Instruction
Final Paper: Artist Analysis
For the final project of the course, students will write a full analysis ( 5 pages, double-spaced) of a currently active musician’s “artist-brand.” In this paper, your “thesis” should be a creative description of this artist’s approach to promotion and what this says about musical cultures, written as precisely as possible. For example:
“Michael Jackson’s artist-brand relied on the performer’s ‘iconic’ images: the red leather jacket, the single glove, moonwalk dance moves, etc. These icons, and Jackson’s eccentric public persona, contributed to a specific image: Michael Jackson was ‘inhumanly’ talented, or ‘larger than life.’”
To support your description of the artist’s promotional tactics, your paper should draw widely on evidence from different aspects of this artist’s career. In addition to their recordings and live performances, consider your artist’s product endorsements, how they (or others) categorize their genre, where their music or products are available for sale, their social media presence, appearances on radio or television, and/or how they appeal to international markets.
A successful paper will also incorporate concepts from class readings and discussions. Consider how your thesis reflects, informs, or diverges from theories of the culture industry, neoliberalism, intellectual property, neoliberalism, and globalization. Reflecting on these concepts, flesh out your thesis by considering how they affect your chosen musician’s artistry or income.
Be sure to cite your sources and provide a list of works cited.