rockdomination

Rockdomination is a concept used in cultural analysis to describe the perceived predominance of rock music and its associated aesthetics within a given society or historical moment. The term combines rock with domination to signal how rock culture can shape activities, values, and canonical tastes beyond its immediate audience. There is no single, formal definition, and usage varies across disciplines and contexts.

Usage and scope: In music journalism and academic writing, rockdomination may refer to periods when rock genres exert outsized influence over mainstream media, fashion, and youth identity, as well as debates about the continuity of rock's relevance. It can also describe fan communities that actively reinforce rock-centered norms through festivals, playlists, and commodified nostalgia.

Core themes: The concept engages questions of cultural authority, genre legitimacy, and the negotiation of authenticity. It often intersects with discussions of globalization, media consolidation, and the tension between canonical rock canon and experimental or non-Western forms.

Criticism and alternatives: Critics argue that rockdomination can oversimplify complex cultural ecosystems by privileging a single genre. Others use the term to critique the uneven power dynamics in music industries and to highlight other genres' growing influence.

Relation to related topics: Cultural hegemony, popular music studies, fan studies, and media anthropology. In speculative or fictional contexts, rockdomination may appear as a plot device or world-building element exploring the social reach of rock aesthetics.