“Reflections” by Diana Ross and the Supremes – Theme Comparison of Lyrics to China Beach
This song was written in 1967 when America had been involved in the Vietnam War for two years. By 1967, many Americans were protesting the war, feeling it was a waste of time that U.S. soldiers were senselessly losing their lives over fighting for another country’s survival. Many years later, the producers of China Beach, a television show, decided Reflections would be the perfect theme song to represent how the main characters often felt during Vietnam. Although the song was written about a lost relationship, it can easily relate to times of struggle and loss during a war, or any time in life. This directly relates to the lyrics expressing a woman’s feelings looking back on a relationship that has ended. Everything in the singer's mind reminds her of the woman she used to be and how life was when he was around. The man who left has taken her love and happiness and she is left clinging to the happy memories of their life together. She has invested her love in the relationship for nothing and is left with unfulfilled promises and sees that she has wasted a lot of time. Her world has crumbled right in front of her. In the same respect, the soldiers in the war long for a previous time – their lives before the war – where things were predictable, happy and peaceful.
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“Reflections” by Diana Ross and the Supremes – Theme Comparison of Lyrics to China Beach
This song was written in 1967 when America had been involved in the Vietnam War for two years. By 1967, many Americans were protesting the war, feeling it was a waste of time that U.S. soldiers were senselessly losing their lives over fighting for another country’s survival. Many years later, the producers of China Beach, a television show, decided Reflections would be the perfect theme song to represent how the main characters often felt during Vietnam. Although the song was written about a lost relationship, it can easily relate to times of struggle and loss during a war, or any time in life. This directly relates to the lyrics expressing a woman’s feelings looking back on a relationship that has ended. Everything in the singer's mind reminds her of the woman she used to be and how life was when he was around. The man who left has taken her love and happiness and she is left clinging to the happy memories of their life together. She has invested her love in the relationship for nothing and is left with unfulfilled promises and sees that she has wasted a lot of time. Her world has crumbled right in front of her. In the same respect, the soldiers in the war long for a previous time – their lives before the war – where things were predictable, happy and peaceful.
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To Kill a Mockingbird – Song Analysis to Theme in Novel
We have discussed several themes throughout the literature unit of TKAM. Two themes listed and discussed below were our focus.
Theme #1: Discrimination – The book portrays discrimination and/or racism with several characters. Boo Radley is discriminated for his “weird” and shy ways and most townspeople view him as a monster or ghost. Tom Robinson is discriminated for being African American and is found guilty of a crime he did not commit. MayellaEwell is shunned by the town because she lives in filth, is uneducated and doesn’t display “proper” ways of living.
Theme #2: Loss of Childhood Innocence – Jem is 10-years-old when the story begins. Throughout the novel, we see how he grows up and loses part of his innocence as a child. We have discussed in depth how children view the world in “shades of black and white”– stealing is ALWAYS bad. As Jem (and all of us) grow up, he begins to see the world in “shades of gray”. He gets a different perspective on why Boo stays inside, he can see beyond Mrs. Dubose’s cruelty and why she wanted to die free from addiction, he informs Atticus when Dill ran away and appeared under Scout’s bed – he knew Dill’s parents were worrying. In telling Atticus, he “betrays” Dill, but realizes it’s more important to let his parents know than to disappoint Dill and Scout by “ratting him out.”
Not only are the above themes relative to the book, but to our lives in general. You personally, have either witnessed discrimination/racism or been the victim of it. As a teenager, you have moved from childhood “black and white” thinking into “shades of gray” thinking.
Assignment:
Choose one of the two themes above and find an example of a song that expresses that theme and how it relates to TKAM. Your song lyrics MUST be appropriate for school. Use the T-Chart organizer to compare how the theme and lyrics are similar. The T-Chart will NOT be collected.
Your assignment should include:
*The lyrics of the song and the band’s/writer’s name of the song.
*A five paragraph essay on comparing the song’s theme (discrimination or loss of childhood innocence) to the novel. Here is a breakdown of what should be included in each paragraph:
Paragraph 1: Introduction – general information about your theme.
Paragraph 2: Body Paragraph – your interpretation of song lyrics
Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph – how the lyrics relate to the theme.
Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph – how the theme is shown in the novel, TKAM.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion – general information about how you have experienced the theme chosen.
REMEMBER TO INCLUDE ALL 9 PARTS IN YOUR ESSAY. USE YOUR CHECKLIST PROVIDED.
Your grade will be based on including the 9 parts of an essay.