i have to write a paper, 3 pages or so, about a piece of art (music, film, painting, etc) that can be an example of existentialism. i would like to write about a p song but his music is so deeply rooted in sex or spirit that i can't seem to find anything that could be existential. anyone have ideas?

Well, one of the main aims in existentialism is to understand how the individual can achieve the richest and most fulfilling life in the modern world.

Another belief of existientialists is that we (humans) have no pregiven purpose or essence laid out for them by God or nature.

I think it was Sartre that had the idea that for humans "existence precedes essence". What he meant was that we first simply exist- find ourselves born into a world not of our choosing- and it is then up to each of us to define our own identity or essential characteristics in the course of what we do in our lives. Thus, our essence is chosen, not given.


The One Song speech says something about choosing not to choose and being born into an all knowing state. Don't know how relevant that can be.

The Ladder could be relevant.
The Ladder
Search text: the ladder


Once upon a time in the land of Sinaplenty
There lived a king who didn't deserve 2 be
He knew not where he came from
Nor where he was going
He never once said thank U, never please

Now this king he had a subject named Electra
Who loved him with a passion, uncontested
4 him each day she had a smile
But it didn't matter
The king was looking 4 the ladder

Everybody's looking 4 the ladder
Everybody wants salvation of the soul
The steps U take are no easy road
But the reward is great
4 those who want 2 go

A feeling of self-worth (everybody's looking)
will caress U (for the answers)
The size of the whole wide world will decrease (how the story started)
(and how it will end)
The love of God's creation will undress U
And time spent alone my friend, will cease

Everybody's looking 4 the answers
How the story started and how it will end
What's the use in half a story, half a dream
U have 2 climb all of the steps in between (yeah, we ride)




Existentialism is also about how we (society) are all part of the herd so to speak. By breaking away from the norm, you "become authentic" and make your life your own.

Days Of Wild has this to say...
Tennis shoes and caps, now that's phat
Up until the day another wanna laugh behind your back
Sayin' we all look the same
God bless America, home of the brave
I'd rather dress 2 make a woman stare
I'm puttin' on somethin' that another won't dare
It's a freezer burn compared 2 cool
If U still got loot, then who's the fool?




Welcome 2 The Dawn

When the things U know are right
are far from what they seem
When the past becomes the future
and time becomes a dream
When the light of God
is the only thing in life that will redeem
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn
When the voices U hear commands U
2 entertain thee absurd
When U do the action unlocks
thee apocalypse of that you've heard of
When the day lies before U
seems the dakness in a word
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn

Every pieces a puzzle and every name a clue
Every charge U make is karma
So be careful what U do
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn

(Welcome 2 the dawn) (Thank U)




Uptown

She's just a victim of society
And all it's games."
Now where I come from
We don't let society
Tell us how it's supposed to be
Our clothes, our hair
We don't care
It's all about being there
Everybody's going Uptown
That's where I wanna be
Uptown
Set your mind free
Uptown




Calhoun Square

It don't matter clothes U're wearin'
Or your hair
If U're freaky, they don't care and
They don't stare (Ain't nobody lookin' at U)
All that matters if U're happy
And if U're there (Are U there?)
Don't U wanna roll 2 the rock and rumble
Calhoun Square? (Don't U wanna? Come on now)

Hey!

Meet me there
If U dare
Calhoun Square

I Rock, Therefore I am
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
I don't need you to tell me I'm in the band ([...] please)
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
Right or wrong I sing my song the best I can

I don't need you to tell me what clothes to wear
I don't want suggestions about my hair
If the whole world buys your bullshit I don't care
I'd rather put on something that you won't dare

I rock (Legendary to the maximum) (I rock)
Therefore I am (therefore I am)
I don't need you to tell me I'm in the band (I don't need it) (No)
I rock

Legendary to the maximum
NPG for now and forever

Welcome to mendacity, sign your name
See the world so pretty, wealth and fame
They can put you on the field (Yeah)
But you won't get in the game (Wo no)
How many suckers knew that before they came (Woo yeah)
Now you know

I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am) ([...])
I don't need you to tell me (I don't need it)
I'm in the band (Legendary all the time)
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am) (NPG to the maximum)
Right or wrong I sing my song the best I can (Show 'em)
Therefore I am



Forever In My Life

There comes a time, in every man's life
When he get's tired of foolin' around
Juggling hearts in a three ring circus
Someday will drive a body down 2 the ground
I never imagined that love would rain on me
And make me want 2 settle down
Baby it's true, I think I do
And I just wanna tell U that I wanna with U (baby, if U do 2)
And baby if U do 2
Forever, forever, baby I want U forever
I wanna keep U 4 the rest of my life (U can make right)
All that is wrong in my world (U are my saviour)
U can make right (U are my light)
U are my saviour, U are my light (Forever I want U in my life)
Forever I want U in my life

(La da da da da da da da)
(La da da da da da)

(Every man's journey)
There comes a road in every man's journey (don't be afraid)
A road that he's afraid 2 walk on his own (I'm at that road)
I'm here 2 tell U that I'm at that road (I'd rather walk it with)
And I'd rather walk it (U than walk it alone)
with U than walk it alone (U are my future)
U are my hero, U are my future (no past)
When I am with U, I have no past
Oh baby my one and only desire (make this feelin' last)
Is find some way in this doggone world (sugar it's true)
2 make this feelin' last (I know I do)
Oh baby it's true, I know I do (2 with U)
And I just wanna tell U that I
want 2 with U, yeah
And baby if U do 2
Forever, forever, I want U baby, baby forever (U can make right)
I wanna keep U 4 the rest of my life (U are my saviour)
All that is wrong in my world (U are my light)
U can make right (Forever I want U in my life)
U are my saviour, U are my light (La da da da da da da da)
Forever I want U in my life (La da da da da da da da)

La da da da da da da da
La da da da da da




It's up to you I guess to see just how relevant any of these songs are. Good luck!

That's a hard question. I'm going to go away and think about it...

Therapy said:

See.... even Therapy's looking for The Ladder!

'The only love there is' but only certain lyrics

'the only love there is, is the love we make' and a few others.

Sorry to say it Jimmy - I'm not convinced by your examples!!

PS Maybe choosing someone else would be a good idea?! Like you say, his music seems to be rooted elsewhere. Although, after digging out my trainee therapist file, it says 'Existential means simply 'concerned with existence'. Existence, as used in this context, means the actual living experience of being human and being self consciously aware of one's human existence.

My notes also say that 'Existentialism is a style of philosophizing rather than a body of philosophical doctrines'. However, existentialist philosophers are concerned with several major themes -

*Freedom, decision, responsibility.
*Guilt, alienation, despair, death.
*Emotions - specifically learning about the world through feelings of guilt, boredom, anxiety.

I still find it (interestingly enough) rather a depressing approach. Takes a magical and a fundamentally natural spiritual element out of life.

I think that the most existentialist song ever is "A House Is Not A Home" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David...

A House Is Not A Home

A chair is still a chair
Even when no-one is not sitting there
But a chair is not a house
A house is not a home
When there’s no one there to hold you tight
And no one there you can kiss goodnight


A room is still a room
Even when there’s nothing there but gloom
But a room is not a house
And a house is not a home
When the two of us are far apart
And one of us has a broken heart


Now and then I call you name
And suddenly a face appears
But it’s just a crazy game
That when it ends
It ends in tears


Oh, so darling, have a heart
Don’t let one mistake keep us apart
A hurt man to live alone
Turn this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Please be there
Still in love with me



Oh darling, have a heart
Don’t let one mistake keep us apart
A hurt man to live alone
Turns this house into a home
When I climb the stairs and turn the key
Please be there
Still in love with me


Still in love with me

You know - its a chair if you choose to think of it as a chair. Its love if you choose to think of it as love. Its a house, its not a home. What is it? Is it an explanation or a demand? Is "house" a metaphor for the body and "home" a metaphor for the soul?

Discuss.

Hang on - excepting the lyrics in the bridge regarding an "army" of people having the same concept of personal freedom - which is obviously contradictory...

Free

Don't sleep until the sunrise, listen 2 the falling rain
Don't worry 'bout 2morrow, don't worry 'bout your pain
Don't cry unless U're happy, don't smile unless U're blue
Never let that lonely monster take control of U

CHORUS:
Be glad that U are free
Free 2 change your mind
Free 2 go most anywhere, anytime
Be glad that U are free
There's many a man who's not
Be glad 4 what U had, baby, what U've got
Be glad 4 what U've got

I know your heart is beating, my drummer tells me so
If U take your life 4 granted, your beating heart will go
So don't sleep until U're guilty, cuz sinners all are we
There's others doin' far worse than us, so be glad that U are free

CHORUS

Soldiers are a-marching, writing brand new laws
Will we all fight 2gether 4 the most important cause?
Will we all fight 4 the right 2 be free, free?

Free 2 change my mind (CHORUS {x2})
Free 2 go most anywhere, anytime
I'm just glad, I'm just glad I'm free, yeah
There's many a man who's not
Glad 4 what I had, baby
Glad 4 what I got, oh yeah
Oh, I'm so glad, I'm so glad I'm free, yeah
Free 2 change my mind
Free 2 go most anywhere, anytime
Yeah!
I'm free
Yeah, yeah!

I guess this has got to be it, hasn't it?

Maybe "Large Room With No Light"?


That jam should've been on a record!


Stormbringer

The Question of U