The themes of self-empowerment, resilience, and self-acceptance are saliently presented in Katy Perry’s hit single “Firework.” The paper will analyze the relation of “Firework” to mental health concepts in psychological literature, dissecting the song lyrics and their reflection on mental illness, how it plays a part in perceiving society, and what overall ideology it has.
The Relevance to Course Materials
Fireworks connect with the subjects of positive psychology and self-esteem, as explored in our course. The song urges people to feel good about their peculiarities and know their internal worth. Perry’s lyrics, for example, songs such as “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind?” portray the feelings of aimlessness and lack of identity, which coincide with identity formation and existential psychology discussions(KatyPerryVEVO, 2010). The fireworks metaphor is a potential for growth and self-transformation, implying themes of toughness and self-development.
Representation of Mental Illness
“Firework ” offers the message of hope and encouragement, but its representation of mental illness is overly simple. The song implies that people have sufficient strength within themselves to overcome their burdens by “igniting the light,” which means that in recovery, the key is one’s own will(KatyPerryVEVO, 2010). Still, this leaves aside the complications of mental health disorders and the necessity of professional help and treatment. The song oversimplifies mental illness, which can inadvertently contribute to the stigma by reinforcing the false belief that people can easily surmount their challenges without the help of others(Hecht et al., 2021).
Societal Views Towards Mental Illness
The word “FiFireworkssyalso symbolizes the society centered around individualism and self-reliance. The song’s focus on self-empowerment reflects cultural discourses that consider individual agency and resilience paramount. However, from such a perspective, this can also lead to the stigma by considering that all the burden should be treated to an individual only, forgetting the systemic barriers and societal factors that play a role in mental health issues(Scrine, 2021). One more thing, words such as “You do not have to feel like a waste of space” might be intended to strengthen the stigmatization because implying that individuals with mental disorders are less valuable.
Overall Themes Identified
Despite its limitations, “Firework” delivers throng themes of resilience, self-empowerment, and individuality. The song’s message can be the hope and inspiration to those suffering from mental health issues, offering a push to move on in times of need. Nevertheless, the song’s presentation of mental illness needs to be critically examined, and identified the song’s risk of reinforcing stigma through its focus on individualism in recovery. In viewing “Firework” in such subtle terms, we can appreciate its positive sides even while acknowledging its limitations in solving the enigmas of mental health(KatyPerryVEVO, 2010).
Conclusion
Overall, Katy Perry’s “Firework” gives a great message of self-empowerment and resilience, having common points with themes of positive psychology or self-esteem discussed in our lessons. The song stimulates listeners with its message of inspiration and hope but might exaggerate or misrepresent the experience of mental illness, thus adding to stigma. Through a critical reading of “Firework” in the context of mental health, we come to understand the multi-faceted interaction between music, psychology, and societal attitudes towards mental illness, consequently furthering our grasp of these issues.
References
Hecht, M., Kloß, A., & Bartsch, A. (2021). Stopping the Stigma. How Empathy and Reflectiveness Can Help Reduce Mental Health Stigma. Media Psychology, 25(3), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2021.1963991
KatyPerryVEVO. (2010). Katy Perry – Firework (Official) [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw
Scrine, E. (2021). The Limits of Resilience and the Need for Resistance: Articulating the Role of Music Therapy With Young People Within a Shifting Trauma Paradigm. Frontiers in Psychology, p. 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.600245
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