redbrunja: (tvd | je ne sais quoi)
redbrunja ([personal profile] redbrunja) wrote2010-11-07 10:10 am
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How Relevant Is Context?

This is probably not a surprise to most of my flist, but I'm a big believer in the Death of the Author, that a text should be taken on its own, without the creator stepping in to explain or justify his/her creative choices. (That said, I deliberately try not to know details about authors/actors/etc, because if I learn things I don't like it will forever taint the text for me).

Last night, I was listening to Not Ready To Make Nice:



(please give this song a listen, especially if you are not familiar with the Dixie Chicks or the specific background of this song).

What I was wondering was, does this song make any sense without the context of the Iraq War? If you don't know that the Dixie Chicks spoke out against Bush and had a lot of hate-mail because of it, what do you think this song is about? Even if you do know, does the song's overt political bias make it easier/harder to relate to?

Inquiring minds want to know. Speaking personally, while I greatly enjoy this song, I think it's cementation in one particular time period of American history is actually a weakness. I think Unsteady Ground:



has a much more nuanced touch with the politics of the Iraq War and For What It's Worth is a much more universal protest song.

Although, granted, neither one of those has the anger or righteousness of Not Ready To Make Nice, which I certainly don't want to devalue.

[identity profile] redbrunja.livejournal.com 2010-11-11 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
t seriously sucks man, if the guy was alive, I'm pretty sure he'd shoot himself for everyone getting it wrong all these years.

I'd like to think he'd get a job with the Daily Show and issue epic smack downs instead.

[identity profile] fonsetorigo.livejournal.com 2010-11-11 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
BAHAHA. Probably XD Man sometimes I wish Voltaire interviewed celebrities. Or Julius Caesar had a talk show with politicians. Pffffft I would laugh so hard.

[identity profile] redbrunja.livejournal.com 2010-11-12 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
I totally want Julius Ceasar hosting talk show. That would rock.

[identity profile] fonsetorigo.livejournal.com 2010-11-12 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah a legit reason to use my Caesar icon! He totally bug them an hurry up and invade Gaul or sommat.

"Caesar no one does that any--"
"LOSER, PFFT."