bard college -- Grunge is amazingly epic and awesome like totally. =]

krazzikittie 8 / 23

Dec 28, 2009 #1

No that's not my title. haha
i'm having trouble with this essay, the question is so versatile. do you think the essay answers the prompt? any feedback greatly appreciated as always. cheers!

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Write an essay defending the role and place of the arts, especially those forms not commercial in our society, in answering this question, feel free to focus on one particular art form. (500 words)

Grunge was a musical movement of the early nineties, emanating from the teenage angst and adolescent anger of the Seattle youth. Characteristics of Grunge included the heavily distorted, raw guitar, and the plaintive voice of the damaged and depressed singer. Grunge was Rock's dysfunctional and angry cousin. It was the loneliness and confusion of being an awkward teenager. It was amazing and revolutionary: and I missed it. I was only a baby in the early nineties. It is like waking up on December 26th, and realizing that you've slept through Christmas.

Now, Grunge is dead. We live in a time of techno, electronica, and hip-hop: all very upbeat type of music. Modern music is a vast divergence from Grunge. It all starts at the very foundation of modern dance music, which is based on forgetting your troubles, and dancing the night away. Love, sex, and parties are some of the subject matter of modern pop: it is clearly not fueled by the same energy as Grunge had been. Can this be a reflection on the state of minds of young teenagers today? Are we not as angry, as dejected as teenagers of the last decade?

It is unlikely that the today's youth is happier than that of the past; after all, we have the same problems. Jaded apathy towards the world, difficulty in social situations, and the search for self-identity and purpose are only some of tribulations of your average teenager. Furthermore, modern youth have to deal with an international economic crisis, the dangers and consequences of the rapidly progressing global warming, and the possibility of an apocalypse at the year 2012. I'd say that, arguably, we have more to worry about. Yet, rather than succumbing to the comfort of wallowing in our own self-pity, we have chosen optimism in our music.

This is a good thing; after all, positive is, by definition, good. However, is there not a beauty to depression that we may be missing? To indulge in depression is to be acutely aware of the potency of one's emotions. The emotional poetry of Grunge was a significant part of the catharsis it provided for youth everywhere; being a teenager is hard, but at least we aren't alone. The universality of Grunge made teenage angst more of a part of a process, than an infliction. In fact, Grunge was an appreciation of teenage angst. It made being awkward and confused socially acceptable.

I believe that we need Grunge back in today's society. We need to be able to embrace our teenage selves as the dysfunctional and perplexed characters we are. Today, there is too much emphasis placed on being ambitious, being focused, and being pre-professional. These are all admirable qualities to possess that everyone hopes to possess: but let's face it, teenagers shouldn't be made to jump straight ahead to something they're not prepared for. We need the middle ground between childhood and adulthood that Grunge had provided.

kenziii 7 / 32

Dec 29, 2009 #2

Sorry, I'm going to be brief.

I really enjoy your essay; it was interesting and kept my attention.

Not to destroy you entirely, but what I get from the prompt is why art is vital to society. It is looking for much the same argument as why the art curriculum should be kept in public schools. However, I think you can twist this essay to fit rather easily. You address how vital grunge was to adolescents in their emotional and social struggles, expand on that.

Have you ever read Sigmund Freud? He decided that civilization could be measured in two ways: cleanliness and art. Music is a form of art, and grunge is a segment of that. Perhaps grunge is striking out at civilization, showing the teenage angst and struggles against society. And now I've gone off on a tangent, but if you do know anything of Freud, it would be a stellar essay.

To indulge in depression is to be acutely aware of the potency of one's emotions. The emotional poetry of Grunge was a significant part of the catharsis it provided for youth everywhere; being a teenager is hard, but at least we aren't alone. The universality of Grunge made teenage angst more of a part of a process, than an infliction. In fact, Grunge was an appreciation of teenage angst. It made being awkward and confused socially acceptable.

Just add a little more along this line of thought.

EF_Kevin 8 / 13053

Jan 4, 2010 #3

Grunge was a musical movement of the early nineties, emanating from the teenage angst and adolescent anger of the Seattle youth. Characteristics of Grunge included the heavily distorted, raw guitar, and the plaintive voice of the damaged and depressed singer.----I googled this, because I thought it was so well-written that you must have taken it from a published article somewhere... I guess I was wrong, though! It is a very strong start!

Your title is cool, too.

Are we not as angry, as dejected as teenagers of the last decade?

excellent, you are my hero.

I think you reduce the meaning of the essay when you say grunge is dead. the fact that you are writing about it shows that it is not. Say it is almost dead. :-)