Entry (Lyrics): High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco

Entry (Lyrics): High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco

An analysis by using Psychoanalysis’ Personality Theory: id, Ego and Superego

by Nur Syahira binti Anuar (1520408)

288 million views on Youtube since its release on August 27^th, 2018 - High Hopes charted top 5 on Hot 100 Billboard hit (dated 8 December) (Trust, 2018). Panic! At The Disco’s (P!ATD) music journey has started since 2004 and since then, they have been experimenting with few genres. Last year, P!ATD released an alternative rock genre of their second single which entitled ‘High Hopes’. The success of High Hopes which include awards and nominations prompt me to analyse the lyrics. It was written by Brendon Urie (vocalist), Ilsey Juber, Jake Sinclair, Jenny Owen Youngs, Jonas Jeberg, Samuel Hollander, Tayla Parx, William Lobban-Bean. By relating the lyrics through id, Ego and Superego Psychoanalysis’ Personality Theory; hopefully the relation between these two will ‘explain’ some of what makes this song a hit.

According to Sigmund Freud (as cited by McLeod, 2016), the id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories. These are the lines which contain some of the repressed aggressive drives of Brendon Urie;

Didn't have a dime but I always had a vision

Didn't know how but I always had a feeling

**

So I got one more run and it's gonna be a sight to see

Urie has finally manifested his id – repressed urge to always set high expectations on his ambitions; He is now embracing the thought of living with more high hopes in everything that he will do which may be something that he may think before as selfish and wishful because according to an interview with Urie in 2018, he would not have to deal with disappointment in his life if he sticks to the concept of lowering his standard on every matters. But, now he will manifest his repressed desires and everyone will be in awed (it’s gonna be a sight to see).

Mama said don’t give up, it’s a little complicated

This line shows how Urie adheres to Ego concept (Reality Principle). He realises that to have on-going high expectations are fine however, he is being realistic when he mentions that the journey to fulfil all those high expectations may be a little bit complicated but it does not mean that it is unattainable but rather he should not just simply give up when things become difficult.

Ain’t ever wannabes

The weird and the novelties

In this lines, it can be interpreted as; even though he is now excited in the prospect of having high hopes in life but, he will not letting himself to become weird and unusual. These lines adhere to Freud’s Superego Personality Concept in which one of the systems is The Ideal Self which is an imaginary picture of how you ought to be (as cited by McLeod, 2016).

Below is the full lyric of the song;

High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco (2018)

Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Shooting for the stars when I couldn't make a killing
Didn't have a dime but I always had a vision
Always had high, high hopes
Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Didn't know how but I always had a feeling
I was gonna be that one in a million
Always had high, high hopes

Mama said
Fulfill the prophecy
Be something greater
Go make a legacy
Manifest destiny
Back in the days
We wanted everything, wanted everything
Mama said
Burn your biographies
Rewrite your history
Light up your wildest dreams
Museum victories, everyday
We wanted everything, wanted everything

Mama said don't give up, it's a little complicated
All tied up, no more love and I'd hate to see you waiting

Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Shooting for the stars when I couldn't make a killing
Didn't have a dime but I always had a vision
Always had high, high hopes
Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Didn't know how but I always had a feeling
I was gonna be that one in a million
Always had high, high hopes

Mama said
It's uphill for oddities
The stranger crusaders
Ain't ever wannabes
The weird and the novelties
Don't ever change
We wanted everything, wanted everything

Stay up on that rise
Stay up on that rise and never come down
Stay up on that rise
Stay up on that rise and never come down

Entry (Novel): Psychoanalysis Theory on Sons and Lovers by D.H Lawrence

Entry (Novel): Sons and lovers by D.H Lawrence

An analysis from the Psychoanalysis theory angle by using Psychoanalysis’ Personality Theory: id, Ego and Superego

By: Nursyakina Alwi (1523944)

One of the way to look at the novel from D.H Lawrence entitled Sons and Lovers is by analyzing it from the angle of the psychoanalysis theory. This novel is about a character named Paul that has a special and extreme feeling towards her mother (Ahmed, 2012). This particular event can be explained through one of the important component in Freud’s psychoanalysis theory which is the oedipal complex. This term is referring to a feeling of a boy or son that develops a special or romantic feeling towards his biological mother. According to Ahmed in his article, Paul in the Sons and Lovers shows a great feeling of love towards his mother since he was young and he will care and follow is mother just like a shadow as well as always fulfill his mother’s wish (2012). Here, it can be seen that Paul’s action towards his mother is beyond the love of a son for his mother but more towards a lover. This action is an unnecessary as a son should not has any romantic feeling towards the mother as she is the one that taken care of the son even before he was born. Thus, it can be said that Paul in this novel is having the oedipal complex when he develops a special feeling towards his mother and make him not as normal as any other adults.

Reference:

A, Sofe. (2012). Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory Oedipus complex: A critical study with reference to D.H Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers. Internal Journal of English and Literature. 3(3), 60-70. doi: 10.5897/IJEL11.137

Book Review: A Geography of Knowledge: The Kampung and the Journey Towards Knowledge in Awang Goneng’s Growing up in Terengganu and Riri Riza’s Laskar Pelangi

Name: Nursyakina Binti Alwi (1523944)

Page: 174

Title of the Chapter: A Geography of Knowledge: The Kampung and the Journey Towards Knowledge in Awang Goneng’s Growing up in Terengganu and Riri Riza’s Laskar Pelangi

Author: Siti Nuraishah Ahmad
Title of the Book: Islamicisation of Knowledge and English Literary Studies: In the Age of Islamophobia and Westernophobia

Edited by: Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf & Aimillia Mohd Ramli

Place of Publication: Shah Alam

Publisher: One Global Publication Sdn. Bhd in collaboration with The International Institute of Islamic Thought

Year of Publication: 2016

Book Review:

In this chapter, the author emphasizes on the role of the kampung from two two different works by Awang Goneng entitled Growing up in Terengganu and Riri Riza’s Laskar Pelangi. In addition, it is also stated in this chapter about the role and the importance of the masjid or surau in the kampung which play a role for the people to get knowledge and learn about many things from the religion to the interaction between humans.

Other than that, this chapter also enlightened the reader about the beauty and the importance of the kampung in a society especially in the modern world. This is because; people nowadays are too much attached with the urban lifestyle and forget about their duties towards the fellow human being. Other than that, the masjid and surau also are slowly losing their role as the place for people to gather around and seek knowledge.

Entry (Poem): Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Entry (Poem): Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Analysis of Phenomenal Woman based on the Feminist Theory

By: Nur Haziqah Binti Othman (1525112)

Maya Angelou highlighted a remarkable poem called Phenomenal Woman from And Still I Rose. This poem celebrated women based on their personality. Woman identity should be based on their inner self and not solely based on their physical appearance. Therefore, this analysis will talk about women’s beauty standard and women’s identity.

In this poem, Angelou did not emphasize on the ideal image to be a woman like the beauty industry highlighted on such as the slim figure or the gracefulness. Rather, she mentioned that she was not cute and do not have a body of a catwalk model. She breaks the typical description of how society would normally portray women. She said, “I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size”. Woman should be celebrated and cherished because of their contribution to the family and society. Angelou tried to reach out to women out there that there is nothing wrong in not fit in the standard size or figure determined by the beauty or fashion industry. Women can be who they want to be regardless of how they look like or what size they wear. Thus, women are allowed to be beautiful according to their own definition and be happy.

In the second stanza, she mentioned her personal traits that show how happy she is with herself. She foregrounds the attributes that make a woman looks phenomenal. Again, a woman should not be defining based on her size to be seen happy. But, as Angelou said, “It’s the fire in my eyes”. A woman can conquer success without submitting themselves to society’s expectations. She must be proud of who she is, a woman has to believe that her personality radiates beauty. A woman can feel powerful without patronizing others. Besides, the repetitive line of “Phenomenal Woman. That’s me” gives a woman a sense of new identity. Hence, a woman should be known for their personal traits and not their body measurement.

Book Review: Free-Will as Self-Assertion: A Comparative Study of Selected Poems by Muhammad Iqbal and Robert Browning

Name: Nur Haziqah Binti Othman (1525112)
Page: 92
Title of the Chapter: Free-Will as Self-Assertion: A Comparative Study of Selected Poems by Muhammad Iqbal and Robert Browning
Author: Aimillia Mohd Ramli

Title of the Book: Islamicisation of Knowledge and English, in the Age of Islamophobia and Westernophobia

Editors: Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf & Aimillia Mohd Ramli

Published & Printed: One Global Publications Sdn. Bhd. in collaboration with The International Institute of Islamic Thought

Publication Year: 2016

Book Review 

            The beginning of the chapter highlighted the “crisis of faith” faced by the people which is relatable in a sense that people up to these days are still searching for answers regarding faith and religion. Muhammad Iqbal illustrated free will as acts human do in service to Allah. As a reader, it tells the people that increasing knowledge about the Creator will guide them to be morally upright and the poet also acknowledges the challenges of fighting evil. In contrast, Browning’s poetry led to negativity by removing the importance of Divine Guidance. This distinction gives the reader an illusion of how it would be if a human without divine guidance is like a car without a professional driver. Thus, it is interesting to summarize that the essence of God is at the centre of a human’s heart which can lead to a tranquil soul.

Entry (Music Video & Film): Who Runs the World by Beyonce & Film Malena (2000)

Entry (Music Video & Film): Who Runs the World by Beyonce & Film Malena (2000)

An analysis by using Psychoanalysis Theory of Erotogenic Zones; Oral, Anal and Phallic.

By: Nur Fasya binti Zahidi (1513366)

In this section, I will attempt to analyze music video “Who Runs the World” by American female singer, Beyonce and film Malena (2000) using Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theory of erotogenic zones; oral, anal and phallic. Beyonce’s music video “Who Runs the World” released in 2011 has received presently 443, 798, 691 viewers on Youtube. When looking at it through a psychoanalyst’s perspectives, Beyonce’s video is the perfect example of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theory. In the video, Beyonce and the other female dancers were somehow performing in the crowd of men in revealing costumes to make themselves appealing. Freud refers this as the male gaze and women become the object of desire. 

Who Runs the World, Beyonce: 1.57

In my observation of the music video, there were many images which give representations of the phallic which Freud calls it as phallocentrism. Phallic is a symbol to associate power and male dominance. In the video, Beyonce uses the image of phallic to show that women can also play dominant roles in society and not just men. In minute 1.57, Beyonce is captured holding two hyenas on leashes. This image indirectly presents the male genital organ which again follows the ideology of having penises gives power and dominance. Another image of phallic is seen in minute 2.04 when Beyonce showed her middle finger which again carries the same connotations. Apart from the phallic zone, oral zone was also caught in the video. In minute 2.19, Beyonce is licking her finger. Here, Freud would argue that Beyonce finds pleasure through oral stimulation. Sexual pleasures can appear in even the most basic acts in the process of nurturing and so thus in the video clip.

A scene from Malena (2000)

Moving over to film, Malena (2000) is an Italian romantic comedy-drama directed by Giuseppe Tornatore staring Monica Belluci as Malena and Giuseppe Sulfaro as Renato Amoroso, released in 2000. The movie has received website’s critics because of how it ends up objectifying women. There were many scenes where Malena in her character, smoking cigarettes. In one of the scenes in particular, Malena was smoking in a crowd of men which again shows the male gaze. She was then surrounded by men offering to light her cigar. In psychoanalysis theory, Edward Bernays claimed that people could be made to want things they don’t need by appealing to their unconscious desire. According to him, cigarettes were a symbol of the phallus which distinguished between male and female; boys have the equipment and girls do not. While women are lacking penises, they are envious and as a result, they would smoke because it was then that they would have their own penises which give them power and authority.

Book Review: Edgar Allan Poe’s Islamic References and Possible Influences

Name: Nur Syahira binti Anuar (1520408)

Page Number: 75

Title of the Chapter: Edgar Allan Poe’s Islamic References and Possible Influences

Author: Faatimah Salmyyah Raheem

Title of the Book: Islamicisation of Knowledge and English Literary Studies: In the Age of Islamophobia and Westernophobia

Edited by: Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf & Aimillia Mohd Ramli

Place of Publication: Shah Alam

Publisher: One Global Publication Sdn. Bhd in collaboration with The International Institute of Islamic Thought

Year of Publication: 2016                  

Synopsis:

The world has known Edgar Allan Poe as an American gothic writer. However, his works such as The Thousandand-Second Tale of Scheherazade; Tamerlane; Al-Aaraaf; Tamerlane and Minor Poems has caught Faatimah Salmyyah Raheem’s attention to investigate whether Poe’s inspiration for such works were influenced from Islamic sources directly from Qur’an or any other British Romantic poets who happened to wrote as well within this oriental setting?

Review:

There are subtopics (topic sentences) and overt used of discourse markers such as ‘firstly’, ‘secondly’ and ‘thirdly’ which has made reading experience for readers of this article simpler. It also helps prepare the readers on what to expect from later paragraphs. Other than that, it is a refreshing way of knowing Edgar Allan Poe’s works can be deemed as having influenced from Islam especially from al-Qur’an because readers would usually relate Poe’s as a gothic writer. However, due to minimal number of references to verify the author’s judgements, in the end this article can be seen as mere speculations only.

Book Review: An Overview of the English Literary Tradition from Beowulf to the Twentieth Century

Name: Shakirah Binti Mohammad (1514964)
Page Number: 34 – 54
Title of the Chapter: An Overview of the English Literary Tradition from Beowulf to the Twentieth Century
Author: Qurat-ul-Ain Shirazi
Book Title: Islamicisation of Knowledge and English Literary Studies: In the Age of Islamophobia and Westernophobia
Editors: Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf, Aimillia Mohd Ramli
Publication Info: One Global Publications Sdn. Bhd. and The International Institute of Islamic Thoughts, 2016

Synopsis
“An Overview of the English Literary Tradition from Beowulf to the Twentieth Century” by Qurat-ul-Ain Shirazi is a whole compact and complete overview of literary works from medieval age until the twentieth century. It also included what is the focus themes and topics during each era, the prominent and important writers during that time and not to forget their notable works that represent it. The age starts from Medieval Literature in 1066 till 1485, continue to The Renaissance Period in the fourteenth to the seventeenth century. Then the seventeenth century begins together with the Restoration era that continues in the eighteenth century. Because of the political and cultural development in the eighteenth century, Romanticism came into the picture, as it was highly influenced by the French Revolution in 1789. Then the focus in the Rise of the Novel in the seventeenth century and lastly the time of Modernism and Postmodernism in the Twentieth Century. The reasons why she gives an overview of all these are for us to study in-depth more about the English literary works and their culture for us to be able to connect the relevance of those with Islamic perspectives. As English is an important language that is used widely all over the world and as well as can be called an Anglophone world. Therefore, as an important generation of Muslim student today, we have to empower both sides of the world as both British literature is as important as Islamic knowledge as they consist of the crucial history of human and civilization.

Review:

            First, I really want to applause the writer as she has successfully made a good, perfect, and compact overview of all the era, the themes, the prominent writers and their notable works. It has highlighted significant points and as a literature student myself, it makes me have a review of what I’ve learned for all these years. The article really pinpoints good but complex definitions and examples yet, she makes it simpler to read even for a non-literature student, therefore, it is also suitable for them. Other than that, the words used in this article are so high in quality and it increases readers’ vocabulary intentionally. Hence, I really like this article and really recommend this to others to read, it is not only suitable for English literature students, but also for the public who has an interest in the literature field. 

Entry (Short Stories): “Punishment” and “The Ruined Nest” by Rabrindranath Tagore

Entry (Short Stories): “Punishment” and “The Ruined Nest” by Rabrindranath Tagore

Analysis on the women’s characters through Feminism Lens

By: Shakirah Binti Mohammad (1514964)

Tagore is one of the prominent writers in India, he gains respect from people all over the world with how he had a mind beyond culture and time. He did not write the normal, submissive female characters in all his works, but strong-willed women that have a great determination in their heart and life. This can be seen from the short story “Punishment”, where Chandara is defined as “… a headstrong girl was hard to find.” (Tagore, 2014). Even though she is being a goat-scape for her own husband, but she doesn’t submit to him blindly. She stands for himself for a determination to get out from the bad life she’s having that time, by admitting all the accusations even her husband tries to plead to her, shows how great women’s power that Tagore wrote in his story.

Other than that, Charulata in “The Ruined Nest” is also written in a great light by Tagore. She is treated as a beautiful doll by her husband inside of their house, does not have any function and personalities, like a beautiful bird in a cage. This is what the reality always portrays, however, throughout the story, Charulata is an intelligent woman, she produces several works and always has great thinking skills. This can be interpreted that woman is not just a possession that man can show like an artwork, but they are more than that, they are not empty in their heart, nor in their head. Even till the end of the story, even after her husband thinks that he should take his wife heart back, Charulata is not easy being persuaded, she decides to stand on her own viewpoint strongly.

References:

Tagore, R. (2014). Punishment. In M. A. Quayum (Ed.), The Ruined Nest and Other Stories (1^st ed.). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.: Silverfish Books.

Tagore, R. (2014). The Ruined Nest. In M. A. Quayum (Ed.), The Ruined Nest and Other Stories (1^st ed.). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.: Silverfish Books.