Caryn Rose, "Why Patti Smith Matters" (U of Texas Press, 2022)
Patti Smith arrived in New York City at the end of the Age of Aquarius in search of work and purpose. What she found\u2014what she fostered\u2014was a cultural revolution. Through her poetry, her songs, her unapologetic vocal power, and her very presence as a woman fronting a rock band, she kicked open a door that countless others walked through. No other musician has better embodied the \u201cnothing-to-hide\u201d rawness of punk, nor has any other done more to nurture a place in society for misfits of every stripe.\nWhy Patti Smith Matters\xa0(University of Texas Press, 2022)\xa0is the first book about the iconic artist written by a woman. The veteran music journalist\xa0Caryn Rose\xa0contextualizes Smith\u2019s creative work, her influence, and her wide-ranging and still-evolving impact on rock and roll, visual art, and the written word. Rose goes deep into Smith\u2019s oeuvre, from her first album,\xa0Horses, to acclaimed memoirs operating at a surprising remove from her music. The portrait of a ceaseless inventor,\xa0Why Patti Smith Matters\xa0rescues punk\u2019s poet laureate from \u201cstrong woman\u201d clich\xe9s. Of course Smith is strong. She is also a nuanced thinker. A maker of beautiful and challenging things. A transformative artist who has not simply entertained but also empowered millions.\nCaryn Rose can be found on\xa0Twitter\xa0and you can read her work in her\xa0newsletter.\xa0\n\ufeffRebekah Buchanan\xa0is a Professor of English and Director of English Education at Western Illinois University. Her research focuses on feminism, activism, and literacy practices in youth culture, specifically through zines and music.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\nSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies