Lecture Notes on "Under Pressure"

Overview

• Discusses the song "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie.
• Themes of societal pressure, existential thoughts, and emotional turmoil.

Key Themes

Pressure and Stress

• Lyrics Analysis:
  • "Pushing down on me, pressing down on you..."
    • Reflects personal and societal pressures.
    • Commentary on how individuals feel overwhelmed.

Emotional Struggles

• Feelings of Desperation:
  • "Eat it up, eat it up..."
    • Society’s consumption of pain and struggles.
    • Resignation to circumstances.
• Existential Anxiety:
  • "Terror of knowing what this world is about..."
    • Fear and the uncertainty of the future.
    • Acknowledgment of friends suffering.

Love and Relationships

• Contradictions of Love:
  • "Keep coming up with love, but it's so slashed and torn..."
    • Love as a source of pain amidst struggles.
    • Desire for connection contrasted with emotional wounds.

Social Commentary

• Societal Isolation:
  • "Turned away from it all, like a blind man..."
    • Critique of societal apathy and disengagement.
    • How people choose to ignore pressing issues.
• Call for Change:
  • "Love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves..."
    • Encouragement to reassess values and priorities in life.

Conclusion

• Reflections on Life:
  • "This is our last dance..."
    • Suggests urgency in addressing societal pressures and personal struggles.
• Final Thought:
  • Importance of confronting our fears and pressures rather than succumbing to them.