Rooster- Short answer questions flashcards

What is Roosters’ subject matter?(THEMES AND TOPICS)

-The music of the rolling stones (8 songs)

-Autobiography/nostalgia (Bruce’s memories and experiences in his teenage years)

-1960s popular culture(fashion, relationship. attitudes)

What are the sub-themes explored?

-Attitudes towards women/misogyny

-Courtships and sexual attitudes

-Narcissism and adolescent anxieties

-Power and identity

What are the origins of Rooster?

Bruce admits that the attitude towards women in the 1960’s were dreadful, but normal, and that feminism was a relatively new concept. Societal views of prejudice are evident in the partnerships and relationships between dancers, and enhanced by the costumes of the female dancers. ​

What are the eight songs used in Rooster? ( IN ORDER)

-Little Red Rooster

-Lady Jane

-Not Fade Away

-As Tears Go By

-Paint It Black

-Ruby Tuesday

-Play With Fire

-Sympathy for the Devil

SECTION 1: Little Red Rooster

Subject matter explored in Little Red Rooster:

Courting rituals- masculine and animalistic gestures

Misogyny- female dancer appears to intrude and negatively affect the men

Culture references- Through leg gestures- reflecting pop stars of the 60s( Elvis, Jagger)

Describe the rooster gesture used in Little Red Rooster

The male dancer imitates a rooster, dragging his steps, his chest forward with broken wrist in front with a pecking head and wing arms

Give examples of the grooming gestures used

-Tie Adjustment

-Slick hair

-Cufflinks gesture

-Brushing shoulders

How does these gesture relate to the themes?

Bruce makes the comparison between the strutting cockerel with his fine feathers and the men dressed up to go in the 60s with the ‘blue suede' shoes’ kind of image

Relates to the courting rituals and ‘impressing women’

Animalistic gestures which link to the lyrics emphasising the way in which men treat women ‘Hounds begin to hound,’ presents men with a sense of arrogance

What is an example of direct correlation within Little Red Rooster?

The opening takes place in silence then follows the flow of the music using direct correlation, as example the male dancer enters sliding forward step by step on a lunge, with arms placed hanging in front of the dancer whilst the head created the head jolting movement

Another example of direct correlation?

Repeated “rooster” gestures are evident throughout, establishing the animalistic quality of the male dancers. At the beginning, we hear the words “I am the little red rooster",’ before applying the characteristics of the rooster

SECTION 2: Lady Jane

What is the subject matter explored in Lady Jane?

Similar to LRR

Courting- Use of duets, swapping partners, folk dance(holding hands, leading partners)

Misogyny- Female dancers appears to be ‘disposable’ as and when the males are finished with them, causing other males dancers to take them away during lifts

Culture references- Reflects the ‘free love’ of the 0s as they switch partners

What is the structure of Lady Jane?

A section of 3 women(based on lyrics). There is a main male dancer who performs 3 duets.

The rest of the cast reflect the M/F courting partnership at the back of the stage

Where is social dance implemented within LJ?

-Male holds out hand for female

-Male bows to female

-Background dancers circle with arms outstretched and wrists crossing

-All dancers hold hands in large circle with balletic leg gestures in unison

What are other movement examples reflecting the theme in Lady Jane?

-Female crosses arms over body(modest demeanour)

-Female on males knee(either sitting or laying)

-Male dancer smacks ‘Lady Jane’s’ bottom

-Male tapping female hand

What do the elements of social/folk dance adds to the atmosphere of Lady Jane?

Adds a regal feel to the story which is taken literally from the lyrics of the song e.g. ‘your servant am I… on bended knees my love’ -male dancer bending his knee for the female dancer to sit on

What does the accompaniment adds to the movement in Lady Jane?

The use of harpsichord and dulcimer adds an Elizabethan feel to the music, relating to small British villages who still spoke properly

The use of upright, controlled, balletic movements, folk dance through duets, and small gestures such as kissing the hand and bowing correlate to this time period