The Who and Philosophy
The Who were one of the most memorable and influential of the 1960s British Invasion bands—memorable because of their loudness and because they destroyed instruments during performances, and influential because of their success in crafting “Power Pop” singles like “My Generation” and “I Can See for Miles,” long-playing albums Live at Leeds and Who’s Next, and the “rock operas” Tommy and Quadrophenia. The themes that principal songwriter Pete Townshend imparted into The Who’s music drew upon the group’s mostly working-class London upbringings and early Mod audiences: frustration, angst, irony, and a youthful inclination to lash out. Like some of his rock and roll contemporaries, Townshend was also affected by religious ideas coming from India and the existential dread he felt about the possibility of nuclear war. During a career that spanned three decades, The Who gave their fans and rock critics a lot to think about. The remarkable depth and breadth of The Who’s music and their story as one of the most exciting and provocative rock bands over the last half-century are the subjects of the philosophical explorations in this collection.
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The Who and Philosophy
The Who were one of the most memorable and influential of the 1960s British Invasion bands—memorable because of their loudness and because they destroyed instruments during performances, and influential because of their success in crafting “Power Pop” singles like “My Generation” and “I Can See for Miles,” long-playing albums Live at Leeds and Who’s Next, and the “rock operas” Tommy and Quadrophenia. The themes that principal songwriter Pete Townshend imparted into The Who’s music drew upon the group’s mostly working-class London upbringings and early Mod audiences: frustration, angst, irony, and a youthful inclination to lash out. Like some of his rock and roll contemporaries, Townshend was also affected by religious ideas coming from India and the existential dread he felt about the possibility of nuclear war. During a career that spanned three decades, The Who gave their fans and rock critics a lot to think about. The remarkable depth and breadth of The Who’s music and their story as one of the most exciting and provocative rock bands over the last half-century are the subjects of the philosophical explorations in this collection.
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Overview

The Who were one of the most memorable and influential of the 1960s British Invasion bands—memorable because of their loudness and because they destroyed instruments during performances, and influential because of their success in crafting “Power Pop” singles like “My Generation” and “I Can See for Miles,” long-playing albums Live at Leeds and Who’s Next, and the “rock operas” Tommy and Quadrophenia. The themes that principal songwriter Pete Townshend imparted into The Who’s music drew upon the group’s mostly working-class London upbringings and early Mod audiences: frustration, angst, irony, and a youthful inclination to lash out. Like some of his rock and roll contemporaries, Townshend was also affected by religious ideas coming from India and the existential dread he felt about the possibility of nuclear war. During a career that spanned three decades, The Who gave their fans and rock critics a lot to think about. The remarkable depth and breadth of The Who’s music and their story as one of the most exciting and provocative rock bands over the last half-century are the subjects of the philosophical explorations in this collection.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781498514484
Publisher: Lexington Books
Publication date: 06/23/2016
Series: The Philosophy of Popular Culture
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 272
File size: 929 KB

About the Author

Rocco J. Gennaro is professor of philosophy at the University of Southern Indiana.

Casey Harison is professor of history at the University of Southern Indiana.

Table of Contents


Introduction
by Rocco J. Gennaro and Casey Harison

Part I—“I Can’t Explain”: Mod Culture

Chapter 1. The Who and “My Generation”: Philosophical Recollections of a Former Second Wave Mod
by Catherine Villanueva Gardner

Chapter 2. All Mod Cons: The Who and Rock ‘n’ Roll Authenticity
by Steven D. Williams

Part II—“We’re Not Going to Take It”: Alienation and Angst

Chapter 3. “I’ve Had Enough”: The Who and Social Revolution
by Casey Rentmeester and William Knoblauch

Chapter 4. Who’s That Outside?
by Greg Littmann

Chapter 5. To the Sea and Sand: Quadrophenia – An Interpretation
by Robert McParland

Chapter 6. Fiddling about Becoming a Man
by Christopher Ketcham

Part III—“The Real Me”: Consciousness, Disorders, and Deception

Chapter 7. “See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me” – Know Me: Rationalism vs Empiricism in Tommy
by Russell L. Johnson

Chapter 8. What Does Tommy Feel?: The Aesthetic Experience of a Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Kid
by S. Evan Kreider

Chapter 9. “He Only Comes out When I Drink My Gin”: DID, Personal Identity, and Moral Responsibility
by Rocco J. Gennaro

Chapter 10. Who Can You Trust? The Paradox of Listening to The Who
by Don Fallis

Part IV—“Pure and Easy”: Meher Baba and Spiritualism

Chapter 11. “The Real Me”
by Scott Calef

Chapter 12. Behind Zarathustra’s Eyes: The Bad, Sad Man Meets Nietzsche’s Prophet
by Blake Wilson

Part V—“Long Live Rock”: The Who in Concert

Chapter 13. Theater of Destruction: Chaos, Rage, Frustration, and Anarchy in the Rebellious Music and Ferocious Performances of the Early Who
by Dan Dinello

Chapter 14. “You are Forgiven”: Reflections on Violence, Redemption and The Who
by Casey Harison

Chapter 15. An Analysis of the Who in Concert: 1971-2014
by Peter Smith

Chapter 16. We Could Never Follow What You Did: The Who and the Concert for New York City
by Tom Zlabinger

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