Music Analysis: 'Imagine' by John Lennon - Social Change and Context

This assignment is a music analysis of John Lennon's song 'Imagine,' exploring its connection to social change. The analysis begins with an introduction to the song, highlighting its themes of world peace, the elimination of geopolitical barriers, and equal distribution of resources. It then delves into the soc...Read More

Music Analysis
Imagine-John Lennon

Introduction

John Lennon

Imagine- John Lennon

– The song spoke about:
– World peace
– No geopolitical barriers
– No communal divides
– Equal distribution of resources
– A hope for a better world
– Elimination of poverty

The social change being
discussed in the song
– No communal divide among people
– No Geographical boundaries dividing people
– No unequal distribution of resources
– Equality and peace for everyone

Context to the social issue

Relation of the issue to two concepts
previously covered in the course
– Concept #1 Forces for change
– Global Peace
– Only one religion of Humanism
– Sharing of resources

Relation of the issue to two concepts
previously covered in the course
– Concept #2 Discrimination

Relation of the issue to one
social science theory
– Humanism
– As a belief system began in 1960’s
– Focuses on personal dignity, freedom and their
potential
– All people are inherently good and possess unlimited
potential for their own personal growth and
development
– Help people towards development and self actualization
– Supports learning as a self centered and personalized
process

Whether I believe in the research, on the
songwriter’s perspective? Did he inspire
action, inspire a group of people, drive
awareness, etc?
– The world is in need of peace, integration and harmony
– The poem inspired movements on peace
– Drove awareness on equality and against discrimination
– Broke religious barriers

Conclusion
– The world is a better place without
the shackles of religion, the
boundaries of countries, the thirst
for blood, the crimes for hunger
and the cries of poverty. It is time
we imagine a life of peace sharing
of brotherhood and the world as
one.

References:
– Burger, Jeff. Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon. Chicago Review Press, 2016.
– Danon, Gabi. "Imagine no possession: John Lennon in the construct state." A paper presented at the
33rd IATL meeting. Israel. 2017.
– Di Franco, Antonino, Lisa Q. Rong, and Mario Gaudino. "Imagine all the people sharing all the
world…." Journal of thoracic disease 9.Suppl 4 (2017): S223.
– Hackney, Kylee. "Imagine." (2018): 47.
– McCoy, Scott. "Imagine." Journal of Singing 72.5 (2016): 573.
– Myers, Suzanne E., and Joshua Vest. "From Lenin to Lennon." Recontextualized. SensePublishers,
Rotterdam, 2016. 113-128.
– Ritter, Ryan S., et al. "Imagine no religion: Heretical disgust, anger and the symbolic purity of
mind." Cognition and emotion30.4 (2016): 778-796.

Thank You