Throughout this class, I have really enjoyed being able to listen to the songs that Benji talks about throughout the book. Whitehead is obviously an amazing author, and is able to convey so much of Ben's feelings as he's looking back on this summer, but also Benji's feelings as he's living that summer. However, it's really important that he provided specific songs that were important to Benji at that time because music can convey feelings and emotions that words can't, as well as a better sense of the time period that Benji is coming from. While Mr. Mitchell lived through the '80s, most of us in Coming-of-Age have only experienced it through our parents telling us stories and insisting on making us listen to the music that was popular "back in their day." I'd heard a few of the songs that Benji talks about in the book, but my dad came from a very different place than Benji (he went to Urbana High School, and it's not too hard to guess that he's white). So while my dad played for me a lot of New Wave, which Benji also becomes interested in later on in the novel, I never got to hear any of the hip hop which was also an extremely important genre of music in the '80s, and one that was also making it's debut. From my dad, I heard a lot of B-52's, The Bangles, The Cars, The Pretenders, The Go-Go's, The Clash-- the list goes on. I actually exclusively listened to '80s music when I was little, then discovered mainstream pop in middle school, But, in high school I stopped complaining whenever my dad wanted to play the '80s station. While what my dad introduced me to is all great, I really liked Roxanne Roxanne and the story of the whole "battle" that ensued after it was released.
I think we can all see where Benji is coming from with how much he likes listening to music. Music can define your life. If you hear a song, and how you're feeling, or have felt, in your life relates to the lyrics or even just the aesthetic, it fortifies whatever you're feeling. If you're really really happy and you hear a great song that embodies your happiness, it's like you're about to burst and you just want to sing along at the top of your lungs. I've encountered this while driving and it's kind of a problem as it is very distracting from the road. If you're feeling sad about something (anything) and you hear a song about the same situation you're going though, it makes you feel like you have an ally. Like that artist wrote the song specifically for you because they get you. Music is an integral part of Sag Harbor just as it is an integral part of our lives.
I agree that music is very important and I think the passage of time in relation to music is very interesting. These songs meant so much to the kids, but now I know nothing about them myself. Mentioning the music really solidifies the book in time. I'm glad we were able to listen to Benji's music and get a glimpse of the culture.
ReplyDeleteAnd this has been true, well, since there's been music. But I think D. Mitchell and Whitehead tap into a particular way that recorded music, and recorded personal music (Walkman, boombox, car stereo, iPod, smartphone), becomes so literally a part of day to day life starting in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Music is part of Holden's world, to a point--he's excited to buy a record for Phoebe--but not to the same extent as these later novels. It's one of the main ways that my generation has a lot in common with yours--we invented walking around with your head in the clouds listening to your own private mixtape.
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