05-03-2015, 02:08 PM
I'm troubled by a few things on the list, though:
I can't help but feel that this list doesn't address songs that address nations or issues or whatever (I'd think songs have that sort of freedom, to be more assertive and less poetic with their points, but right now I can't think of any examples -- Blowin' in the Wind, maybe, which is a constant hammering of questions, that don't assert an identity or a thematic ideal, and Fiddler and the Drum, which isn't exactly Faustian?) , songs that are pure tragedies (the second involves almost getting into one, the third involves something Faustian, which isn't the only kind of tragedy -- Like a Rolling Stone doesn't necessarily imply a Faustian deal, and Once in a Lifetime is just plain sad), and songs that are complete and utter nonsense (I'll count Beck's Loser into this, but I'm very, very sure I Zimbra makes no sense, plus a lot of satires and children's songs). If I did something like this, I'd maybe do something based on Frye's theory of modes -- but that's only because I'm currently reading his theory of modes.
I can't help but feel that this list doesn't address songs that address nations or issues or whatever (I'd think songs have that sort of freedom, to be more assertive and less poetic with their points, but right now I can't think of any examples -- Blowin' in the Wind, maybe, which is a constant hammering of questions, that don't assert an identity or a thematic ideal, and Fiddler and the Drum, which isn't exactly Faustian?) , songs that are pure tragedies (the second involves almost getting into one, the third involves something Faustian, which isn't the only kind of tragedy -- Like a Rolling Stone doesn't necessarily imply a Faustian deal, and Once in a Lifetime is just plain sad), and songs that are complete and utter nonsense (I'll count Beck's Loser into this, but I'm very, very sure I Zimbra makes no sense, plus a lot of satires and children's songs). If I did something like this, I'd maybe do something based on Frye's theory of modes -- but that's only because I'm currently reading his theory of modes.