Event Title
Happiness and Struggle: A Metaphoric Criticism of Reggae
Faculty Sponsor
Brenda DeVore Marshall
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Date
5-11-2012 3:00 PM
End Date
5-11-2012 4:30 PM
Subject Area
Communication Arts/Rhetoric
Description
This study examines the use of metaphors in the lyrics of Reggae music to understand the context and meaning of the music and to understand the message it sends to its audience. Four songs by Reggae artists were examined. Sonja Foss’s framework of metaphoric criticism was used to find and analyze the important metaphors in the lyrics. The lyrical content in Reggae was found to convey two themes. One theme was that of unfairness, inequality and struggle, while the other was happiness and joy. These themes were created by the metaphors used in the lyrics, which created a reality in the audience’s mind about how the world is perceived through the perspective of Reggae music. This study concluded that under the context of Reggae music, the audience is presented with a reality of inspiration to overcome struggle.
Recommended Citation
Veith, Logan C., "Happiness and Struggle: A Metaphoric Criticism of Reggae" (2012). Humanities and Creative Projects. Event. Submission 2.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/studsymp_cr/2012/all/2
Happiness and Struggle: A Metaphoric Criticism of Reggae
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
This study examines the use of metaphors in the lyrics of Reggae music to understand the context and meaning of the music and to understand the message it sends to its audience. Four songs by Reggae artists were examined. Sonja Foss’s framework of metaphoric criticism was used to find and analyze the important metaphors in the lyrics. The lyrical content in Reggae was found to convey two themes. One theme was that of unfairness, inequality and struggle, while the other was happiness and joy. These themes were created by the metaphors used in the lyrics, which created a reality in the audience’s mind about how the world is perceived through the perspective of Reggae music. This study concluded that under the context of Reggae music, the audience is presented with a reality of inspiration to overcome struggle.
