MUSC105 - Sample Student Essays

(shared anonymously with permission of the authors)

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I.

Physical Appearances in Bruno Mars Just the Way You Are

Bruno Mars song Just the Way You Are has become widely popular in mainstream music today. The songs message
is a man telling a woman that she is beautiful and should not be concerned about her appearance. Females are particularly
fond of the song because they relate to the girls concern with the way she looks and like to think that they are beautiful
just the way they are as well. However, the songs message is not entirely positive. Although the man assures the girl
that she does not need to worry about her physical appearance, he only does so because he likes the way she looks. The
persona fails to tell the girl that her appearance does not matter and that her personality outweighs her looks. Instead, he
furthers the idea that women must be physically attractive in order to please men. The song Just the Way You Are
enforces the negative idea that physical appearances are more important than character. The songs acceptance shows that
many women still need the approval of others and cannot be confident on their own.
The song only mentions physical aspects of the girl. The singer talks about her eyes, lips, and hair. He discusses
several different reasons why the girl is amazing, each pertaining to one of her body parts. The singer only thinks she is
appealing because of her physical appearance, not for her personality. Because he talks about her face instead of her
body, many people think that he is not objectifying her. However, he is still only interested in the way that she looks.
The girl is treated as something pretty to look at, not as a human being.
The artist does address one nonphysical aspect of the woman. He talks about her laugh, telling she hates [it] but
I think it's so sexy. Even when he discusses something besides her looks, he calls her sexy. This shows that he only
sees her in a sexual way. The singer never mentions the girls personality; he only tells that she is beautiful and sexy.
The woman is objectified because her overall character is ignored.
The song also objectifies the girl by discusses parts of her. It tells about her eyes, her lips, her hair, and
your face. Each part of her is described separately. The girl is rarely mentioned as a whole person. The singer splits
her up into different parts, almost dehumanizing her. He refers to her in terms of different pieces of her body, treating her
like a collection of objects. The girls identity is lost in the song because the singer does not talk about her as a whole
person.
The male persona begins to express power over the woman by stating When I see your face, there's not a thing
that I would change. On the surface, it seems as if he is being considerate by accepting her. However, he acts as if he
has the power to tell her things that she should change. The only reason that he does not critique her is because she meets
his physical expectations. The singer tells her that he would not change her because she is beautiful. If her eyes did not
make the stars look like they're not shining and her hair did not fall perfectly without her trying, the male may try to
change her. Although he is trying to console the female, the man only comforts her by telling her that he finds her
attractive.
The message of the song is that the woman should not worry about whether she looks good because the singer
approves of her appearance. This is a destructive idea. The woman does not need to base her self confidence on the
opinion of the man. It is more beneficial to be comfortable with oneself without the approval of others. In addition, the
man does not inform her that there are more important things than physical appearance. Instead, the singer feeds the
womans insecurity by basing his response on her appearance as well. He objectifies her, which only worsens her
insecurity. She may think that she should be confident now that she knows others find her attractive. However, this only
shows that she is insecure in the fact that she cannot be independent and happy with herself.
Although the song Just the Way You Are objectifies women, many people fail to see this. The song appears to
be a caring message to a woman, telling her that she is beautiful. Because the underlying negativity tends to go unnoticed,
it is unclear whether the negative message makes a difference at all. People ignore the fact that the singer only praises the
girl for being physically appealing and desire for others to tell them that they are beautiful too. This shows the

overwhelming lack of confidence in the general public. Although many people do not see the problem with this song, this
reaction allows one to see the need for change in societys views.
Many girls relate to the insecurity of the girl in the song. They feel that they are not attractive and think less of
themselves. Many of my female friends have told me I wish someone would say that too me! or This song is so
sweet. They think that their lives would be better if there was someone there to praise them for their looks. These girls
also think that the man is doing something nice for the woman by treating her as a collection of beautiful body parts
instead of a whole person with a unique personality. Despite recent empowerment of women and the move from sexually
objectified females to independent women in music, physical appearance and desirability is still a major concern among
girls.
The song Just the Way You Are objectifies women, but the response to it is even more negative. Girls think
that the song is the answer to their insecurity though, in reality, it only adds to it. The song emphasizes the importance of
superficial appearance rather than promoting a good personality and being true to oneself. It gives the idea that a woman
needs a man to tell her that she is beautiful to be happy. Just the Way You Are shows that many women still rely on the
objectifying approval of a man in order to feel confident.

II.

Green Day and the Battle Against Conformity

Green Day has been an influential band in the United States ever since its first major label album debuted in 1994,
reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States. Since 1994, many other bands have been formed and have
followed in the footsteps of Green Day, illustrating just how many people viewed the bands music as inspirational.
People who are opposed to mainstream society generally love Green Days lyrics and the meaning behind them, feeding
peoples need for nonconformity and setting them in pursuit of individuality. The goal of these punk rock fans is to resist
societal norms; however, they have unintentionally created a societal subculture: a nonconformist demographic, the
supposed bane of their very existence.
There are several reasons why Green Day is so appealing to this subculture. One of the most notable reasons is
Green Days physical appearance. At its inception, the bands style was somewhat revolutionary: the black eye-liner, dyed
black hair, black leather jackets and pants, studs, et cetera went against the traditional way to dress. Some people,
especially teens, had been seeking an outlet for years, and this harsh-looking appearance was an easy way for one to feel
rebellious and different. Typically, a male wearing black eye-liner and a black leather jacket with strangely-styled hair
walking down a high school hallway would draw stares and harsh judgments. This attention though, is exactly what he,
and many other people seeking rebellion, wanted. Over time, people realized how effective this proverbial cry for
attention was, and the punk-rock style spread.
Green Days style became iconic, but that soon meant that many people were following their pattern of dress,
making this ingenious punk-rocker style they had pioneered dated and clich. Bands like Good Charlotte, AFI, Simple
Plan, and many others all donned the dark, tough look made famous mostly by Green Day. These groups sought out to
have a different or eccentric look from everyone else, wanting to go against the norms, yet they all arrived at this nowclichd punk-rock manner. Now, other bands, aspiring to have careers just as successful as Green Days, dress in this way
to identify with the genre Green Day initiated into the twentieth century. Today, fans of the band and their music all dress
in the spirit of punk-rock fashion. They have become a community in their own right, somehow united by their communal
strive for deviance and individuality.
Although their fashion was iconic, perhaps the greatest contributing factor to Green Days success was their
lyrics. Many people relate to the somber tone of their lyrics, and of course to the defiance inherent in their whole body of
work. Their songs have an indifferent attitude about them, setting them apart from the classic rock community.
Solidifying this separation is the controversial nature of their lines. For example, the song American Idiot (released in
2004) sparked great conflict because of its harsh sarcastic comments about America and the Bush Administration, among
other relevant political and social issues of the day.
Well maybe Im the fa**** America.
Im not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.
These are only four lines from American Idiot, but they say a lot about what the band thought about American
culture and politics at the time. Many other Americans also had criticisms of the government, but Billie Joe Armstrong
(the bands lead singer and lyricist) was able to vocalize what a large population of them wanted to say, but didnt have
the ability to do. Armstrong used his bands popularity to broadcast the message. Since the bands music held the opinions

of a large number of Americans, Green Days popularity only grew as fans new and old rejoiced in the new era of
rebellion. Many people who were seeking defiance of the government and wanted to be individuals in their opinions
united under Green Days songs. This again proves how the nonconformists united and became a community.
Green Day has also accumulated fans over the years because people listened to their music and gained confidence
in themselves and their individuality. From listening to their music, people have become more outspoken in their views, in
the way that they dress, and have gained a new, stronger sense of self-confidence. They just express feelings, said one
Green Day fan of their first album; another fan wrote, It [] shows an example of not growing up, [] just sitting on the
couch watching cartoons or whatever. It defines punk.
Not only do Green Days songs emit a rebellious and tough vibe, but the members of the band themselves also
embody a perfect punk-rocker persona. Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman noticed this after first meeting the band.
"I remember working in the L.A. clubs, and these bratty kids showed up. They had such attitude, but as soon as
they played, it was like, 'Anything I can do to help you guys ....' They're still bratty. They haven't changed in 10
years. They're just older brats."
This I dont care attitude of Green Day shines through in their songs. Most people think this screw society persona is
different and nonconformist, however it is important to remember they have inspired an entire group of people who think
the same way; they have created a whole new kind of community: the nonconformist conformists. They have done this by
emanating self-confidence in their rebellious nature, making them more appealing to others who are seeking a role model
for the formation of their own rebellious personalities. The fans then unite under the bands confidence.
The physical appearance, controversial lyrics, and rebellious mentality that define Green Day allow individuals to
embrace their nonconformist aspirations, while still belonging to an entire group of people who feel the same way. Green
Days songs and style deviate from traditional norms of society, making people feel rebellious and enabling them to find
the kind of attention they have been seeking. Many dont realize that there is a vast population of people who are also
seeking individuality, and this constant yearning for uniqueness unites them into one large community. These people can
go to Green Day concerts, or simply listen to the bands albums, and feel connected in their need to rebel.
While most of Green Days songs are about rebellion, many forget that a few of their songs are about topics that
other artists also target in their music. These more universal themes allow even more people, not only the punk-rock sect,
to relate to the emotions expressed through Green Days lyrics. One of the bands most famous songs, Good Riddance
(Time of Your Life), is about embracing the moment and enjoying life-something to which everyone can relate.
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and dont ask why.
Its not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
Its something unpredictable, but in the end its right
I hope you had the time of your life.
This stanza from Good Riddance pinpoints some major obstacles that all human beings face and conquer in
their lives, such as making seemingly impossible decisions. Armstrongs lyrics tell us not to worry too much, to take in
the moment for what its worth and make the best of it, to make the best of life. This is fairly sound, universal advice,
much more global than the rebellious lyrics that they are known for, thus allowing more people to be fans. This proves
that not just those seeking rebellion can be fans of Green Day, or other bands that give off the same message. Therefore, it
could be considered that the original nonconformists can be included in a larger group of people who do simply fall into
the norms of society.
Many people search for a way to rebel, to express their individual personalities and opinions. Green Day has been
doing that through their music for years, and many people have found themselves able to relate to them and use the band
as a role model for the formation of their own rebellious personas. While these people are seeking individuality through
Green Day, they are also consciously identifying themselves with a community of other individuals who are also seeking
this independence, and they have Green Day to thank for this. Their endeavor for individuality only leads them to
conformity; the exact thing they were running away from and the reason for embarking on this journey for ultimate
deviance.

III. Perspectives on Shakira

Shakira has had many successful recordings. Her descriptive lyrics express the importance of womens
empowerment. However, in Shakiras musical videos, her message can be lost. Many people praise her hot dance
moves and voluptuous, shapely body but do not express their opinions and reactions about the theme within the song.
With the distraction of Shakiras clothing and her dancing, a person could easily forget that the song also contained a
message. With these statements, it is clear people tend to presume that Shakira, a female artist, is exchanging her
sexuality for a career: Shakiras lyrics are implied evidence that she speaks about womens dominance and empowerment;
however, the visual images presented in Shakiras videos do not enhance these messages but create distraction with
suggestive nudity and provocative dance moves.
There are many subtle hints throughout Shakiras lyrics that defer to the importance of a womans dominance.
Some of Shakiras reoccurring themes involve the notion of the woman pursuing the man and the lack of inhibitions in
making ones emotions known. On the surface, the song Whenever, Wherever may portray a simple love song; however,
it contains a deeper meaning. Shakira will chase after her lover no matter where he goes. She is not coy with her
emotions and does not fear expressing them; she states that she loves him and will travel to the ends of the earth for him.
Hips Dont Lie explains again her lack of fear in the pursuit of a man, but this time she lets him know she wants him as
well. Another example is observed in She Wolf. Shakira is a wolf and she hunts her prey. She does not hesitate to
make the first move, an action commonly reserved for the masculine gender. Seizing the chase from the male
population gives the power back to the woman; the woman has a choice of whom she wants to engage. Shakira is a role
model and tells her female fans not to conceal their feelings. If a woman wants to pursue a man, she should do so with no
regrets. In addition, She Wolf describes a situation where a woman is discontent in her relationship. Shakira does not
settle for this uninspiring union, but takes charge and finds someone who pleases her again. She is not covering up her
feelings and is reassuring the female population it is acceptable to leave a dissatisfying relationship. Shakira is even so
daring as to say she will find a lover and tell [her significant other] about it. This admission diminishes the position of
men; Shakira is now teasing her lover and illustrating she has the power in the relationship.
Several of Shakiras videos are posted online. People watch these videos and often leave written comments in
response to what they have observed. For the most part, these comments do not reference the meaning of the song or
video, but mainly address the physical looks and dance moves of the artist herself. Noted at lyric interpretation websites,
a place where music enthusiasts discuss the meanings of songs, the comments are still primarily focused upon Shakiras
great looks and toned body. It seems to be an overwhelming pattern. People do not actually care about the song or its
meaning, only the style and dancing of the artist. On the video page of Shakiras She Wolf, many people describe her
exquisite body and compliment her ability to dance in such exotic ways. In addition, people speak about flexibility and
how it is such an attraction physically. On the website, songmeanings.net, many people left comments about the
translation of Shakiras song Hips Dont Lie. Most of these statements were not about the content of the song but about
Shakiras dance moves. Women confessed that they wished they could dance like her. Men longed to be with her.
During some of her most popular music videos, Shakiras exhibits more skin as compared to the average female
artist. In Whenever, Wherever, Shakira is dressed in pants and a bikini top. This outfit, paired with the scene of her
crawling in the mud, is any mans fantasy. With todays American culture, a sexy woman crawling through the mud is
seen as an enticement and turn-on. We must remember the message of this song was to reveal Shakiras freedom to
express her emotions and her love for this man. However, this message is lost with the quantitative exposure of her skin
and the sensual mud scene. During her second well-known video, Hips Dont Lie, Shakira sports four outfits. One of her
outfits resembles the attire in Whenever, Wherever, a simple bikini top with pants. The second and third outfits divulge a
full-length skirt and top exposing her midriff; these are some of the modest outfits in her videos. The long skirts are a
representation of her heritage; many Colombian dancers wear outfits with brightly colored full skirts, such as the type
Shakira is wearing. Last, Shakira dances in a skirt, top, and necklaces that cover only the breasts. In addition, with the
cameras focus on Shakiras back, it is hard to feel anything but sexuality. This exposure of the body takes away from the
attention of the song; however, it gives men and women a great deal to view. Men cannot help but fantasize with so much
visible skin. Yet, women can experience assurance by this exposure. Shakiras confidence is inspiring to other women.
In her most recent video, She Wolf, Shakira dresses in two very provocative outfits. The first outfit is a black one-piece
garment showing a full leg with exposure of her backside and most of her stomach. This outfit is very fashion forward
while accentuating her curves. The second outfit consists of a nude-colored leotard, with a black belt and heels. This
costume gives the impression that Shakira is naked. During my first viewing of this video, I mistook Shakira for being
nude. Both of these outfits create a promiscuous image of Shakira, although her lyrics do not coincide with the visual
representation given. These outfits boost the popularity of this video, therefore creating more record sales; however, it
gives Shakira a questionable reputation. While these interactions take place, the meaning of the song vanishes. This song
is about Shakira breaking away from her relationship; however, the population is captured by the thought of her nudity.

With these visual enticements incorporated throughout her music videos, the audience is too distracted to hear the real
meaning of the words of the lyrics, thus missing the lesson Shakira relays for women to be empowered.
Most female artists do not perform the entire dance in most of their music videos. Shakira loves to dance and is a
skilled entertainer. It can be assumed Shakira earns most of the attention she receives from her dancing. Most of the
time, Shakira is dancing in her music videos. Whenever, Wherever contains one of the most basic dances of her three
well-known videos. However, it does include isolation of the hips and backside. As her career progresses, her dance
moves become more provocative. In the music video, Hips Dont Lie, Shakira displays featured dance moves while
dressed in long colorful skirts, which represent her Colombian culture. However, Shakiras choreography has a moment
of dancing against a wall, a dance move very popular with the youth of America. This type of dancing is shunned in
many countries and has only been recently observed publically in the nightlife of America. The sexiness of a woman
dancing against a wall is an enticement directed to Americans. Now the American population is watching her music
videos to enjoy the music and to see her dance in ways unfamiliar to their expectations.
Shakira has become recognized in creating dance moves with her hips and the isolation of the upper body. This
would seem obvious for the title of the song, Hips Dont Lie, naturally brings attention to the hips area of the body.
However, the public never experiences the message of this song because they are too distracted by her body. Her most
well known video, She Wolf, has been the most provocative video yet and has become the males favorite. Shakira dances
in two locations: a cave and a cage. She uses the cage as a play station of sexuality as she swings from the bars and
cavorts to arouse her audience. Although Shakira is expressing her dominance in this relationship, the image of her in a
cage takes away from the message and makes her seem inferior. This causes confusion for the audience, and the message
of woman dominance is lost. The dances are once again filled with jarring isolations of the body but also with skilled
flexibility. This flexibility in body movements is a lure and a secret desire of every man to pleasure and therefore
stimulates arousal. These talents distract men from Shakiras message of the woman taking power by leaving the man.
However, women have a different perspective: women believe a woman dancing so freely is a sign of empowerment
because she is commanding and controlling her own sexuality. These two very different perspectives create confusion for
the entire fan base and hinder people from grasping the meaning of the song. Several of Shakiras dance moves come
from a culture and tradition of belly dancing, which signifies the power of the woman. However, American society sees
the shaking of a womans hips as a sign of attention to attract the male population. Therefore, Americans misinterpret
Shakiras moves as a sign of inferiority. While Shakira may be expressing her feelings about womans dominance, she is
symbolizing sex and arousal with her body and dancing. If inventorying Shakiras music videos, it would appear that
Shakira is using sex as a marketing tool and therefore misleading and misdirecting her audience from the lyrical content of
the song.
The music and career of Shakira is filled with her provocative dance moves and her sexy body. One could easily
believe Shakira employs her body to get attention while creating and engineering music to become rich. On the Internet,
people of both genders communicate their admiration of her body in their written exchanges and in their discussions of
their interpretations of her lyrics. With the movements she displays on her music videos, anyone could misinterpret the
meaning of her songs. From these observations, people could mistake her actions as fraudulent; it is not her love for the
music and power of the artistic expression but just a ploy to use her physical gifts and profit from the benefits. The visual
and auditory (musical) representations of Shakiras videos are two separate entities meant to reinforce each other as a
whole unit but in this instance, they actually lead to confusion for the true interpretation of Shakiras songs.
Works Citied
"Colombia: Colombia's traditional dance." All Experts. 11 Oct. 2006. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
<http://en.allexperts.com/q/Colombia-1753/Colombia-traditional-dance.htm>.
"Hips Don't Lie Lyrics." SongMeanings. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858577178/>.
Petridis, Alexis. "Shakira: 'I know what I'm doing, even when I'm wearing a pencil skirt'" Guardian.co.uk. 15 Oct. 2009.
Web. 25 Oct. 2009. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/15/shakira-interview>.
"Shakira - Hips Don't Lie Song Meanings." Lyric Interpretations.com. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.lyricinterpretations.com/Shakira/Hips-Dont-Lie>.
"Shakira - She Wolf." YouTube. Web. 25 Oct. 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBJzZts4qZo>.
"Shakira - Whenever, Wherever." YouTube. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3brRCRsA8>.
"Whenever, Wherever Lyrics." SongMeanings. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/38322/>.