http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoNtIkRm1HE
Existentialism in “Sleeping Lessons” by The Shins
The song “Sleeping Lessons” by The Shins is existentialist. It embodies absolute systems, authenticity and individuality. This song relates to Meursault in The Stranger by Albert Camus because of Meursault’s existential aspects, especially absurdity. The repeating ringing tone in “Sleeping Lessons” gives this same feeling of absurdity that is portrayed in The Stranger. “Sleeping Lessons” discusses the existential aspects found within The Stranger through the lyrics and also through to music behind the lyrics.
A main theme in the song “Sleeping Lessons” discusses breaking free from absolute systems. An absolute system is an organized system that has an enforced code of conduct. Absolute systems limit a person’s own personal meaning to life; they hold back and restrain a person. Sleeping Lessons portrays breaking free from these restrictive absolute systems. James Mercer sings, “Jump from the book,/ You’re not obliged to swallow anything you despise,” Mercer emphasize breaking away from the norms that everyone is following. A big part of existentialism is that you create a personal meaning to life. When James Mercer says, “jump from the book” he is explaining not to be ruled by absolute systems, but rather to create personal meaning in one’s life. Meursault has a similar existential outlook on absolute systems as in, “Sleeping Lessons.” Religion is one such absolute system that Meursault refutes because it doesn’t let him control himself. When Meursault is sentenced to death, a priest tries to have him turn to God in his last little while before his death. Meursault explains, “He wanted to talk to me about God again, but I went up to him and made one last attempt to explain to him that I had only a little time left and I didn’t want to want to waste it on God.” (Camus 120) Religion tries to make meaning for life, but religion really only limits personal meaning to life. Meursault doesn’t want religion forced upon him and to create meaning for him. In the last hours of his life, he doesn’t want religion to restrict his own personal meaning. Absolute systems create a forced meaning to life, that’s why in “Sleeping Lessons” and in The Stranger they both refute these absolute systems and break free from them to create their own meaning for life.
“Sleeping Lessons” also demonstrates another underlying theme of authenticity. A person is true to his own choices and personality, despite the pressures of society. In the song “Sleeping Lessons” James Mercer expresses, “Just put yourself in my new shoes,/and see that I do what I do,” Mercer talks about doing something new, against the norm, and doing what is pleasing to him. By making personal choices and not letting society sway them, it creates a personal meaning to life. Staying true by making personal decisions and not letting society form them, shapes the world around whoever makes these decisions and makes it their own life. These personal decisions and personality make it so that absolute systems aren’t defining; personal meaning is individually created. James Mercer is telling the listener to step outside the norm, and make their own decisions to define themselves.
James Mercer expresses individuality blatantly in his lyrics, “And glow, glow, melt and flow,/
Eviscerate your fragile frame and spill it out in the ragged floor,/A thousand different versions of yourself,” Absolute systems create a strict code in which everyone follows; however, this code heavily restricts a person’s potential in life. Sleeping Lessons calls to “Eviscerate your fragile frame.” Cast away the societal norms and absolute systems; their obtrusive rules dilute someone’s true meaning. Mercer is calling for people to break free from the restraints and to “spill it out on the ragged floor,/ A thousand different versions of yourself,” He talks about creating a personal definition and not letting absolute systems taint this meaning because it forces something that isn’t there. Opening up and putting forward a genuine meaning, gives a person their own definition to life; it doesn’t let the stringent absolute systems set restrictions to it. It gives someone individuality.
The variation of up and down ringing tones, exemplified in the beginning of the song, helps to convey the feeling of absurdity. This incessant tone shows that there is no actual meaning to life. It goes up and down to the same notes and never really goes anywhere, having no real meaning towards the song. It is a higher pitch tone and paints the picture of absurdity. Just like how Meursault in The Stranger portrays absurdity when his maman dies. Meursault expresses, “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.” (Camus 3) This depicts the feeling of absurdity. To a normal person, this event would cause great sadness. However, to Meursault, this occurrence is meaningless. He can’t even remember the day of which his maman died. She had lived with him and they were close, yet Meursault shows no emotion at all. This is absurd because it has no meaning to him at all and it shows that he has no real meaning to life. The back tone in “Sleeping Lessons” and Meursault radiate a feeling of absurdity and add to the feeling of existentialism.
The Stranger and “Sleeping Lessons” both hold similar themes of existentialism like absolute systems, authenticity, individuality and absurdity. “Sleeping Lessons” focuses on breaking free from the restraining grip of absolute systems, while pursuing a personal definition to life. The harsh absolute systems choke out personal meaning and replace it with a generic meaning. Individuality helps create this authentic meaning and push back against the norms. Meursault exemplifies these existentialist themes, especially when dealing with absolute systems, by not conforming to the societal norm of religion. The tone of “Sleeping Lessons” also helps portray the meaningless theme of absurdity. It is a never ending up and down tone, which helps show that there is no real meaning. “Sleeping Lessons” and Meursault from The Stranger are both existentially themed.
World Studies World Literature 