Is 50 years of Rock & Roll enough?

If I were an English 102 student confronted with the task of writing his final 20-page research paper (and possibly the last large writing project of his life) I would consider this theme:

Rock, Roll and Pop: Sick, Dying or Dead?

I would attack the issue not from the touchy-feely, ill-defined bullshit of a music critic, but from an academic, historical perspective the likes of which would tickle the erudite fancy of my professor.

My position: that Rock & Roll's time is up. Not because it sucks, not because it's boring; but because it's simply time for something new. The evidence would speak for itself, and my writing acumen -- even at such a young age -- would send my point sailing home with no questions left unanswered.

The arguments would highlight the historical patterns of western music development, specifically the length of time each genre or musical period maintained its dominance in western society. I would point out that Rock & Roll has so far survived about as long as the Classic period during which Mozart thrived and that it has dominated longer than did jazz, blues or country western. I would also mention that although the longest-lasting music period in recorded history spanned 143 years, it was fueled by the cultural, spiritual, scientific and social reawakening of the western mind during the Renaissance; and I would express doubt that a reawakening of similar magnitude had ever occurred during the past 50 years.

I would argue that technical advances have accelerated social turnover, and that 50 years today feels much like 140 years did in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Finally, I would include details on how modern Rock & Roll artists are eating their elderly to sustain their moment in the spotlight. How they mine the past for fresh-sounding music -- culling ideas from the greatest musicians and songwriters of '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s. I would add that many artists look beyond the limits of pop music to infuse life into their songs, thereby diluting -- and narrow-minded types might even call it tainting -- the bloodline of Rock & Roll.

To bolster my point, this 2003 article in LA City Beat would serve as a reference. And to provide balance, I would reference this review of a book by English professor Kevin J. H. Dettmar, who argues that Rock & Roll doesn't die, but reinvents itself. His ideas would be well-refuted and his physical appearance mocked.

A timeline of musical history would be prominently displayed and it would demonstrate:

1) The Baroque period, the paternal twin of the Renaissance, lasted 143 years. The period brought us secular music and harmonized melody.

2) The Classic period, exemplified by the boy-man genius-prodigy Wolfgang Mozart, blew past us in a scant 53 years.

3) Ragtime is born in 1876.

4) Edison invented the phonograph in 1878.

5) The Romantic period -- which included the likes of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Debussy -- lasted only 90 years, and ended in 1910 (a mere 44 years before Rock & Roll hit the scene!)

5) The first jazz record recorded in 1917. Forty-one years later, John Coltrane ushers in jazz's "New Wave."

6) Bessie Smith bangs out the blues hit "Down Hearted Blues" in 1923.

7) Electric guitar invented in 1934. A year later, Glen Miller debuts in New York City.

8) Bing Crosby sings White Christmas in 1942. America loves it.

9) LP record format invented.

10) The first known usage of the term Rock & Roll in 1951. Elvis Presley three years later.

11) Fifty-four years of Rock, Roll and Pop followed. And although various offshoots and forms evolved during that time -- some more successful than others -- Rock & Roll and pop music, fueled by advanced technology, marketing and distribution efficiencies never before seen on this planet, evolved rapidly but just as rapidly depleted the resources of its genre.

I would conclude that Rock, Roll and pop will survive in a gradually weakening state only as long as the members of this generation survive. It will then occupy large shelves in college libraries so that future music students can study the evolution of the art, safely protected from Rock's fury by a wide generation gap.

And my research paper would receive an "A."