Subdividing Ourselves

This week, "Subdivisions" by Rush has intrigued me.
Subdivisions - Rush

"Subdivisions" was written and released in 1982. The title and the lyrics indicate several meanings.

The first two lines of the song note how on the broadest scale possible humanity divides itself, and divides those divisions. One can think of countries, states, territories, counties, cities, towns, all the way down to blocks and buildings themselves. I think that makes an interesting statement about human nature right there.

The song describes the so called "cool" and "uncool" crowds mostly common among teenagers. As a high school student myself, I have obviously observed this at work firsthand. However, the situation seems to have changed in 41 years. I see these cultures exist, however yet more subdivisions have occurred. I notice the "cool" crowd having broken down into several cultures, and the "uncool" crowd has as well. No longer is "the dreamer or the misfit so alone" because now there are more dreamers and misfits than ever. Why be afraid if nobody else is afraid?

I think that "Subdivisions" also comments on how adults live their lives also. Rush talks about "selling dreams for small desires", "los[ing] the race to rats", and of a "restless flight". I'll let you ponder these statements also, but I am amazed by the message.

So I am left wondering, is it human nature or not to subdivide? Can we change this trend, or do we even want to?

When I Grow Up, Wondering All the Way

Recently, I have been listening to "When I Grow Up" from Matilda the Musical.
"When I Grow Up" From the Musical
"When I Grow Up" Performed by Tim Minchin, the Play's Composer

To me, this song is a wonderful example of hope. Tim Minchin brilliantly provides a powerful philosophy from the perspective of little girl. I love this song whenever I need to drive myself through anything difficult.

Matilda hopes in this song, dreaming of her future, and she wonders. This childlike wonder that the song expresses reminds me of an article by Micheal Mazenko entitled "Awaiting - still - a renaissance of wonder". I read this article in my English class a few weeks ago, and didn't think too much of it. However, listening to "When I Grow Up" reminded me of it, and I revisited the sense of wonder that Mazenko discusses. It really didn't seem complete though, and I recalled another view of the article also studied in class. A retired English teacher wrote about it and added some interesting points. She puts this frame of wonder into perspective after one has grown up and lost some childhood innocence.

So why do these articles matter? After reading them, I came to more of an understanding about wonder. One can be innocent, but you can do well to maintain a sense of reality. This makes it all the more real, and I believe it is therefore ultimately more powerful.

So now whenever I listen to the happy lyrics in "When I Grow Up", I get a wonderful sense of hope and happiness.