Promotional Information

Through an examination of her music, videos, philanthropic work, and biographical details, this book gives insight into Alanis Morissette's musical career and day-to-day life, from her early pop beginnings in Canada to her work today.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword, by James E. Perone Acknowledgments 1. Theorizing Morissette The Limitations of "Anger" as an Interpretive Tool Toward a Broader Analytical Approach 2. "No Apologies" and "No Regrets": Pop Beginnings The Making of a Teenage Pop Diva Constructing Alanis as the Virgin-Vixen Alanis (1991) Fulfilling Contractual Obligations with a Second Album Now Is the Time (1992) Awards and Commercial Response 3. "You Live, You Learn": Rise to Fame Abandoning Alanis, Becoming Morissette Musical Context: Grunge, Punk, riot grrrl, and Female Indie Rock A New Performance Aesthetic and Songwriting Approach Jagged Little Pill (1995) Jagged Little Videos Awards and Commercial Response 4. "Thank U India": Spirituality Tempers the "Angry Young Woman" Taking, Then Waking from, a "Conceptual Nap" Spirituality and "Wholeness" as New Themes Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) Junkie Videos Awards and Commercial Response Playing God (with Kevin Smith) 5. "Hist'ry Under Rug Swept": Moving on without Glen Ballard Acting Activism and Advocacy Under Rug Swept (2002) Rug Swept Videos Feasting on Scraps So-Called Chaos (2004) Chaos Videos Awards and Commercial Response 6. "Giggling Again for No Reason": A Return to Pop Celebrating a Jagged Little Decade Guy Sigsworth and a New Creative Partnership Flavors of Entanglement (2008) Entanglement Videos Marriage, Motherhood, and Breaking with Maverick Havoc and Bright Lights (2012) Havoc and Bright Lights Videos Awards and Commercial Response Jagged Little Pill on Broadway as "Miss Thing" Turns 40 Discography Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author

Karen Fournier, PhD, is associate professor of music theory at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.