Rock and Roll and Utopia: An Addendum

by KTown


Why is there no Rock and Roll in the Utopian future? Turns out this is an interesting question that I think has an actual answer; some of it was touched on in the other articles and comments but I thought it would be a useful exercise to lay it out on the table and take a closer, more curious look at it.

Rock & Roll is antithetical to the humanist Utopia.

As I thought about it, several profound, contrasting qualities of Rock & Roll (henceforth Rock) and the Utopian futures of Science Fiction made themselves obvious to me.

But first another question: I think most would agree that the vision of a Utopian future is a Godless one. Well, says the voice in the back of my head, Rock is Godless, too, right? At least that’s what the Church told us. Seems like Rock and Utopia should get along just fine.

There is a difference, though. Utopia says there is no God whereas Rock, instead of denying God, flips Him the bird. And occasionally, in a desperate plea, says, “Are you real? Prove it.”

No, this is not a sermon. Bear with me.

What happens in Utopia? Perfect peace. Prosperity. Passivity.

Lethargy?

By the 1950s, America had become Christendom’s Utopia and the Church reacted to Rock like one would react to a horribly disfigured sewer rat; first with complete disgust, and then with attempted extermination. It couldn’t believe what it was suddenly having to live with.

I know many might not appreciate the religious language in this short essay but it’s just a good example of the sort of dynamic I’m talking about.

What am I talking about?

Utopia vs. Rock

For the sake of argument, let’s remove the moral implications out of Rock. Depravity is not implicit in the music as an art form. To the point…

Rock is personal expression – Utopia is collective thinking.

For Utopia to exist, all members must think generally the same way. This is one of the reasons religion cannot be included. It’s much too divisive. I mean, imagine all the people living life in peace.

In Utopia, whether it’s Communism or Star Trek, all members must have the same basic mind.

Rock on the other hand doesn’t care what you think. It’s going to speak its mind and you can just go screw yourself if you don’t like it. Utopia relies on societal pressure to make sure you conform with your brothers and sisters.

Rock is rebellion – Utopia is conformity or adherence to Law.

This is where the religious freak, because, as you know, “rebellion is bound up in the heart of a child” and “is as the sin of witchcraft.” But this is completely different from the kind of rebellion we’re talking about. A general heart attitude of rebellion against those trying to instruct you or rebelling just for the hell of it is one thing, and yes, some Rock does tout that attitude, but this article is about why there is no Rock in Utopia. So my point is, when authorities become oppressive or evil, it is our duty to resist; to rebel. I cannot imagine one humanist Utopia that would not be oppressive.

Rock is a great way to express pain or chaos – Utopia is allowed no pain or chaos.

Reading the Old Testament reveals much pain and chaos, a good portion of it initiated by God Himself. I’m not being facetious when I say God is the maker of Rock and Roll. This is why the God of the Old Testament is so repulsive to the new Atheists (Utopians). They cannot imagine a God who rocks. For that matter, neither can many Christians.

“This is our God, a mighty warrior, dressed for battle.” God, on occasion, makes trouble. It almost sounds like I’m saying God has more in common with Rock than He does with those religious types who try to create their churchy Utopia here on Earth.

Rock wants to raise some hell – Utopia doesn’t say the word, “hell”.

Ok, this is a stretch but walk it out with me. What is hell? It is eternal punishment for the enemies of God. This makes Hell the ultimate dystopia. Why does Rock work so well in dystopian visions of the future? Because it’s the soundtrack of God’s wrath! Uhh, maybe.

A few more…

Rock is noisy – Utopia is quiet.

Rock is divisive – Utopia is homogenized.

Rock is high energy – Utopia is subdued.

Rock is freedom – Utopia is control.

Utopia on this Earth is impossible because human nature cannot bear it. We crave freedom. We want to express that freedom in our own creative way. Some of us are loud, some quiet. The closest we could get to Utopia is a general respect for one another, despite our differences.

But that is not what Utopians desire. They demand conformity. They demand that you think the same way they do, act the way they do, and want the same things they do. Unfortunately, church people are just as guilty of this as leftist, environmentalist, vegans.

So knowing that a Humanist Utopia on Earth is not possible, the only question left is…

Will there be Rock & Roll in Heaven (the only possible Utopia)?

I sure as hell hope so.

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KTown is a media professional, musician, and occasional copywriter who recently left his agency job to move his family back to the beautiful, frozen North hoping to make his own way. He now spends most of his time wandering aimlessly around Appleton, eating at Taco John's and going to the movies.