Year taken: 2012-2013
Professor: Nereida Prado
Class: INGL3335
University: University of Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus
Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Ann Angel
Overview
Forty years after her death, Janis Joplin
remains among the most compelling and influential figures in rock-and-roll
history. Her story—told here with depth and sensitivity by author Ann Angel—is
one of a girl who struggled against rules and limitations, yet worked
diligently to improve as a singer. It’s the story of an outrageous rebel who
wanted to be loved, and of a wild woman who wrote long, loving letters to her
mom. And finally, it’s the story of one of the most iconic female musicians in
American history, which died at twenty-seven.
Janis Joplin includes more than sixty
photographs, and an assortment of anecdotes from Janis’s friends
and band mates. This thoroughly researched and well-illustrated biography is a
must-have for all young artists, music lovers, and pop-culture enthusiasts.
Meet the Author
Ann
Angel is the author of six biographies and works of criticism. She graduated
from Vermont College’s MFA program in writing for children, and she works as an
author and educator, focusing on young adults. She was the editor for Abrams’s Such a Pretty Face.
She lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Visit her online at www.annangelwriter.com.
Summary and Analysis of Ann Angel’s “Janis Joplin:
Rise up Singing”
Grace H. Rodríguez
Cruz 843 09 6818
Prof. N.
Prado
The
unforgettable voice, the amazing energy and the icon that will be remembered
forever; Janis was one of the most influential figures in the sixties and the
blues/rock movement. Janis became the
queen of her generation bringing the hope and carrying the voice of those who
were socially restrained for being free. Her life was short but her legacy
keeps living… Author Ann Angel joins the many others who have decided to write
about her life, her influence and who she was after the show was done. The book
brings out the empathy to the readers in her ordinary basis and struggles. It
is decorated by beautiful twirls and turns in every page and an amazing set of
pictures that get us deeper in empathy with the character of Janis in the
narration of her real life story. Designed to be read by young adults and to
teach the important lesson of self-respect, to fight for your dreams and that
is not a bad thing to be yourself. Angel’s beautiful work will dive you into
the rebel on the outside and the fragile porcelain doll she was on the inside.
The novel is a little over 120 pages and
it expresses an indirect characterization of Ms. Joplin through interviews she
had with news and magazines over the years, quotes from her family( especially
her brother and sister), friends from high school and college, her co-workers
and manager as well as her own sayings through letters or other medias. Janis
was absolutely loved by the press, even in her beginnings when she was rising
to fame with the “Big Brother and the Holding Company” band. She was heard expressing
many times how much of an outcast she became to her peers when she reached the
teen years for not being the “pretty” nor “skinny” stereotype. Joplin became
the rebellious girl in school by hanging with the boys, doing drugs and alcohol
and cursing just like a trucker. Even if she developed this tough exterior, her
fragile side always took the best of her. Her friends would constantly quote
that she was easily hurt from being rejected all the time when she always
wanted the attention and approval of others. “She could be a wild child, but if
you tried to tell her she was wrong, the little girl Janis would sometimes pop
out and you could see the hurt in her eyes. You ended up feeling terrible.”
said Sam Andrew, one of the band members of Big Brother.
She
would always show this full of life charismatic persona in front of people, but
there were very little times in which she would let out a soft side. Even if
she did, she wouldn’t make much of a big deal of it. Only those who knew her
long enough would really know what was going through her head. “She was always
full of energy, very let’s-rock-and-roll, always cheery…we never knew what was
going on in her head” said John Till, guitarist of her last band, in an
interview for a TV program describing her last days. However, she would always
find cheering admitting she wasn’t like most people. “I’m those kinda weird
normal people.” She would say expressing, without signs of fear, her way of
living. Thanks to her tough high school days, dear Janis developed a liking to
those who were shunned from society as well. Among these, the jazz and blues
would strongly pop out. Being a Caucasian woman living in the conservative town
of Port Arthur, Texas in the sixties was a defender of the African-Americans
and of women rights. Through this, she would create diverse strategies to get
the attention she always needed while expressing that going against the current
is also a way of life. She was fond of teaching others that if you like
something, go for it. Then, if we have a book inspired by a complicated and
troubled person, how can this be an award winning novel in the young adult
literature and one of the most educational ones?
Janis herself is the hugest symbol of the
whole book, not only because it is a biography and is based more in reality
than in literary decoration, but because Janis resembles many girls and boys in
their teenage days. That desperate look for attention and need of love and
understanding from her peers and family is one of the many issues the adolescent
deals with throughout the age. If this is not talked of nor mend, the person
could carry the problem to adulthood, just like Janis did. She is also the
example of the consequences of bullying someone for their differences. Not only
it scars the school days memories, but it also gives a low self-esteem to he or
she who suffers it and creates a fragile concept where any situation can break
the stable psychological state of the victim. The empathy a bullied teen
develops towards the book is an enormous gain in the literary concept, for this
shows many downsides to what it could happen if a situation is not attended
when it’s supposed to and how the teen realizes other paths in life to fix the
problem for a better and more positive future than Janis’. The study of this in
class gives a better perspective about what acceptance means and how to develop
a tolerance to differences and give respect to their fellow classmates.
From
the other symbols in Janis life, we can find them in her clothes. When she was labeled
as an outcast in school, she began wearing black clothes, stating her mood and
loathe of the place and its people; rebelling against their beliefs and
conformity. Another extremely curious fact about her life that works as an
amazing symbol are her nicknames. She was also known as “Pearl”, maybe because
of her last album title, but the meaning of the gem goes way beyond from there.
A pearl represents purity and innocence (hence to why it is used many times in
bridal dresses) and this piece as it is curiously resembles Janis’ inner child.
This represented her sweet and tender personality that could be affected by the
smallest detail. She, no doubt, had a very large heart and beautiful feelings.
However,
when it comes to the nickname “Mary Jane” could be used by many to resemble her
fiery persona by comparing her with the generic stereotype of wild redhead
brought out from a comic book strap. But instead, this could be representing
some other side. Her song who carries the same name explains that she will
spend her payment on Mary Jane. This was not one of her lovers; this is a name
people have for Cannabis as well, which from who you take the marihuana drug.
The drug abuse Joplin had was struggling with her sanity since she was gaining
popularity and got out of control in her last years of life. In fact, an
accidental overdose of heroin was the cause of her death. The contradictions of
the nicknames bring a perfect mixture to how you could describe both of Janis
Joplin’s sides. She was beautiful, rebel and fiery while keeping her purity,
innocence and caring.
The book is a beautiful experience in her
shoes. Her story really moved me, especially since her attitude and feelings
remind me of my own teenage years. She grew on me just like she did in her fans
and in the fabric of music’s history. The story of a powerful woman who never
wanted others to go through what she lived; a shining soul who left too soon.
She wished for her beloved ones to not suffer in the toughest moments of life. Before
the chapter of her death was closed, a party was thrown in her honor, just like
her will demanded. The Janis Joplin the world knows will always live on to her
legend and her short career makes the statement that inspired many women to
dare and become someone today.
No comments:
Post a Comment