COM 130 Arapahoe Community College Illusion of Life Essay
Purpose: Complete the following analysis of a popular song using the Illusion of Life perspective.
Intro:
Identify the title of the popular song, the artist (s) or band, and when the song debuted.
Explain your reasoning behind selecting this mediated popular culture text.
Discuss your initial reaction to the song.
Formulate your thesis statement.
Body:
Analyze the song according to the Illusion of Life Perspective. (The three-step process explained in Chapter 8.)
Discuss the target audience.
Describe the music (virtual time) and lyrics (virtual experience).
Do you think the lyrics seem to be set in the forward-looking and unresolved dramatic illusion or the backward-looking and resolved poetic illusion? Why or why not?
Do you think the lyrics use strategies of strategic ambiguity and/or rhetorical ascription? Why or why not?
Finally, explore how the music and lyrics work together to persuade the target audience.
Conclusion:
Develop a summary of essay.
Provide final thoughts – ultimately, what makes this song successful or unsuccessful in communicating a mediated popular culture text?
