In this episode, we dive into the history of pin-up and rockabilly fashion to analyze this aesthetic's continuous deployment in the 21st century pop landscape. We discuss the exaggerated gender dimorphism of the 1950s, the striking similarities between pin-up girls of the '40s and Instagram starlets of today, rockabilly's morbid legacy and the Overton window of obscenity, the decadence of Americana foodstuffs, and the raunchy, feminine stylings of Amy Winehouse, Katy Perry, and, most recently, Sabrina Carpenter.
Links:
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Welcome to the Club: The Women of Rockabilly (2001)Rockin': The Rockabilly Scene by Andrew ShaylorRockabilly: The Twang Heard 'Round the World by Michael Dregni Dave Hickey on Rockabilly in Air Guitar: Essays on Art & Democracy Sabrina Carpenter "Nonsense" Outros Compilation"What Happens When a Pop Star Isn't That Popular?" by Shaad D'Souza – New York Times
Sabrina's custom "Espresso" swimsuit vs.
Marilyn Monroe's in How to Marry a MillionaireKaty Perry performing "One of the Boys" in 2008Rolling Stone on the backstory behind Katy's Teenage Dream coverRolling Stone review of Teenage Dream upon release in 2010TASCHEN's The Art of Pin-up by Dian HansonAlexander Thompson's photographs of Mexican-American RockabilliesProperty from the Life and Career of Amy Winehouse – Auction Catalog"A Sly Wink to Pinups of the Past" by Ruth La Ferla – New York Times (2012)
Caroline Gnagy's Work*
*Full interview with Caroline Gnagy also available on
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