Rockist

Rockist refers to a critic, listener, or attitude that treats rock music and its associated values as the standard for evaluating all popular music. A rockist tends to privilege guitar-based, traditionally authentic forms, the aesthetics of live performance, and a sense of artistic seriousness rooted in the historical rock canon.

The term emerged in late 20th-century music criticism and journalism and is used to describe biases that privilege a rock-centered view of musical value. It is commonly contrasted with poptimism, a perspective that argues for equal recognition of genres such as pop, electronic, hip-hop, and R&B as legitimate art forms.

Core tenets include the belief that rock is the most important or authentic form of popular music, that artistic merit is best measured by elements associated with rock—guitar virtuosity, band dynamics, and authenticity—and that the rock canon provides a standard for taste. It has been tied to critiques of gatekeeping and canon formation, often highlighting the historical dominance of white male rock artists in defining cultural legitimacy.

Critics of rockism argue that the bias narrows the artistic field, undervalues non-rock genres and artists, and overlooks innovations outside the rock tradition. They view music criticism as more productive when it recognizes plural genres and diverse voices.

In contemporary discourse, rockism is discussed in relation to debates about taste, canon, and value across genres, and is frequently contrasted with poptimism or other approaches that seek a more inclusive view of popular music.