#before dinner thoughts

[banana-rebel]

Sad boys are my aesthetic.

[miahdunkleberger-blog]

words are never just words

Words are never just words. This is especially true when it comes to art. Just like an artist chooses a certain color or type of paint, a poet or a musician chooses specific words for a specific reason. Looking at hip hop lyrics feels very much like reading a poem. Each line can have a multitude of meaning, all open to translation. There may be lines that have a literal and figurative meaning, or even lines that have a completely abstract meaning that is difficult to arrive at. However, it is really interesting to look at music in the correct historical context because it helps me uncover the significance of each word. In my History of Rock & Roll class, we analyzed a Bob Dylan song with a lot of metaphors. Outside of the historical context, each stanza could've meant anything or nothing at all. But when we put it into the context of the civil rights era, the words gained a significant meaning. The song was speaking about the unjust state of our nation and the injustices that were occurring against African Americans, homosexuals, and even women. Instead of coming out with controversial lyrics that might create chaos, he subtlety hinted and the problems. But when people listened to the song during the 1960's, they could very easily understand the coded meaning of the song. Context is everything when it comes to understanding words as more than just words.

[chestknot]

coffee, new headphones and sufjan stevens: success