Green Day's American Idiot Analysis

When viewing Green Day’s American Idiot—the lyrics and the Georgia College production— I got a better understanding of the struggles society faces. Stage Manager Mary Helen Higgs said that Georgia College’s production of Green Day’s American Idiot, a rock opera, is metaphorically presented as a “battlefield of rage and love.” It illustrates a great example of teen angst and their punk personality. To what extent, if at all, can society’s behavior be justified as a fight to find identity and individualism? Could the government and the media be held responsible for any rebellious behavior? It is more common today to see how society, mostly young adults, may face a lot of risk-taking, peer pressure, and unawareness that can lead to controversy.
Is it practical to believe the government is the reasoning behind the way society behaves? At first, I didn’t really think about the stance the government as in society. Just like most millennials, I focus on my own issues, not thinking of the outlying causes. The government has a direct influence on the aspects of life that include many public services, so they are automatically involved. Is this a bad thing? Not entirely, but because of the government, the freedom of millennials is being taken away. Songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong makes reference to engaging in the political system throughout the lyrics to “American Idiot”: “Don’t want to be an American Idiot.” In other words, Armstrong believes an American Idiot can be one of the American public who is brainwashed into the hypocrisies of corrupt government, feeding into what keeps them unaware of their surroundings. Presuming Armstrong is correct, then today’s young adults must find a better way to get involved and participate in the nation’s political
Green Day says that we are “one nation controlled by the media,” for we follow trends that can take away our individuality. I agree that society is mostly about the media, we’re so focused on what’s new or what someone else has going on that we cannot think for ourselves. We believe everything that’s broadcasted on television. Because of this, we allow the media to tell us what is acceptable and what to think. Here many people may object that they do have a voice and they think for themselves, but have probably based their opinions on what the media interpreted first. However, I also think the media can also have a positive impact on society. Consider when Tunny gets enlisted in the Army. He would have never thought of doing that if he did not see the television ad that glamorized “Favorite Son.” Through the Army, Tunny was able to find his purpose and his love. So, I’m not saying that all use of media is bad, for one can believe in something and stand by it with media’s