As the songs are the product of the human mind, they reflect not only the values of their creators but the values and traditions of the society and the time they were composed. The purpose of this essay is to identify how the values of American society are reflected in the song My Shot by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Web). This song represents the central American values: independence and equality.
I selected this song because it sounds encouraging and inspiring. To me, the song is about ambition and relying on yourself and your mind to achieve your goal. The message of the song is to cling to opportunities that are given to you and use all the skills and resources you have to get where you want to be. The song is a part of the musical Hamilton, dedicated to the life of Alexander Hamilton, so the target audience is likely to be musicals lovers or people interested in history.
The song reflects such American values as independence and equality. The significance of independence is reflected through the course of the song, but it is emphasized the best in the lines “When you live on your knees, you rise up,” meaning gaining control over your life. The song illustrates the value of equality in the lyrics, “But we’ll never be truly free until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me.” It shows the importance of equal rights for the musical characters. Thinking about the song in this way made me understand how sociology helps to identify the special features of societies of different countries and times through culture.
In conclusion, the song My Shot by Lin-Manuel Miranda represents the qualities that are significant for American society. The message of the song is the necessity of using the chances given to a person by life to achieve their goal instead of throwing them away. As the song is part of a historical musical, it represents the significance of these values on two levels: in the past and present.