Conformity in Music

Aim: How do we analyze how the theme of conformity is developed in music?

Quick Write: (Day 1) Hip-hop is often seen as art form that is both conformist and non-conformist. What do you think? How might hip-hop be an act of conformity? How might hip-hop speak to non-conformity? (Day 2) What is your favorite type of music? Explain how music speaks to you as an individual and also how it speaks to you as a conformist?

Conformity and non-conformity are on view anywhere there is a group of people. We see it at home, school, neighborhood, fashion, music, politics. For this lesson, we are going to view and listen to Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” and Kanye West’s “All Falls Down,” read the lyrics, and consider what each respective musical artist has to say about conformity.

Step 1: View the video and read the lyrics to Pink Floyd's “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2).”
Click here to view "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.

“Wrong, Do it again!”
“If you don’t eat yer meat, you can’t have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat yer meat?”
“You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!”

Step 2: Answer the following questions on your blog:

• According to the song, what is the function of schools? What are schools compared to?
• What is the significance of the students’ deformed and indistinguishable faces?
• What is meant by the title, “Another Brick in the Wall”? How does this relate to conformity?
• What is the overall message in the song?
• How might the students singing in chorus be construed as ironic?

Step 3: View the video and read the lyrics to Kanye West's (feat. Syleena Johnson “All Falls Down.”
Click here to watch "All Falls Down."
Oh when it all, it all falls down
I’m telling you oh, it all falls down
Oh when it all, it all falls down
I’m telling you oh, it all falls down

Man I promise, she’s so self conscious
She has no idea what she’s doing in college
That major that she majored in don’t make no money
But she won’t drop out, her parents will look at her funny
Now, tell me that ain’t insecure
The concept of school seems so secure
Sophomore three years ain’t picked a career
She like **** it, I’ll just stay down here and do hair
Cause that’s enough money to buy her a few pairs of new Airs
Cause her baby daddy don’t really care
She’s so precious with the peer pressure
Couldn’t afford a car so she named her daughter Alexus [a Lexus]
She had hair so long that it looked like weave
Then she cut it all off now she look like Eve
And she be dealing with some issues that you can’t believe
Single black female addicted to retail and well

[Chorus]

Man I promise, I’m so self conscious
That’s why you always see me with at least one of my watches
Rollies and Pasha’s done drove me crazy
I can’t even pronounce nothing, pass that Versace! 

Then I spent 400 bucks on this
Just to be like ***** you ain’t up on this!
And I can’t even go to the grocery store
Without some ones that’s clean and a shirt with a team
It seems we living the American dream
But the people highest up got the lowest self esteem
The prettiest people do the ugliest things
For the road to riches and diamond rings
We shine because they hate us, floss cause they degrade us
We trying to buy back our 40 acres
And for that paper, look how low we a’stoop
Even if you in a Benz, you still a ***** in a coop/coupe

[Chorus]

I say **** the police, that’s how I treat em
We buy our way out of jail, but we can’t buy freedom
We’ll buy a lot of clothes when we don’t really need em
Things we buy to cover up what’s inside
Cause they make us hate ourself and love they wealth
That’s why shortys hollering “where the ballas’ at?”
Drug dealer buy Jordans, crackhead buy crack
And a white man get paid off of all of that
But I ain’t even goin’ act holier than thou
Cause **** it, I went to Jacob with 25 thou
Before I had a house and I’d do it again
Cause I wanna be on 106 and Park pushing a Benz
I wanna act ballerific like it’s all terrific
I got a couple past due bills, I won’t get specific
I got a problem with spending before I get it
We all self conscious I’m just the first to admit it

Step 4: Answer the following questions on your blog:

• Identify at least two lines that reveal Kanye West’s awareness of his conformity.
• What does he identify as the source of his desire for material goods?
• Rita Mae Brown wrote: “The reward for conformity is that
  
  everyone likes you but yourself.” How does this quote relate to the song? Identify specific lines that show that Kanye West agrees.
• Kanye West is talking about conspicuous consumption – a term sociologists use to explain the buying of goods for displaying wealth or some kind of social status (Google it for more detail!) – in “All Falls Down.” How is conspicuous consumption similar to conformity?

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****