In a society like the one we have today, it makes it hard for some to be who they really are and many teenagers are concerned with social acceptance; especially in regard to their sexuality. While most people would say that homosexuality should be accepted, rather than discouraged, there are people out there who would disagree, claiming that being gay is unacceptable. It is up to schools to project a strong, clear message to students in order for them to understand that being who you are isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Good Morning Senior English teachers, I am here today to highlight one of the most significant issues that today’s youths are exposed to. The world we live in today is so advanced and progressive that never have adolescents been subjected to this kind of technology. The idea of technology in the classroom often leads to scepticism; however, new technologies, such as media relevant are more familiar to teenagers and it does have the ability to help individuals identify the issues they may face. In order to magnify these relevant issues, any form of technology that projects a message both relevant and beneficial must be included in class room learning. By not employing this, we would miss the opportunity and it is our job, as educators, to use this technology and Music Video Clips to explore those relevant issues.
Mackelmore produced a short, bold film clip for his single, “Same Love”. The song is part of a partnership with the Music for Marriage Equality Campaign and sends out a beautifully powerful message about the issue of discrimination based on sexuality, gay rights, marriage equality and acceptance. Homosexuality isn’t something new to our society, however, gay marriage is new. While the gay community is still fighting for equality, it is important we consider the impact on the children of today. Part of the impact of same-sex marriage will be the mainstreaming of homosexuality via the information given to children in schools. This song is perfect to address this issue and it will help get the right message across to our students.
The lyrics themselves, not only project a strong message about marriage equality but essentially, the whole purpose is for its listeners to take a look at their language; throwing harmful words around without any caution. When Macklemore raps, “Man, that’s gay, gets dropped on the daily, we become so numb to what we’re saying,” he’s stating that words are being said and while it may not be meant as bad as it can be taken; somebody struggling with their sexuality may hear that and feel more pushed away by society. It’s important that people know that words can hurt and while…
The lingering, “I can’t change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to” is done so elegantly that it stands to remind us that no matter what science or religion says, it’s not something you can just change. Love is natural and easier than hate. Yet, those who love the same sex are oppressed and judged more harshly than anyone.
At the end of the song, the repeated, “Love is patient; love is kind,” is not just a meaningful conclusion. The line is a scripture from the Bible. The scripture can be perceived as if you are truly loving and kind in the heart, then the love you get back will be as it is written. Macklemore may have chosen this scripture because it critiques Christians that are against homosexuality as hypocritical. Christians should show love to all yet some respond with disrespect and hate to the gasy. This stands to be relevant to teenagers today, as goes the saying, “treat others the way you wish to be treated”. Sexual preferences should not determine how a person in this society is treated.
Throughout the song, the use of symbolism is often used to describe the relationship between religion and the gay community, with references to the church scattered throughout the video. In society today, the discussions of sexuality have polarized communities of faith, Macklemore remains in the church both sonically and visually by calling the church back to its prophetic witness; “when I was in church, they taught me something else… that holy water that you soak in, is then poisoned” saying that the church preaches hate towards people with a slightly different orientation, which in a society like today, the issue of sexual orientation needs to be spoken about to ensure that there is a clear understanding between our students so they can learn to accept these differences themselves.
In the video, “Same Love” is a reflective and relevant piece that conveys beautifully both the tragedies and triumphs experienced by gay youths everywhere, thereby achieving the elusive goal of successfully using a specific story to describe the experience of millions. The video itself is perfect for Senior English students, delivering a message of strength and a wish of acceptance that teenagers everywhere want; it’s a relatable piece and should be easy for the students to understand. The video is shot beautifully, offering a five and a half minute birth to death look into the life of a homosexual. The audience watches as the infant grows through childhood to a sexually-confused adolescent; struggling to understand and accept himself, including feeling out of place playing spin the bottle and at a school dance. However, he eventually embraces his sexuality, taking his partner to meet his parents, a marriage proposal and a church wedding. Here the couple receive a standing ovation and this stands to represent that given time, people can accept who you are, which is what teenagers today strive for; acceptance. “Same Love” should open students eyes to the reality and issues related to gay rights and marriage equality. We are living in a cultural crisis moment where values, attitudes and behaviours are shifting rapidly. While it’s important to stand for what’s right, our stand should never be hurtful or characterised by finger-pointing. Rather, we must take the opportunity to talk about issues among our students. If we adopt this new aspect and teaching method, it may help allow their cultural situation and age to lead them to adopt a fair attitude of acceptance for the gay community. “Same Love” is a perfect song to discuss in the Senior English Programme as it allows students to have an opportunity to think critically about music and its messages. While the song can be viewed as rather edgy, it depicts nothing that our students haven’t heard before. That’s why “Same Love” should be viewed and discussed with students. Watch it. Solicit opinions. It’s an important issue, relevant to teenagers and our society overall.
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