All We Are is Entertainment
// November 2nd, 2009 // Life, Music
Some of you may know that Rise Against is one of my favorite bands, ever. Their lyrics, if you understand them, are truly amazing. This song “Entertainment” is epic, it talks about our modern society how we are like puppets and how outside forces control our thoughts, our decisions, our actions. I like to be open minded and question things so I (hopefully) don’t fall in these societal traps. Here is a lyric I really like:
“All we are is entertainment caught up in our own derangements. Tell us what to say and what to do.”
Almost everyone has somebody they look up to. Everybody looks up to an actress, actor, singer, dancer, musician, etc. Pretty much anybody in the entertainment industry has hardcore, loyal fans who look up. Some of these loyal fans go to extreme lengths such as changing their hairstyle or their clothes or their view on life. I know a crazy girl who reads those insane fashion/girl magazines. The magazine is like a leash that is strapped tightly around the reader. Here’s another lyric from that song: “”All we are are pretty faces, picture perfect, bottled rage. Packaged synthesized versions of you!” The “we” they are referring to is to the magazines covers, etc. These magazines are fake versions of real people. These fake magazine covers are distortions of realilty with an impossible chance for the average person reaching the end product.
This quote ties in with this video. In the entertainment industry this is called a “retouch.” Lol, more like a re-do! I don’t think not one part of her face is legit her own. I wonder how it feels like for a model to see her body plastered up on a billboard knowing that someone transformed and enchanced it. Is it like seeing an identical twin who is better than you in every way? Or is it a self-esteem boost which makes you think you really look flawless?
“They all scream California and its toppling empire, but can’t you see the end is coming soon?”
We all scream for California, in the sense that we all want to be what California is. We all want to be like the people we see on TV, we all want to become them. We idol them we look up to them, and when he says “And its toppling empire” I believe that pretty much speaks for itself. Cali has become an empire of its own and its toppling over us… nowhere in the world can you get away from it. The Hollywood / Entertainment industry is everywhere!
The bottom line? Hollywood is trying to preserve an image of falseness and insecurity hidden behind pride. Too many people unknowingly believe what they see in the entertainment industry and are overwhelmed by the glorious results that they don’t stop to think!
Please comment =)
I love how you had a song a broke it down to what it means to you that makes it powerful
And you hit really good points that are very true and that I agree with
Like for me I look up to DIDDY that’s my hero in the entertainment industry cause of his swag and how he’s the man and everyone goes to him to become big I just love it!
Good post
Thanks.
Should I do more songs? o.0
Interesting blog. I myself love Rise Against, but their newer stuff isn’t nearly as good as their older (The Sufferer and the Witness being their best cd imo.) I enjoyed the comparison of the song and everyday culture. It makes you think about how much we’ve succumb to the media driven age of the 21st century.
I think you’ll enjoy watching the tv show Nip/Tuck. One of the catchphrases from last season was “Beauty is a curse on the world.” And i think the latter part of your blog encompasses that.
The only negative about your blog is how short it is. It could use a lot more meat.
That second video is amazing in so many ways. For one it made me realize what an expert can do with PS. It also made me realize how much work was involved in retouching just one photo.
As far as the lie goes its not so effective after you see the retouching. We just have to keep in mind that what we see on TV is not reality.
Thanks Clint =)
@Clint: I could have added more, but I thought the videos would make the post way to long and detour people from reading it.
I also like Rise Against’s older stuff, it seems as though their style went more mainstream in order to get some popularity. However, that’s not to say their music is bad by any means.
@Abdu: Thanks for your comment. Photoshop can work miracles haha.
i def think you should do more songs if possible dan i remember doing something like this sophomore year for class and we were given a song and we had to interpret what it ment and it was really deep and really good so i def think you should do more
Gimme songs
Or I will just pick more rock songs haha.
Ms. DeRose I think it was. She was good at making us analyze songs.
Wow I found this to very deep and Im happy that at least someone is speaking out against all this crazy media about celebrities ;D
This is a really meaningful post. You always analyze things in ways that make so much sense to me. Definitely do more songs because I’m a huge fan of this one.
YES!!! Ms derose!!!loved her! And ok i’ll give you a song i’ll text you one tonight
@Tia: Will do Tia! I need a new song. I’m thinking either something on the radio now or something from Blink182
@George: You love every woman
Gimme a new song