September 6, 2013

ENG3U - 

Okay, so we have:

inferring

connotation - personal element

denotation - obvious (little kids)

symbolic value - there are recognized meanings to specific images

specifically - things can mean or refer to or symbolize bigger, more complex ideas - 

In general, there are levels to meaning:

Surface (denotation)(explicit)

Underlying (connotation, symbolism, social, political, etc)(implicit)

Different Ways to Spot or Note or Consider Symbolism

One thing we can look for is something that is UNIVERSAL (common to all people - shared by all - eg love, hate, gluttony, fear, death, tied to our psychology - often)

Whenever there is something in a story, movie, song, play, book, etc, and that thing has some connection to a UNIVERSAL FEELING, there is possible symbolism

eg - a white cross on a battlefield - this has a loaded sense to it

Alcohol might be symbolic -

• repression (to hide your feelings away and lock them up - even from yourself) - what relationship does alcohol have with repression - freedom from the repression
• recklessness - obvious - drunk driving - fighting - teen pregnancy or AIDS - rape!
• fun - symbolic of free, jolly, enhanced feelings of good times, parties, pubs, etc
• escape

Seeing alcohol in a movie might see it tied to one of the above associations. Obvious. 

Working for the weekend - working to get to a party and drink

The word you’re doing is NOT valuable. Your job is meaningless. Filler. 

You’re making money to cover your partying. 

You’re wasting your life. 7 days a week, 5 are horrible. 52 weeks a year X 70

Underlying meaning of this song is actually sad - there is some kind of misery in one’s day to day life and on the weekend, the person finally has fun

Repetition

Meaningless

Unfulfilled life

escaping one’s own life

Why can’t we get jobs that we enjoy? 

Why can’t we enjoy every day? 

Why is the weekend better? 

ESCAPE!

We’re seeing someone trying to fool himself and play a game with himself. 

What did Lobb do when listening to that song? 

He thought about what things COULD MEAN. 

Then, can we prove what we think? 

Killing time. we ARE time. Killing time = killing yourself