Graduate Paper on Say Anything - Is A Real Boy

[ArtNov88]

I'm writing one of my graduate papers on Say Anything's ...Is a Real Boy and I need to gather some opinions from Say Anything fans. That being said, the main question I have is: What overarching ideas and messages do you find on the record, specifically on the songs "Belt", "Woe" and "Admit It!"? (i.e. what message(s) do you think Max was sending throughout the record and on those songs). I know that it's loosely based on a story line and structured like a rock opera, but what ideas, messages, metaphors, etc. do you find?

I really appreciate your help guys.

[atticus18244fss]

I'm writing one of my graduate papers on Say Anything's ...Is a Real Boy and I need to gather some opinions from Say Anything fans. That being said, the main question I have is: What overarching ideas and messages do you find on the record, specifically on the songs "Belt", "Woe" and "Admit It!"? (i.e. what message(s) do you think Max was sending throughout the record and on those songs). I know that it's loosely based on a story line and structured like a rock opera, but what ideas, messages, metaphors, etc. do you find?

I really appreciate your help guys.
Ha Admit It... I have to admit I do/think some of the things in that song often.

[MartyrsCasualty]

If you can actually do this, then I'm writing mine on The Dear Hunter's 6 album story which will most likely be done by the time I'm ready to graduate.

[Genuma]

.....

[ArtNov88]

If you can actually do this, then I'm writing mine on The Dear Hunter's 6 album story which will most likely be done by the time I'm ready to graduate.

Yeah, I was pretty suprised my prof. let it fly, but she let me write one of my undergrad papers on The Early November, so I figured why not?

[KingsCrossing]

What type of graduate program are you in?

[fly_guy]

What did you write about TEN?

[CollectiveConfusion]

I'm writing one of my graduate papers on Say Anything's ...Is a Real Boy and I need to gather some opinions from Say Anything fans. That being said, the main question I have is: What overarching ideas and messages do you find on the record, specifically on the songs "Belt", "Woe" and "Admit It!"? (i.e. what message(s) do you think Max was sending throughout the record and on those songs). I know that it's loosely based on a story line and structured like a rock opera, but what ideas, messages, metaphors, etc. do you find?

I really appreciate your help guys.

that's pretty awesome you can write about this. i'd say, especially in those three songs, the biggest thing that stands out to me is rebellion, and his conflicts with it. ie belt is all about going against conventions, and admit it! is calling out people that do this for the wrong reasons. just a quick idea off the top of my head :shrug:

[RonStoppable]

Hypocrisy. Self deprecation. Rebellion. Irony. Killing. Bipolar disorder. Social commentary. Molly Connelly.

edit: Themes I think of when I think of the record

[Broclee]

Is this real life?

[ArtNov88]

What type of graduate program are you in?

I'm in the masters program within the communication department.

[ArtNov88]

What did you write about TEN?

I applied social judgement theory to the conflict that happened during the recording of The Mother, The Mechanic and The Path that was on the DVD documentary.

[ArtNov88]

that's pretty awesome you can write about this. i'd say, especially in those three songs, the biggest thing that stands out to me is rebellion, and his conflicts with it. ie belt is all about going against conventions, and admit it! is calling out people that do this for the wrong reasons. just a quick idea off the top of my head :shrug:

Thanks! That helps alot.

[ArtNov88]

Hypocrisy. Self deprecation. Rebellion. Irony. Killing. Bipolar disorder. Social commentary. Molly Connelly.

edit: Themes I think of when I think of the record

Awesome...thank you for responding

[Broclee]

I'm still amazed you're getting to do this. It's pretty awesome.

[ReadyForAction]

I think both songs also reflect an unwilllingness to grow, both for Max and for the people that surround him

[theguy77]

haha you could write much more about criticising his messages than explaining them. this site proves that every day.

[ArtNov88]

I'm still amazed you're getting to do this. It's pretty awesome.

Yeah I'm glad I'm not having to study something terribly boring.

[ArtNov88]

I think both songs also reflect an unwilllingness to grow, both for Max and for the people that surround him

Thanks for responding

[ArtNov88]

haha you could write much more about criticising his messages than explaining them. this site proves that every day.

Yeah I've definitely noticed that in the Say Anything - Self-Titled thread, but I've already written the first part of my paper, so I can't really change anything now.

[cinderandsmoke]

I'm writing one of my graduate papers on Say Anything's ...Is a Real Boy and I need to gather some opinions from Say Anything fans. That being said, the main question I have is: What overarching ideas and messages do you find on the record, specifically on the songs "Belt", "Woe" and "Admit It!"? (i.e. what message(s) do you think Max was sending throughout the record and on those songs). I know that it's loosely based on a story line and structured like a rock opera, but what ideas, messages, metaphors, etc. do you find?

I really appreciate your help guys.

You should send this to Max on Twitter; he usually replies to fans with something interesting to say. I'm sure he'd shit himself to know that someone is writing a graduate paper on IARB and he'd definitely help you out in terms of themes on the record. :)
Good luck!

[You Won't Know]

As an undergrad, I wrote a term paper on the rise and fall of the emo scene and subculture, and a very large portion of it involved the positives of Say Anything and Brand New - particularly Max's comments in response to Tim Kinsella.

In terms of the older record, I would say Admit It is the most striking example. I think it is a remarkable song that is both extremely self-aware and at the same time very intelligent. There's also an element of humor there. But it attacks the ignorance of people who hold themselves higher than others just because they have more "evolved" (not neccessarily better) musical tastes.

[Kid B]

Look up sparknotes for Catcher in the Rye. Same damn themes. Seriously.

[pleasedontask]

The whole album revovles around a theme of rebellion, as very evident in the closing lines of belt, where it's set up as this one alienated bipolar kid, angry at the world, angry at himself, against pretty much everyone else. The "character" in the album (which is pretty much 100 percent Max) shows alot of disgust for the world around him, but is very aware of the fact that everything he hates about the world he demonstrates himself, like he explins in YC/RC and you can see subtley in songs like The Futile and Admit It!!! (Max said in an interview here with the site that Admit It was just as much about himself as anyone else, which is something I think alot of people choose to ignore when discussing the song.) It's pretty much a strong social commentary about fighting for uniqueness, originallity and identity in a world (or the scene, if you want to look at it that way. Alot of the album has alot of double meanings.)

[Wisher]

Good luck with your paper, this is something I'd love to see the finished product on. Sorry I don't have much to contribute, I really couldn't bring anything new to the table or word it as well as the people above me.

[cirerelleum]

I love this album. I was writing a rather longish post, but then I relized I don't do homework for other people unless I'm getting paid.

[ArtNov88]

I want to thank everyone who's posted. I really appreciate your help.

[ArtNov88]

You should send this to Max on Twitter; he usually replies to fans with something interesting to say. I'm sure he'd shit himself to know that someone is writing a graduate paper on IARB and he'd definitely help you out in terms of themes on the record. :)
Good luck!

I've sent a couple tweets a few weeks back, but he hasn't responded yet. Although I'm sure there's a bunch of people trying to talk to him on there too.