Rachel Stern
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds has a strong appeal to pathos. The first major point is that this is a song; songs tend to have an appeal to pathos because people find themselves connected to a song, whether or not they realize the meaning. One of the definitions of pathos is that it is focuses on the emotions (or imagination) in the audience, and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds directly plays into the imagination of the listeners. Throughout the song there are countless lyrics that raised speculation, while also allowing listeners to picture images and experiences in their minds. Lines such as, “a girl with kaleidoscope eyes” and, “Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies” are just a few examples that show how the word choice really impacted the way people interpreted it. Also, because this song was released during a time when The Hippie Movement and fascination with drug use was at its height, it had a huge impact on society as people felt they could personally connect to the lyrics.
I completely agree with your discussion of pathos, even before reading your analysis I say the picture and imagined "tangerine trees and marmalade skies" and felt if I was in a happier place. I can see how this song coupled with the various movements during the 60s really work together to create a picture that represents the essence of imagination and anti-mainstream. Like you mentioned, diction is very important in this style of presentation and how it affects the moods of the audience. Just wondering, what do you think could be the actual meaning, symbolism, or inspiration for these particular lyrics?
ReplyDeleteI'm with Andrew in his comments. I agree quite completely with the vibe here. And I do wonder about the symbolism. Also, though, I wonder what the rhetorical message is, as a whole?
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