Essentialism, Race and Sexuality: A Comparative Analysis of Back Door Man by Howlin' Wolf and The Doors.
This essay will argue, through a comparison of the above two recordings, that definitions of essential racial identity with respect to music often serve to perpetuate the same stereotypes that the proponents of this theoretical perspective struggle against. In this analysis, it will be argued that The Doors are "more Black" - according to some models of the "essence of Black music" - than Howlin' Wolf in their treatment of this song. A particular focus of comparison will be on how the lyrics of The Doors cover of the song emphasizes the sexual aspects of the song as a "performance" of masculinity, while ignoring the socio-political elements of the original Howlin' Wolf version. 5 pgs. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
