Billy Joel sang the song “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” and the song was covered with changes by Fall Out Boy. I asked you to listen to both songs and think of the events covered. You were then to go to Menti and complete the word cloud adding three themes from each song. Some of the topics you added, I did not understand, like: balloons, the longest time, heavy loads, Disney, and farmers’ markets. I simply do not understand. Were you testing me to see if I would read the results? Balloons? I went back to Fall Out Boy’s video, and I figured out why someone added the word “balloons.” The problem is that the individual who added this word left off “boy.” It should have been “Balloon Boy.” Here is the story about Balloon Boy: https://youtu.be/O6Gc38ib1qo?si=2kvASCudzOreZir-
I then asked you to consider what was left out of the song and why you feel the theme should have been added. For instance, I do not think the opioid or fentanyl crisis was mentioned. Please take a moment to watch Jelly Roll speak about this topic: https://youtu.be/M_NULoJyNAw?si=c_nNOMmRROC3us0A.
Before beginning the next part of the assignment, you may need to revisit Fall Out Boy’s version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and the lead singer’s epic shoulder pads :-). Your assignment is to put together your own version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” You are to pick five key world events that have happened in your lifetime, describe the events, why you picked the events, and how they connect to DEISJ themes. For example, the five most important events to you could be related to LGBTQIA+, gender inequality, poverty, gun violence, and mental health. You will give a synopsis of each topic, why it matters, and how it connects to DEISJ. Your overview of each theme has to be from a credible source and cited properly. Finally, you add music to the assignment. For instance, Jelly Roll and Craig Morgan sing a song called “Almost Home,” which talks about a homeless man. If homelessness were one of your topics, you would explain how the song represents your theme. If mental health is one of your choices, you might choose Jelly Roll’s “Save Me.” (Yes, I am a fan of Jelly Roll.) If I chose the theme of gun violence, I would include Madonna’s “God Control.” I will create a rubric for this assignment. I know there will be questions, so please reach out. This assignment is due on Sunday, April 7.
You should finish defining the remaining DEISJ key terms. They go in your Notebook.
We Didn’t Start the Fire
HUMNS 241/341 Asynch.
Spring 2024
Pierie
1. ____ (5) The author identified five key events from their
lifetime
2. ____ (10) The author described five key events from their
lifetime
3. ____ (5) The author connected key events to DEISJ themes
4. ____ (10) The author gave a synopsis of their five key
events connected to DEISJ themes and why it matters
5. ____ (5) The author included credible sources and used
either MLA or APA citations, internally and with a Works Cited or Reference
page
6. ____ (10) Author explained how their song choice
represents a theme highlighted in their research of key events from their
lifetime
7. ____ (5) Author proofread their paper, leaving very few
grammatical and mechanical mistakes (paper must be typed)
