Friday, April 15, 2011

Homework for Monday, April 18

Hello All,

For this blog, post one body paragraph of your literary (song) analysis.

For an example and some advice, see an analysis of Tom Waits's "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard."

Take care!

22 comments:

  1. One symbol in this song, “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You” by N Sync, is The Regular Guy/Gal, which she’s the opposite of it. The meaning of the symbol is that everyone wants to be an ordinary person just like others; she/he does not stand out (Mark & Pearson, 2001, p.165). In the song, “In all of creation, all things great and small, you are the one that surpasses them all” means she is not like everyone else and she stands out. He feels that she’ll surpass all other women because there is no one like her. She’s beautiful on the inside and outside and knows how to light up his heart.
    Also in the song, “Just how I ever did without the warmth of your smile” symbolizes the sun. The sun is associated with warmth, light, goodness, healing, and everlasting life (Stevens, 1998, p. 136).

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  2. The song by Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Snow,” uses the symbol of snow to indicate the beauty and mystery it brings. Stevens writes in Ariadne’s Clue, “it is thus a symbol of hope, optimism, and good things to come” (389). Snow does bring this in the seasons because in winter there is snow, and after winter season ends spring season begins. For Christians, snow is connected to a time of giving and thankfulness because of the birth of baby Jesus. The birth of Jesus brought hope and good things to come to those who believed. In a section of the lyrics the song states: “Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder where it’s so white as snow,” which it is saying that underneath all that beauty there is an unknown that brings mystery.
    Jorge de Julian

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  3. Yadhira Moreno

    The song uses a ring in order to symbolize commitment because in the relationship that she is in that would be the next step. According to Anthony Stevens, "the RING is a symbol of continuity, wholeness, completion, and the union of opposities" (1998, p.317). She has been in this relationship for "three good years", but is tired of crying. She has decided to move on and leave htis relationship behind because if he really loved her then he would have proposed already.

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  4. The song I chose was Hotel California by the Eagles. In this song it begins f traveling on a dark deserted highway. This is a symbol of how dark and deserted ones life can be. This song then goes on speaking of voices in the corridor, speaking as if there were ghosts drawing him in to this Hotel California. This whole song is wrapped around this ghostly pull. The last few lines are speaking of trying to escape and the "night man" says "we are programmed to receive, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave". In the song it says this could be heaven or this could be hell giving the feeling that it is so wonderful to be there but at the same time its scary.
    Katrina Gregory

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  5. This song uses ocean as a symbol to indicate the method that he uses to reach a significant other. When a person crosses ocean for their significant other it demonstrates their commitment, and/or their willingness to lose their life for that person. Also, the ocean can portray mystery, danger, and/or a doorway to another world. In Greek Mythology there is a story about how Odysseus crossed an ocean to get to kingdom of the dead. He used the ocean as a doorway to get to a place of the unknown. In the book, Adrian’s Clue, by Anthony Stevens, states that the ocean has “mysterious immensity from which all things arose and to which all things will return” (113). An example would be how every day the sun rises from the East, and sets in the West.

    -Yoselin Ventura

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  6. As the band Train sings about loving a person who has moved on, in their song Drops of Jupiter, they use the archetype a shooting star to get their point across. A shooting star happens for a brief moment in time. Train sings, “Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star? One without a permanent scar, and then you missed me while you were looking for yourself out there.” Shooting stars are bright, flashy, and catch ones attention; yet they only last no more than a few seconds. In the blink of an eye, a shooting star is here and gone. Life is short, and in the grand scheme of things and history of the world, human life can be seen as a shooting star. The love mentioned in the song was once alive, and is now gone. The narrator of the song wonders if his love has fallen for someone new in her life adventures.

    -Jen Scarbrough

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  7. Paul Wright’s song take this life is asking that the carnal intentions of rebellion of the heart be transformed into a heart of spiritual obedience to God; something that is physically difficult to do. Wright sings, “My heart would rather rebel than obey” indicating it is neither in one’s power nor nature to be obedient to Gods spirit. The heart is equated with the center of all human life as Anthony Stevens suggest in his book Ariadne’s Clue, “The heart shares in the symbolism of the Centre of the body”(pg. 411). In this day and age one’s life can rebel and become darkened with hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness leading to guilt and self-condemnation. The chorus states, “take this life make it yours, do what’s right oh lord” is a cry for supernatural help from God, who’s spirit is greater than the human spirit itself. A spirit filled heart produces compassion, forgiveness, and love for others, nurturing every part of ones being and those around it.
    Tony A.

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  8. Freedom has many meanings that are dependent on the individual’s own perception of the definition. When pondering freedom, it is essential to know which concept of freedom the definition is based upon: freedom of thought, freedom of expression, or freedom of speech. Music is a form of expression, and what better medium for conveying thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The lyrics might represent significant events in the writer’s life.

    Lauri Slocumb

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  9. In the song “Homecoming” by Kanye West, West uses the symbol of home, in order to describe who he is. Home symbolizes “the center of one's existence,” (Stevens 153). This is relevant in the song because he describes his home town. Chicago being where West is from, is portrayed in the form of a human in the song. The personification of the home town helps the symbolism of the home showing how the town can have an affect on West. West says “every interview I'm representing you” (West) meaning that he is always talking about Chicago. This shows West connection to his home town and how much he cares for Chicago.

    Adam Eaton

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  10. The song uses the sun as a symbol to indicate goodness. Kelly Clarkson is expressing that she wants to escape the terrible place that she is in by singing, “out of the darkness and into the sun,” and by her saying that she wants to go into the sun, she is symbolizing that she want to be in a happier place. Throughout the song Clarkson is signifying that she wants to escape her life and risk what she already has to make a better life for herself, and according to Stevens in Ariadne’s Clue, “the sun, like the heavens, is naturally associated with warmth, light, goodness, healing, and everlasting life” (136). Kelly Clarkson wants to go towards the sun, because it resembles goodness and warmth.

    Jacqueline Perez

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  11. The song uses pawn in order to convey the message that the “poor white man” is used to carry out the work of the rich politicians (l. 9). Poor white men were the people who killed African Americans and most of the times got away with it but sometimes did not. People such as cops, military, etc back in the 1960’s got paid to carry out the laws: “But the poor white man’s used in the hands of them all like a tool” (l. 22). White men and woman killed African Americans because they believed it was the right thing to do. During the civil rights movement white men were taught at a young age to preserve their race. They were taught that they were better than African Americans. If one thinks about the game of chess, pawns are the first to go and they protect the better players. Bob Dylan uses pawn as a symbol of the poor white men in the government’s game to bring down African Americans during the civil rights movement.

    Shawnie Speer

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  12. One symbol that is used in the song “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac is a mountain. The songwriter, Stevie Nicks, sings; “I climbed a mountain and I turned around”. The mountain symbolizes a struggle that she is trying to overcome, but while climbing the mountain she turned back. The mountain represent changes in her life that she may be trying to understand and deal with.

    Felicia Contreras

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  13. The song uses the symbol of a sun to represent a new life. Michael Buble sings "its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life." As the sun rises it brings a new day. Michael Buble is indicating to leave the past behind and as the sun rises everyday, it should be lived as if it were a new life. Stevens (1998) states that the sun is "associated with warmth, light, goodness, healing, and everlasting life." In this context, the sun shows the positivity and opportunities in life.

    By Alessandra Hoyte

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  14. According to Anthony Stevens, “the capacity to use symbols… [have] had psychological consequences of incalculable importance…it promotes our grasp on reality.” In the beginning, the chorus in the song: “Just gonna stand there and watch me burn? Well that’s alright because I like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry? Well that’s alright because I love the way you lie.” This is showing the forgiveness that comes with love. Love can be blind, so she’s making up excuses for the way her partner is treating her. In other words, it’s as if she was saying, “Whatever he does, she will continue to be there for him, and it’s not his fault. She will always love everything he does, even if it’s wrong.” In the first line, the singer is using the word “burn,” which can be translated to fire. Fire can symbolize both good and evil, but in this case it’s harmful. As Stevens mentioned, “fire is dangerous … [and] can get out of control and consume all that lies in its path.” It can also be interpreted as “human passions, particularly sex and fury, are exactly analogous to fire in this sense: one can be consumed by them and driven to irrational behavior which may bring catastrophe to oneself or to others (P. 126) Just like in the song, “If she ever tries to…leave again, [he will] tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.”
    by:Nancy Bejar

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  15. In the song “Aint No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell use the symbol of a mountain to represent that it is not high enough to climb in order to get to each other. There is no obstacle to stop them from getting to each other. No matter what gets in their way. Gaye and Terrell sing “Aint no mountain high enough Aint no valley low enough Aint no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you” (1967). They will both overcome these challenges to get where they need to be. Steven states, “A mountain symbolizes the path of individuation through transcendence since all realization of potential is conceived by the human imagination as an ascent, an elevation of the spirit” (248). In the opening line of the chorus, “Aint no mountain high enough” meaning no matter how tall the mountain is it will not keep them separated from each other.
    Anthony Castro

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  16. The song “Blue Skies,” uses symbolism to describe the feelings of love and absence of loneliness. When you are in love everything is wonderful. The songwriter states, “(I) Never saw the sun shining so bright” after finding love. Love has made the awareness of the suns brightness profound. According to Anthony Stevens, “The sun, like the heavens, is naturally associated with warmth, light, goodness, healing, and everlasting life (…)” (1996, p. 136). This translation of the sun illustrates the “goodness” that has been received by its presence. In addition, the line “Blue days, all of them gone” express how loves new findings has lead to the loss of sadness. This song uses colors to symbolize the impact of love.
    -Kimberlina Rodriguez

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  17. Just as the setting played an important role within A Fine Frenzy's song, so does the mention of rangers play just as significant of a role. In modern-day society, the word "ranger" is usually a connotation of protection, safety, and care for the general well-being of the environmental locations and creatures under his or her care. However, the rangers mentioned in this song take on the roll of hunters, and are even labeled as such: "And the rangers stream out of their cabins, they are the hunters, we are the rabbits" (l. 11-12). The hunter is an archetype that is "demonized in many traditions," and that fact rings true for this song as well (Stevens 318). It describes the rangers as raising their muskets, an obvious display of aggression towards the rabbits, whom the rangers wish to track down. In line with the actions of a demonized hunter, the rangers, too "indulge [themselves] in the ecstatic pursuit of the quarry," rather than focusing on what really matters: the love shared by the two rabbits (318).

    - April Joy Garcera

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  18. The song “Stand,” by Rascal Flatts uses a canyon as a symbol. The song uses this symbol in order to describe how a person feels when they are going through a rough time in life. The song describes how a person with problems might feel like if they are at the edge of a canyon with only one way down, but in Ariadne’s Clue, Anthony Stevens discusses how a valley is a connection between Heaven and Earth where people are nurtured. Since the song talks about being strong and overcoming problems, the canyon represents this very well. In the song, the canyon seems to have only one way out but it might be the best way. For example, most of the time when people are faced with problems family seems to be the ones that help them get through rough times.

    -Janette Lopez

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  19. The song uses the symbol of abandonment to illustrate the sense of loss and loneliness; "you abandoned me, love don't live her anymore" is not only mentioned in the opening line, but it is also repeated in the chorus to emphasize the pain that the writer feels. In Anthony Stevens book, "Ariadne's Clue", Stevens mentions abandonment when referring to adversity in that it "underlines the vulnerability of each life that seeks its own fulfillment" (p. 140). Clearly the song writer is facing adversity when dealing with the loss of a loved one. This is a song that many people can relate to; the end of a relationship can be hard to overcome. Some people move on quickly, while for others it is a struggle to let go.

    Christine Hadwar

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  20. The song,” Part of Your World” by Jodi Benson uses the symbol of a fin to portray the need for freedom. Benson sings, “Flippin’ your fins, you don’t get too far” here she is trying to show that she wants to explore a different life rather than being a mermaid. The fins symbolize her restriction to go any other place aside from being underwater. She is looking for change in her life, by not having fins she would then have the freedom to explore a different life. Throughout the entire song she longs for a different life, she wants to become a part of the human world.

    Maria Madera Herrera

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  21. In “I Can’t Hear the Music,” Blunt uses darkness to symbolize the negative side of an individual’s life. The composer uses darkness as a way to express the negative aspect of his or her part of life. Darkness also portrays the vulnerability, and fear of the individual’s side. At this point the individual is able to make the wrong choices which can bring evil consequences. For example, the composer states, “Yoshimi, run. ‘cause Billy’s got himself a gun” (Blunt, line 22). The evil consequences of taking the wrong choices during darkness cause the individual to act in a certain way without thinking of what was to come. The individual turned into a monstrous image that harms the rest of his or her surroundings. Stevens explains that darkness is the time when “natural predators and conspecific attack” (1998, 141). Darkness symbolizes the falling of the individual’s life, the time when evil takes over light.

    Lizeth Ramirez

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  22. The way Usher describes his song confessions gives insight to his unfaithful life. The reason of why Usher becomes unfaithful is not revealed in his song's but does mention that he was already in a relationship with a woman while seeing his ex-girlfriend. Being unfaithful has it's consequences. In the song, Usher says "I don't want to lose you" signifies that after cheating his girlfriend is not willing to return to the relationship they once had.

    Jose Bolanos

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