Award Date

1-1-1999

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

First Committee Member

Richard Jensen

Number of Pages

66

Abstract

First, the purpose of this study is to investigate the ways in which blues lyrics apply rhetorical invention, specifically metaphor. Analysis of a sample of songs from the Blues Hall of Fame first explores how classical rhetorical devices are utilized in blues lyrics; Secondly, through metaphoric criticism the unique idiom of the blues reveals a strong trend towards self-abasement. And finally, despite intensified racial awareness of genre of folk (blues) music it is not a closed communicative act, but through the utilization of archetypal metaphor, a universal one.

Keywords

Black; Blue; Criticism; Metaphoric

Controlled Subject

Rhetoric; Sociology; Music; American literature

File Format

pdf

File Size

1904.64 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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Rights

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