Sometimes, it's not until a piece of art is examined in fine detail that new meanings arise. When cultural context, the artist's intentions, even your own prior knowledge, are set aside, a new way of "seeing" the art can emerge. This is the purpose of a close reading (sometimes called an explication).
For this essay, you will conduct a close reading of a song by a female songwriter. The goal is to delve deeply into this song in hopes of uncovering new ways to understand it. You will have wide latitude in how you choose to engage it. However, your focus should be concise. minute details. For example, instead of examining the Mona Lisa as a whole, in a close read, you'd consider only the hands.
As always, ground your analysis in a strong thesis, supported by evidence from the song. Choose only one of the following songs for your analysis:
- Dolly Parton, "Jolene"
- Andra Day, "Rise Up"
- Kate Bush, “Wuthering Heights”
- Anaïs Mitchell, “Wedding Song”
- Sade, "Jezebel"
- Hole, "Doll Parts"
- Suzanne Vega, "Luka"
- Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car"
- Fiona Apple, "Criminal"
- Carole King, "You've Got a Friend"
- Loretta Lynn, “Don't Come Home A-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)”
- M.I.A., "Bad Girls"
Please these versions of the songs. Lyrics of reach can be found HERE (UPDATED).
Note: When quoting lyrics, use this form: "Mary had a little lamb, little lamb. little lamb/Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow"
Mechanics:
- 1-1.5 pages in length
- MLA Style
- Works cited page
Due: Mon 11.26
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