Poster Title
P-15 Evolution Over Revolution: A Generic Criticism of the Muscle Car’s Past and Present Hierarchy
Abstract
Since the early 1960’s the Muscle Car has been seen as representative of American cultural idealism; a post-war expression of Americanism through the medium of octane obsession. Muscle Cars are seen abstractly as an embodiment of several cultural principles; however, what physically constitutes this embodiment, the convergence of these features into the ‘soul’ of the muscle car, is broadly the subject of speculation. The ‘soul’, or formative characteristics, will be established through the generic criticism of a cross section of First Generation 1960’s Muscle Cars. Through analysis of physical features and technical specifications, the substantive and stylistic elements necessary for participation in the Muscle Car Genre, as shaped around an organizing principle, will be generically described. This descriptive yardstick will then be applied against modern incarnations of the muscle car to judge if they generically participate in the muscle car genre, as demonstrated by the 1960’s First Generation of their ‘lineage’. Conditions for future participation in the genre will then be established upon the First Generation’s generic characteristics.
Thesis Record URL
Location
Buller Hallway
Start Date
3-7-2014 2:30 PM
End Date
3-7-2014 4:00 PM
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Included in
P-15 Evolution Over Revolution: A Generic Criticism of the Muscle Car’s Past and Present Hierarchy
Buller Hallway
Since the early 1960’s the Muscle Car has been seen as representative of American cultural idealism; a post-war expression of Americanism through the medium of octane obsession. Muscle Cars are seen abstractly as an embodiment of several cultural principles; however, what physically constitutes this embodiment, the convergence of these features into the ‘soul’ of the muscle car, is broadly the subject of speculation. The ‘soul’, or formative characteristics, will be established through the generic criticism of a cross section of First Generation 1960’s Muscle Cars. Through analysis of physical features and technical specifications, the substantive and stylistic elements necessary for participation in the Muscle Car Genre, as shaped around an organizing principle, will be generically described. This descriptive yardstick will then be applied against modern incarnations of the muscle car to judge if they generically participate in the muscle car genre, as demonstrated by the 1960’s First Generation of their ‘lineage’. Conditions for future participation in the genre will then be established upon the First Generation’s generic characteristics.
Acknowledgments
J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar
Advisor: Ivan Davis, English