art-rock
UK[ˈɑːt rɒk]US[ˈɑːrt rɑːk]
n
A style of rock music that is experimental, ambitious, or influenced by art theories and other art forms, often characterized by complex structures and lyrical sophistication.
Morpheme Breakdown
art
rock
art
skill, craft, work of art.
rock
Etymology
The term "art-rock" is a modern English compound noun formed in the mid-20th century. The element "art" derives from the Latin ars, which broadly encompassed technical skill, craft, and creative work, a meaning retained in English. "Rock" is a truncation of "rock and roll," the name for the dominant genre of popular music originating in the 1950s. The compound logically fuses these elements to denote a subgenre of rock music that consciously incorporates the ambitions, complexities, or aesthetics traditionally associated with high art or avant-garde movements, positioning itself against more conventional or commercially-driven rock.
Analysis
Structure: art + rock
- art: From Latin ars (artis), meaning "skill, craft, work of art." In this compound, it functions as a modifier indicating a connection to artistic concepts.
- rock: Shortened from "rock and roll," a genre of popular music. In this compound, it functions as the head noun specifying the musical genre.
Examples
The band's latest album is a masterpiece of art-rock, blending classical motifs with electronic sounds.
He has a deep appreciation for the lyrical depth found in 1970s art-rock.
The festival will feature several pioneers of the art-rock movement.