While working on my papers, I’ve been obsessively and repetitiously listening to Ragtime, which Rice introduced me to. Or at least a few songs on it. I can’t tell if it’s trying to parody or represent the zeitgeist of the era. So much of it is like some sort of bizarre propaganda. Originally, I wasn’t sure if it was modern or not. Turns out it is (see article linked to above).
But some of it is just, like, wow I’m torn between laughing at it and crying at it. For instance, from the song “Henry Ford”: “See, my people, well here’s my theory of what this country is moving towards: Every worker a cog in motion, well that’s the notion of Henry Ford” “A genuflection to Henry Ford. Hallelujah! Praise the maker… of the model-t” “Even people who ain’t too clever can learn to tighten a nut forever.” “mass production will sweep the nation. A simple notion, the world’s reward.” all sung in a celebratory air. The cognitive dissonance is simply overwhelming. This has to be tongue in cheek right? And yet, there are people today who really do feel that what’s good for general motors is good for america. Full stop.
Don’t get me started on the condescending admiration in the song about the immigrants. Or the bit about Evelyn and her publicity.
How this helps me concentrate on writing papers, I do not know, but, gift horses, mouths, you know the story.
Well, I’m glad my evil influence is paying off. : )
The “is this ironically intended or not” question is one that could be asked of many parts of the novel, as well — the musical is loosely based on the E.L. Doctorow novel of the same title — and I suspect is therefore quite intentional.
Mmhmm… I got to see the first showing of that in Minneapolis before it was opened to the general public. We even got to talk with some of the people who helped pull the whole thing together. (Yay highschool drama groups) We then had to write a review about it.
I personally loved it though!The lighting and choreography was impressive. Like… I never thought those two things could have such a dramatic impact on the story. The music and the story were wonderfull too!
*drool*
I was sad that the production cost so much that it wasn’t able to keep running… kinda a trajety.
Like a firework unexploded,
Wanting life but never knowing how…
My brother, Life had meaning
I’ll show you how!
He was calling out her name,
Shouting what, he did not know
And he found that he was standing on a chair
With a heart as clean and new
As the freshly fallen snow,
The night that Goldman spoke…