The Beatles’ “Happiness is a Warm Gun” as Postmodern Protest
2020; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 9; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/19401159.2020.1838133
ISSN1940-1167
Autores Tópico(s)Poetry Analysis and Criticism
ResumoThe Beatles’ song “Happiness is a Warm Gun” is the sprawling centerpiece of their iconic 1968 release “The White Album.” This article explores the postmodern dimensions of the song through a musicological analysis of its fragmented musical form; the textual analysis that follows explores how the lyrics create a space in which dominant ideologies are questioned through carnivalesque imagery. Ultimately, this article advances the argument that “Happiness is a Warm Gun” uses postmodern sounds and words to function as a surreptitious protest song, driven by carnivalesque lyrics, enigmatic imagery, and non-conventional musical form.
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