EPI English
Problématique: To what extent can artists contribute to improving the well-being
of a society.
Imagine – John Lennon: Living in the moment.
Luca: Imagine by John Lennon was written and performed in 1971 during the Vietnam War.
According to Wikipedia, the song Imagine is one of the top 100 most-performed songs of the
twentieth century. The song or the poem reflects the dream of a poet who wants to see the
world problem-free. For him, religion, afterlife, countries, possessions, etc. are the things that
divide the people and make them fight with each other. In the first stanza, the poet asks the
readers and the audience to “Imagine” that there is “no heaven” and “no hell” and “it’s easy
if you try” according to him. The idea of heaven and hell is in almost all the major religions in
the world like Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc. As a dreamer, he asks the readers and the
audience to imagine like him and see the world as he does. Though it is difficult to imagine so,
yet we will someday find it to be the ultimate solution and will accept it and then we will be
one. In the fourth stanza, the poet asks us to imagine that there would be no
possessions and no need for greed or hunger and thus a brotherhood of man would exist
where all the people will be sharing all the world.
In this stanza, the poet talks about material possessions. Materialistic desires lead to greed and
thus capitalism, which again divides the society into classes, rich, and poor class. This desire is,
again a cause of problems faced by the people in the world.
The bigger picture - Lil Baby: anti-racism.
Kamil: “The Bigger Picture" is a protest song by American rapper Lil Baby. It was released on
June 12, 2020, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. In the song, Lil Baby shows solidarity
with the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests calling for justice against police brutality in the United
States and systemic racism.
What a wonderful world – Louis Armstrong: we should appreciate our home and
take care of it.
Sandro: The song I chose to talk about is written and sang by Louis Armstrong, it’s called
“what a wonderful world”. It was released on the 1st of September 1967. The message of this
song states that the wonders of nature and friendship are important. Even when everything
seems lost and despairing, there is always hope for the future. The song was written during a
time of terrible turmoil, and the singer himself, being a black American, had faced prejudice and
bitterness. The singer chose to appreciate the little things in life even though not everything in
the world is going great.
Lines description
• “I hear babies cryin’, I watch them grow They’ll learn much more, then I’ll ever know”.
• Babies are symbols for the next generation, for hope. Over time, more knowledge is
acquired and passed down to younger generations.
• “I See Trees of Green, Red Roses too”
• The first line tells us that there is always a chance for improvement and growth. It
immediately shows that the song will be focusing on the happier side of life instead of
its pain and turmoil.
• “The Bright Blessed Day, the Dark Sacred Night”
• The choice of these words is careful: blessed and sacred add holiness to this world that
becomes a safe surrounding, where people are comforted and looked after.
• The phrase “And I think to myself what a wonderful world.” is repeated at the end of
every verse (except one) to keep the song lighthearted and emphasize its message. The
fact that even though there is much hatred and violence within the world, it is still
beautiful.
• The last words in the first two lines of each verse rhyme: it is a simple rhyming pattern
that adds a cheerful tone to the song
Do you think songwriters have a responsibility to use their platforms for positive change? Yes,
songwriters have a responsibility to use their platforms for positive change. It shows that
everyone goes through the same thing, it reassures them and makes them feel better,
especially when the lyrics are meaningful like the song I chose.
Final impression This was Armstrong's favorite song and he performed it everywhere. He liked
this song so much because it was the most meaningful one, he sang, with the deepest message.
The first time I listened to this song I thought it was just a normal joyful song. I never realized
that it had a deep message. A quote I like to use to show the message is: “it’s always darkest
until the dawn”
In conclusion, we think art influences society by changing opinion and installing values. It
allows people from different cultures and different times to communicate with each other via
images, sounds (in this case) and stories. Art therapy is a powerful tool that can help you
express yourself when you may not be able to find the words to articulate your thoughts and
emotions. It will help release emotion, reduce stress, and increase mental focus.
