Analysis of M.I.A.s Paper Planes Music Video - 1505 Words

There is one universal language: the language of music. Music has a special quality and ability to bridge both social and cultural divides. A proposed theory by Dr. Gray, Founder and Director of National Musical Arts’ BioMusic Program; describes music has been around longer than human-beings have. Music is the one thing human beings from various backgrounds can relate to. Every living creature would agree. Music is heard everywhere not just among humans, but in nature as well, through the twitting of birds, winds blowing, the soft sound of raindrops against a windowpane, the ocean waves moving back and forth and the hum of the ocean rushing in a sea shell. There is no escaping it; music lives in and surrounds us steadily. While there are†¦show more content†¦1). According to Richard Harrington, â€Å"the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS) was one of the first Tamil political organizations -- Tamil Hindus being the ethnic minority in Sinhalese Buddh ist dominated Sri Lanka†, their purpose was to form Tamil as an independent state (Ibid). As a result of M.I.A’s exposure to EROS most of her songs lyrics portray a mocking sarcastic depiction of goonish behavior and the mentalities of institutionalized organizations. For instance, â€Å"Paper Planes† offers subtle yet commanding and politically cynical hints of â€Å"dominance† and race to maintain commodities such as oil, no matter the consequences. In other words, if it takes sending soldiers to fight in a senseless war in order to maintain the power of producing oil then so be it. â€Å"Paper Planes† declares: â€Å"All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!) And (KKKAAAA CHING!) And take your money† (â€Å"Paper Planes†, M.I.A.). The BANG! BANG and gunshots heard on track are there to dismantle ‘capitalistic ideologies’ within countries like the U.S. Cherie Moraga writes â€Å"The United States is the only country in the world that feels entitled not to suffer the consequences of its actions† (WOC Reader, from Inside the First World, pg 46). Certainly, the non-industrial, unconventional and anti institution political perspective is