Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

287

Date

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music

Major

Music

Concentration

Musicology

Committee Chair

Kenneth Kreitner

Committee Member

Janet K Page

Committee Member

Mona Bulpitt Kreitner

Abstract

Rarely does a teen pop star remain successful into adulthood. Rarer still does she become even more successful. Alanis Morissette has fought the odds, selling well over forty million albums worldwide in a career spanning two decades. At the same time, her critics oppose her as passionately as her fans support her. They mock her ever-changing style as proof of a manufactured persona, while Morissette vehemently preaches of her personal evolution, saying her albums depict where she is at that moment of her life. Morissette has remained in the spotlight by constantly evolving. She is "growing up" through her music, allowing her fans to follow her journey from childhood fame to spiritually-grounded maturity. This document explores the life of Alanis Morissette by analyzing both the singer and her songs. It examines her ability to express emotion through transforming musical styles. This thesis shows how and why Morissette dropped her manufactured persona in favor of confessional songwriting.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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