Scott Monk Raw Analysis

“Raw”, composed by Scott Monk, Brett a young offender is sent to a detention centre to reform and attain a second chance in life. However, through the use of Brett’s derogatory colloquialism, such as ‘pigs’ in reference to the police, it’s made clear that Brett is resistant to the law. As a result Brett is sent to The Farm, a facility that aims to turn young offender’s lives around, by reforming them. The Farm works on the principals of care, trust and responsibility. There are no fences or guards, just the boys and parent figures Sam and Mary. There are no cells, rather bedrooms. As well as offering rehabilitation, The Farm also supplies educational facilities, as it aims to give young offenders a second chance in life, and excursions to reward
However the effect of the institutions goes beyond the individual. The institution forces society to stereotype those who reside in them, depriving individuality and is supported through Mr Douglas in Raw, ‘it may have a fancy name, but it is still a jail for criminals,’ and Toby, in Girl Interrupted, ‘them’, ‘they’re eating grapes off the wallpaper’.

The structure of The Farm is based around care and responsibility. Brett conforms to these ideas to avoid being sent back to Sydney. However, Sam, Frog and Josh all find something to like about Brett and save him numerous times from being sent back to Sydney, for example when he ran away from The Farm. Brett tries to return the favour by dropping his attitude and in turn grows, learning to accept responsibility and show compassion for others. Brett’s change in character is most evident when he attempts to avoid fighting Smiling Joe ‘I don’t want to get into a fight. Just let me take the
This and the use of incorrect grammer, so common to rebellious teenagers, helps portray the message of the song, which is that today’s youth are prisoners of the older generations society, which alienate the younger generation and instead of looking for support and comfort, they thrive to rebel against these rules and law enforcement bodies, with the institution of society having no effect on the younger generation as they don’t comply and don’t want to reform. This creates the younger generations culture, arguing they are their own society.
Well we don't need no one

The repetition of this phrase shows a generalisation that the younger generation holds towards authority, indicating a preconception towards authoritative figures. The final lines of the song links back to the title and meaning of the song.
You'll see I'm not the enemy
Just a prisoner of society

These lines convey to that the younger generation feels confined and trapped by society. Society has an expectation the younger generation will either follow the laws that are set down or protest against these laws. If protest is chosen, society will punish the