Comparing Beowulf And Girl In A Country Song

In the past, individuals utilized poetry and music to discuss important parts of society and input their opinion. Oftentimes, the most important and controversial topics are the ones written about. The poetry was a reflection of the time period and provided commentary about the role of heros in society. The story of Beowulf was used to inspire young Anglo-Saxon boys to be brave, loyal, and heroic. This piece of literature highlights the important traits of being a successful warrior. Furthermore, “The Wanderer” demonstrates how an individual must remain loyal to their lord. Even though the bonds of death, the wanderer was devoted to his lord. He was alone, dreary, and depressed without the person who gave him a home and a sense of belonging. The

author wrote this piece to encourage Anglo-Saxons to practice loyalty. Poetry and songs of the Anglo-Saxon time period stress that loyalty and bravery are traits that are necessary to a functioning society.
According to the two articles “Straight Outta Compton and the Social Burdens of Hip Hop” and “Why Maddie and Tae’s ‘Girl in a Country Song’ is Good for Country Music”, music is used for two separate purposes.

Some artists use their music to share their social commentary, while others write music to earn money and fame. The authors of these articles stress that it is important for artists to decide if they want to “make music that might have the chance of helping me pay the bills or do I make music that represents my heart, my community, and how the country is going?” (Green p.3). Green and McCarthy both argue that it is crucial for artists to take a stand and discuss social issues and controversial topics. Being a musician allows an individual a unique opportunity to share their thoughts about the world with others. Artists should focus on important issues such as sexism, police brutality, racism, etc. The authors argue that the music business needs “more artists who aren’t afraid to tackle important social issues” (McCarthy p.2). Even though rap and country music could not be more different on the spectrum of music, both genres are used to communicate the artist's thoughts about the

world.
There are a plethora of songs used to comment on society. For example, Michael Jackson sang “Man in the Mirror” to encourage people to do their part to change the world. He taught that you have to change yourself before you can make a significant impact upon the world. Every person wants to feel like they have made a difference in society. Michael Jackson offers his perspective on how an individual can accomplish this goal of making a difference. In addition, there are also many topics that should be addressed in future songs. Recently, there has been a large controversy over whether people should stand, sit, or kneel for the national anthem at sporting events (namely football). Some say it is to protest police violence against African Americans or to protest President Trump’s actions. Others consider this action disrespectful to our country and the people who have sacrificed their lives to establish and protect our nation. Artists should write songs about this topic and express their personal opinion. Songs can lead to movements which can eventually lead to change. They have a powerful impact on how we can influence change in society. Music is a way for individuals to voice their opinions and gain support from others.