within the genres across the two countries. The paper studies and analyzes what hairstyles are dominant in each genre and why. Hairstyles that migrated from America to France within the genre, social and political opinions on the hairstyles, and the level of effort involved in the different hairstyling methods will also be part of the discussion. To facilitate the understanding of the material, this thesis makes use of a hair classification system and explains hairstyling processes.
Recommended Citation
Pinkerton, Carolle, "Musicians’ hairstyles: a glimpse into the meanings and messages of funk, punk, and rap hair from the 1970s to 1990s in the USA and France." (2020). College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses. Paper 222.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/honors/222
Lay Summary
This thesis is an introspective study of our culture by looking at the meaning and messages in hairstyles of popular musicians. It seeks to understand how popular musicians have shaped their sense of style by the political and social movements of the time especially focusing on punk rock, funk, and rap genres in the United States and France. The research also considers the similarities and differences found within the genres across the two countries. The paper studies and analyzes what hairstyles are dominant in each genre and why. Hairstyles that migrated from America to France within the genre, social and political opinions on the hairstyles, and the level of effort involved in the different hairstyling methods will also be part of the discussion. To facilitate the understanding of the material, this thesis makes use of a hair classification system and explains hairstyling processes.
