HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 2 Comparative Analysis and Reflection
Student Name
Capella University
HUM FPX 1150 Cultural Understanding in a Global World
Prof. Name
Date
Chosen Cultural Artifact:
The cultural artifact I selected is the song “If I Can Dream,” written by Walter Earl Brown and performed by Elvis Presley in 1968. The song reflects themes of equality, hope, social awareness, and human rights, making it particularly significant within the historical context of the civil rights movement. Although I first knew Elvis primarily through more energetic songs such as “Hound Dog” and “Burning Love,” my understanding of “If I Can Dream” changed as I became older. The song’s message of hope and racial equality now has a deeper meaning for me because I can better understand the social and historical circumstances surrounding its creation.
My connection to the song also comes from childhood. My stepfather was a devoted Elvis Presley fan and frequently played his music at home. I remember singing along to Elvis’s songs without fully understanding their meanings. Years later, after hearing “If I Can Dream” again while watching a movie, I became especially interested in its emotional message. Unlike many of Elvis’s popular songs, this performance focuses on hope, unity, and the possibility of a more peaceful and equal society. Listening to it as an adult helped me recognize how a cultural artifact can take on a different meaning as a person’s experiences and understanding develop.
Historical and Artistic Context of “If I Can Dream”
“If I Can Dream” was recorded and performed by Elvis Presley during a particularly turbulent period in American history. The song was released in 1968, a year marked by significant political and social conflict, including the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The civil rights movement was also demanding greater racial equality and challenging longstanding forms of discrimination.
The assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968, had a particularly significant impact on the United States. King had become one of the most recognizable leaders of the civil rights movement and had advocated for racial equality, nonviolence, and social justice. His 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech expressed a vision of a society in which people would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin (King, 1963).
HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 2 Comparative Analysis and Reflection
The historical connection between Dr. King’s message and “If I Can Dream” is important when interpreting the song. According to Graceland (2018), Elvis was deeply affected by King’s assassination and the social unrest occurring around him. Memphis, Elvis’s hometown, was also closely connected to the civil rights movement during this period.
Walter Earl Brown wrote “If I Can Dream” in response to the social and political climate of 1968. The lyrics communicate a desire for a future characterized by peace, equality, understanding, and human connection. Elvis’s emotional performance further strengthened these themes.
Artistically, the song differs from many of Elvis Presley’s better-known rock-and-roll performances. The arrangement incorporates orchestral elements, percussion, background vocalists, and a dramatic vocal delivery. These elements create a serious and inspirational atmosphere that reinforces the song’s message. Elvis’s powerful delivery makes the performance feel more like a public statement about hope and social change than simply a popular song.
Cultural Values Conveyed Through the Artifact
The central cultural value communicated through “If I Can Dream” is equality. The song presents the idea that people should be able to live together without racial hatred, discrimination, or violence. Its message reflects the broader struggle for civil rights and the desire for a society in which individuals have equal opportunities and are treated with dignity.
Another important value is hope. The song does not simply describe the problems facing society; it imagines the possibility of a better future. This is significant because cultural artifacts can preserve the hopes and concerns of the people who create and experience them.
The song also communicates the value of social awareness. Understanding “If I Can Dream” requires considering the historical events surrounding its creation. When the song is separated from its 1968 context, much of its significance can be overlooked. Learning about the civil rights movement, racial tensions, and the events surrounding Dr. King’s assassination provides a clearer understanding of why its message was so meaningful.
My personal experiences also influence how I interpret these cultural values. I grew up in a predominantly Black neighborhood and was exposed to African American musical traditions and cultural influences. I have also encountered prejudiced conversations within my family. These experiences have made me more aware of the importance of treating people fairly and recognizing how prejudice can influence relationships and communities.
Because of these experiences, the song’s emphasis on equality feels personally meaningful to me. While I did not experience extreme racism during my childhood, I recognize that prejudice and discrimination can appear in everyday conversations and social interactions. “If I Can Dream” encourages me to think about the importance of challenging these attitudes rather than accepting them as normal.
How the Cultural Artifact Shapes Perspectives
Cultural artifacts can influence the way people understand history, society, and other cultures. Music is particularly powerful because it can communicate emotions and ideas in ways that may be more personal than historical documents alone. A song can introduce listeners to social issues while encouraging them to reflect on their own beliefs and experiences.
“If I Can Dream” demonstrates how a musical performance can become connected to a larger historical moment. Listening to the song while understanding the events of 1968 provides a different experience from simply hearing it as an Elvis Presley recording. The historical context helps explain why the song emphasizes hope, unity, peace, and equality.
At the same time, people may interpret the same cultural artifact differently. Personal experiences, family backgrounds, education, cultural environments, and individual values can all influence interpretation. Someone who experienced the civil rights era may understand the song differently from someone hearing it decades later. Similarly, my childhood memories of listening to Elvis with my stepfather influence the way I respond to the song today.
Before exploring the historical and cultural meaning of “If I Can Dream,” I viewed it primarily as another Elvis Presley song. After researching its background, I began to see it as a cultural artifact connected to one of the most significant periods of social change in American history. The song helped me understand how music can reflect social concerns while also expressing hope for change.
Personal Reflection on “If I Can Dream”
My interpretation of “If I Can Dream” has changed significantly over time. As a child, I enjoyed Elvis’s music because it was familiar and entertaining. I did not think about the historical meaning behind the songs I heard. As an adult, I have become more interested in the messages communicated through music and other cultural artifacts.
The song now represents more than Elvis Presley’s musical career for me. It represents the idea that people can imagine and work toward a society based on equality and understanding. Its message also reminds me that cultural artifacts can preserve important moments in history and encourage future generations to reflect on social issues.
The song has therefore influenced my perspective by encouraging me to consider the relationship between music, history, and culture. It also increased my appreciation for both Walter Earl Brown, who wrote the song, and Elvis Presley, whose emotional performance brought its message to a broad audience.
Conclusion
Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” is a meaningful cultural artifact because it connects music with the historical and social issues of 1968. Its themes of racial equality, human rights, peace, hope, and social awareness reflect the broader concerns of the civil rights era. The song’s emotional arrangement and powerful vocal performance further communicate its message.
For me, the artifact has a personal significance because of my childhood memories of listening to Elvis’s music with my stepfather. However, studying the historical context of “If I Can Dream” has allowed me to understand the song beyond those memories. It demonstrates how cultural artifacts can shape perspectives, preserve historical experiences, and encourage people to think critically about their values and society.
References
Genius. (2022). Elvis Presley – If I Can Dream. https://genius.com/Elvis-presley-ifi-can-dream-lyrics
Graceland. (2018, March 29). Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream.” https://www.graceland.com/blog/posts/elvis-presleys-if-i-can-dream/
HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 2 Comparative Analysis and Reflection
King, M. L., Jr. (1963, August 28). I have a dream. History. https://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights-movement/i-have-a-dream-speech