Debussy’s Prelude to an Afternoon of a Faun, and the Impressionism/Symbolist movements

by | Oct 17, 2024 | Essays

 

The Romantic era begins to bring up the trend of Nationalism and community identity through music. This week, we begin to discuss American music specifically.

For this discussion, identify 2 musical works (songs or any other genre) that you consider to embody a sense of American Nationalism. Consider elements beyond text/lyrics for your answer. Your answers should not focus on works that represent your specific communities, but rather embody the country as a whole (to the best of your ability).

What elements of each work project its American identity? What kind of America does each suggest? Are there any similarities or differences?

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

American Nationalism in Music

Two musical works that embody a sense of American nationalism:

  1. “America the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates (1895): This patriotic hymn is often considered a quintessential representation of American nationalism. The song’s lyrics evoke powerful imagery of the American landscape, including mountains, forests, and prairies. The melody is both uplifting and inspiring, capturing the spirit of a young and vibrant nation.

American Nationalism in Music

Two musical works that embody a sense of American nationalism:

  1. “America the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates (1895): This patriotic hymn is often considered a quintessential representation of American nationalism. The song’s lyrics evoke powerful imagery of the American landscape, including mountains, forests, and prairies. The melody is both uplifting and inspiring, capturing the spirit of a young and vibrant nation.

  1. “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin (1924): This jazz-influenced orchestral piece is a celebration of American culture and diversity. The music incorporates elements of blues, jazz, and classical music, creating a unique and eclectic sound. The piece’s energetic and optimistic tone reflects the spirit of the American Dream and the promise of a new beginning.

Elements of American Identity

Both “America the Beautiful” and “Rhapsody in Blue” project a sense of American identity through their use of symbolism, imagery, and musical style.

  • Symbolism: “America the Beautiful” uses symbols such as mountains, forests, and prairies to represent the vast and diverse American landscape. “Rhapsody in Blue” incorporates elements of American music, such as jazz and blues, to celebrate the country’s cultural heritage.
  • Imagery: Both works use vivid imagery to evoke feelings of patriotism and pride. “America the Beautiful” paints a picture of a majestic and bountiful land, while “Rhapsody in Blue” captures the energy and excitement of American life.
  • Musical Style: The musical styles of these works are also indicative of American identity. “America the Beautiful” is a traditional hymn, reflecting the country’s religious and spiritual heritage. “Rhapsody in Blue” is a fusion of classical and jazz music, representing the country’s diverse musical influences.

Similarities and Differences

While both works embody a sense of American nationalism, they also have distinct characteristics. “America the Beautiful” is a more traditional and sentimental piece, while “Rhapsody in Blue” is more energetic and upbeat. Both works celebrate the beauty and promise of America, but they do so in different ways.

In conclusion, these two musical works offer valuable insights into the nature of American nationalism. By examining the symbolism, imagery, and musical style of these pieces, we can gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be American.

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