Society’s Child – My autobiography Essay Example
Society’s Child – My autobiography Essay Example

Society’s Child – My autobiography Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (956 words)
  • Published: August 15, 2016
  • Type: Essay
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In her autobiography "Society's Child" (2009), Janis Ian recounts a personal experience that took place in Encino, California in 1966. This incident occurred shortly after the release of her debut hit single "Society's Child" when she was just 15 years old. The passage begins with the hostile chanting directed at Ian as she stood alone on stage: "Nigger lover! Nigger lover! Nigger lover!" This initial statement sets the scene for her narrative.

During the performance of the initial verse of "Society's Child," a song that explores the interracial romance between a white girl and her black boyfriend, she becomes immersed in intense outrage from numerous individuals, particularly those hailing from Southern states. The controversial subject matter of the song, especially considering the era it was released in, reflects the mo

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ther's racist inclinations as portrayed by the lyrics: "She referred to you as 'boy' rather than using your name." With additional people joining in on the outcry, tensions quickly escalate.

Eventually, the noise and commotion become overwhelming for Ian to ignore as the troublemakers start getting more aggressive, raising their fists in the air. "I was performing for people who wished me harm," she says. It is evident that their intentions towards her are not good, yet no one intervenes to stop them. Ian expresses her confusion and inability to understand why these people harbor such strong animosity towards her. "What is the matter with them? It was merely a song, not a call to fight!"

Growing up in a mostly black neighborhood made it difficult for a young girl to fully understand the level of offense caused by a

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song about an interracial relationship. Ian underscores the significant impact this seemingly harmless song had. Looking back on the past year, he acknowledges that his single was banned from almost all radio stations across the country and his career has turned into a continuous struggle.

After Ian's emotional exit from the stage, the promoter quickly steps in to try and persuade her to return for his own advantage. He is well aware that having a thousand dissatisfied audience members demanding refunds would be harmful to his business. Despite the valid points made by the promoter, Ian remains steadfast in her decision and refuses to go back on stage and face a crowd that desires her failure rather than her performance. This revelation shocks her as she comes to understand that a simple song could provoke such aggression, an idea she now fully embraces. The fear of losing her life due to this intense hostility terrifies her, and she is determined to avoid it at any cost.

Onstage or off. What changes Ian’s mind is the promoter’s appeal to her sense of heroism. He targeted the one thing that would persuade her – the fact that her parents raised her to be a hero. Upon returning to the stage, she begins singing “Society’s Child” from the beginning. Reflecting on her true fans, her idols, and the well-known saying in showbiz – the show must go on – she perseveres through the song, triumphing over the troublemakers. To ensure Ian fully comprehends her message, she pens her autobiography in a specific style to create the intended expression and impact.

The text serves as an

expressive account directed towards her fans and anyone else who may read it. It allows her to reflect on different events in her life and gain insight into their significance. The 15-year-old Janis Ian, who is the storyteller's younger self, garners our sympathy. This is expected, considering the older version of herself is recounting the story. To immerse us in her experience, she employs emotional persuasion known as pathos.

The usage of offensive language towards the young girl, particularly the phrase "nigger lover," deeply affects her emotionally causing her to break down on stage and cry. This specific image of a crowd taunting and mocking a vulnerable young girl strongly resonates with our emotions. In general, the entirety of the passage carries an emotional tone due to it being a depiction of a highly emotional night. Even without prior knowledge of Ian's background in a black neighborhood of lower social standing, we can discern this fact from the style of her language.

In this published book, the author incorporates slang and informal language, evident in phrases such as "What if someone takes a shot at me?" and "Oh, yeah, you bet I believed it." The autobiography aims to portray the author's true self, reflected in the use of contractions that resemble spoken language. Throughout the text, an aggressive tone is maintained, exemplified by the statement "Now he was getting postcards with his photo in the center of a bulls-eye."

The extract's purpose is to demonstrate the impact of aggression and violence on a 15-year-old girl's mindset. By sharing Janis Ian's experiences, readers can easily empathize with her. The main message that Ian

wants to convey is the promoter's attempt to persuade her to return to the stage and her own reasons for agreeing. This incident in Encino, California taught her an invaluable lesson – she was resolute in not letting ignorant troublemakers undermine her.

The speaker recognizes that their opponents may win if they don't come back. They mention different civil rights activists who have fought and died for their cause, which initially frightens them but ultimately inspires them. The main emphasis is not on racism; instead, racism is used as an illustration to highlight the importance of remaining resilient in challenging situations, even when facing verbal abuse from a small portion of the audience. "I don't want to let down the true fans out there. And certainly, there are sincere fans out there somewhere!"

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