Bruce Springsteen's Violence In America
Us versus them mentality is a cultural phenomenon that is pa hallmark of civilizations past, present, and future. Propagation of this phenomenon is greatly enhanced at times of great conflict in order to unify members of a culture. In Violence in America, Arnold Goldstein details how us versus them is spurred by, “A basic human quality [of] desire to feel one is part of a group of people whom we see as being both like ourselves and . . . being better than other groups” (Goldstein 1). However, is everyone swept up in the cause during times of distress, or are there those who go against the tide and argue against the us versus them psychology? The answer is there are always those who defy the cultural trend. Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit song …show more content…
These lyrics reflect the struggle he grew up with, living “in a working-class household in Freehold Borough.” His father “had trouble holding down a steady job and worked at different times as a bus driver, millworker and prison guard,” during his childhood and his songs reflect on this relatable ordeal. Of all his albums, 1984’s Born in the U.S.A. is credited as Springsteen’s magnum opus. The album produced “seven singles [that hit] the top of the Billboard Charts,” one of which shared its name with the album (Biography.com Editors). “Born in the U.S.A,” with its upbeat tempo and invigorating chorus, is not the patriotic tune that many mistakenly believe. It takes the opposite approach, as it embodies Springsteen’s own values to destroy the philosophy of us versus them that gripped America during …show more content…
The song does not describe the yellow men as enemies, communists, or barbarians. He does not degrade them in any sense; nor does he claim the purported reason for the war. The government just wants him to kill the yellow man. This lyric does not only debase the validity of the war, but discredits the government of the nation at the time. Who exactly is the enemy in this scenario; the yellow men or the government that wants to kill them? This alone breaks down us versus them, but this is only the second
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881 Words | 4 PagesMany of the soldiers were cruel, not only killing unarmed people, but also raping "hundreds of women, young girls, widows" (Menchu 166). These murders discouraged some people from protesting, but it made other people realize that they had to be willing to sacrifice their lives to bring about change However, it is revealed the soldiers, who were painted as monsters, may also be victims of state terror. One broke down, claiming that he had to take "orders from a captain" or else he would be killed. If he obeyed, he would be "an enemy of the people" and if he didn't, he would be "the army's enemy," conveying how some soldiers had no choice and were as scared as everyone else (Menchu
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511 Words | 3 PagesI am going to list three places from the song and support them with evidence. “Men walking’ ‘long the railroad tracks, Goin’ someplace there’s no goin’ back”(Springsteen line 1-2) These two lines give the readers an understanding of the intense atmosphere in the Great Depression, and they also described the men despairly working for the government along the railroad. Even though people have the jobs provided by government, they can hardly afford their families. According to th the statistics, average wage for each weeks fall from $50 to $22 during the Great Depression.
Hatchet By Gary Paulsen
797 Words | 4 PagesIn this report we will be talking about the novel Hatchet, written by Gary Paulsen. All throughout the novel, Paulsen uses creative literary techniques to emphasise the theme of man versus nature. The novel, Hatchet, is about a young boy, called Brian, who takes a plane over a forest going from America to Canada to visit his dad, when the pilot dies from a heart attack and Brian has to crash land the plane in a lake. Brian then has to learn how to live in the wild while waiting to be found by the rescue crews. In the paragraphs below we will be talking about the literary techniques Paulsen uses throughout the novel, like metaphors, similes, reptation and exaggeration, that help show that, Brian is dealing with dangerous animals of the wild,
Comparing Reagan And Clinton's View Of American History
296 Words | 2 PagesThe American people have a sense of “us against them” that is rampant in areas such as race, gender, religion, etc. There are many reasons that we are all different, and these different perspectives were once scene as strengths to make America a great “melting pot”. Now these differences are seen as liabilities and only cause strife and distrust. There is always a generational hope to leave the world a better place for future generations, but many of our greatest minds are bogged down by petty arguments about
Research Paper On Bruce Springsteen
878 Words | 4 PagesBruce’s album Born in the U.S.A. was a blockbuster hit that no one as prepared for. The mass appeal of it was better than his earlier works (“Bruce Springsteen” 4). Springsteen was also asked to write a song for a movie called Philadelphia, which starred Tom Hanks. The song earned him five awards for best song (“Bruce Springsteen” 5). In 2003, he won the Les Paul award at the TEC awards (“Bruce Springsteen” 6).He looked more like a rebel than he really was.
The Relevance Of Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton
574 Words | 3 PagesIn “My Shot,” the intensity with which Hamilton fights for his chance is evident both in how Miranda sings it and in the lyrics. Lyrics like “I’m just like my country / I’m young, scrappy and hungry” and “I’m a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal / Tryin’ to reach my goal” convey a sense of urgency and dedication to “making it” in America, a mentality that immigrants today can identify with. Presenting a founding father primarily through his immigrant identity encourages audiences to question their own thoughts and perceptions of immigration while also giving modern American immigrants a presence on stage in the musical theater world. With immigration a critical issue during this election season, Hamilton brings together the current political world with that of America’s past, highlighting modern issues without becoming a political statement for or against any current American political
Conflict Theory In American Society
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1105 Words | 5 PagesFrom "I Walk the Line" to "Ring of Fire" and beyond, we'll discover the secrets of Cash's songwriting and explore the themes that made his music so enduringly popular. So sit back, relax, and get ready to take a journey through the music of one of the greatest artists of all time. Through his music, Cash explored new ways of pop and rock culture from love and loss to addiction and redemption, and he used
Violence In My Bloody Life By Reymundo Sanchez
1332 Words | 6 PagesMost of the violence we have is gang related especially in Chicago. Chicago is known to be one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. A lot of shootings, rapes, robberies, and murders comes from gang violence. There has been 419 murders in Chicago this year. The murder rate of Chicago is about four times higher than New York City and 2.5 times higher than Los Angeles.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Born In The USA
793 Words | 4 Pagesa group not likely to accept criticism of America. Through unclear lyrics and a poorly selected audience, Springsteen’s hit “Born in the U.S.A.” is a rhetorical failure. In order to gain credibility, Springsteen uses ethical appeal. Springsteen begins the song with the line, “Born down in a dead man’s town,” (Springsteen) and he concludes with, “Nowhere to run ain’t got nowhere to go.” (Springsteen) Springsteen uses introductory words as well as a conclusion to give the listener his life story from start to finish.
God Bless The Usa Analysis
596 Words | 3 PagesThe success of the song, and ultimately what makes it memorable and moving, is the way that the song ramps up starting off quiet with lines such as “From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee” before
What Makes A Soldier Great And Dulce Et Decorum Est
303 Words | 2 PagesThe poem aims to glorify soldiers and certain aspects of war, it goes on to prove that in reality there really isn 't good vs bad on the battlefield, it 's just a man who "sees his children smile at him, he hears the bugle call, And only death can stop him now—he 's fighting for them all.", and this is our hidden meaning.
American Idiot By Green Day: Song Analysis
872 Words | 4 PagesThere have been many protest songs in the United States; the freedom of speech has contributed to powerful music and protest words that are written in song. The song that will be discussed throughout this essay is “American Idiot” by Green day. This song speaks volume about the uneducated “America” and puts emphasis on the destruction that reality television is making on the United States of America. Listening to the unspoken word and read between the lies, for that then you will understand. The song “American Idiot” was released during the 2004 presidential election, where George W. Bush was selected into office for the second term as President of the United States of America (source).
Cultural Diversity Classroom
3061 Words | 13 PagesIt is in observing how people deal with and react to conflicts that we see clear differences between cultures. Some cultures view conflict as a positive thing, while others view it as something to be avoided. In the United States, conflict is not usually desirable; nonetheless, conventional wisdom in this country encourages individuals to deal directly with conflicts when they do arise. In fact, face-to-face encounters are usually suggested as the way to work through whatever problems exist. By contrast, in many Asian countries, open conflict is experienced as embarrassing or demeaning.
Born By The River Analysis
1183 Words | 5 Pages“Born by the River” illustrates my version of the “American Dream” because Cooke expresses this faith that things will change, despite social segregation. For example, Cooke mentions, "how it has been difficult over the years facing “segregation and inequality,” but he has hope a change will come for the future (Stanza 1). Cooke sings in a doubtful manner because of the unjust times he 's living in and explains all the harsh realities he is faced. Although he lives under these circumstances, his hope is restored because colored Americans began to stand up for what 's right in civil rights movements. Similarly, today we are faced with opposing laws that make it harder for “equal opportunism” for immigrants in America, but these dreamers still stand tall in protests for their fight against unequal opportunities.
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