When I was reading Beloved by Toni Morrison I was really intrigued by the section of the story that was strictly stream of conscious writing. The perspectives of Beloved, Sethe, and Denver combine together to formulate an incredibly complex sequence that provides the reader with an introspective look into the women.
Reading through this, I was reminded of some of the song writing techniques I learned from various classes and books I read through. One of the keys to songwriting is utilizing stream of conscious. Good songwriting comes from a balance of stream of conscious writing, and goal-based writing.
In goal-based writing, the author is attempting to convey a certain feeling and emotion under a specific event that either happened to you, or you wish to portray.
Stream of conscious writing is often less cohesive and follows (or at least attempts to follow) a person's train of though.
A successful song writer is able to blend both techniques together into one in order to create a unique piece that is able to reflect the feelings the author has.
Toni Morrison is able to use stream of consciousness writing in the section where the three women explain how they are connected to Beloved, and then right after, she shifts back into a regular narration that doesn't necessarily employ any special type of writing.This creates a unique effect for the reader, as we get to see inside of some of the characters heads, providing insight to us about how they feel and what they are thinking, and then we switch back into an objective point of view as the story unfolds.
One musician that I think really excels at this technique of blending together the two writing styles is Chet Faker.
Chet Faker is an electronica type musician that uses some stream of consciousness writing techniques in his verses, and then blends into a traditional narration for his choruses.
One example is from his song, "Talk is Cheap"
Reading through this, I was reminded of some of the song writing techniques I learned from various classes and books I read through. One of the keys to songwriting is utilizing stream of conscious. Good songwriting comes from a balance of stream of conscious writing, and goal-based writing.
In goal-based writing, the author is attempting to convey a certain feeling and emotion under a specific event that either happened to you, or you wish to portray.
Stream of conscious writing is often less cohesive and follows (or at least attempts to follow) a person's train of though.
A successful song writer is able to blend both techniques together into one in order to create a unique piece that is able to reflect the feelings the author has.
Toni Morrison is able to use stream of consciousness writing in the section where the three women explain how they are connected to Beloved, and then right after, she shifts back into a regular narration that doesn't necessarily employ any special type of writing.This creates a unique effect for the reader, as we get to see inside of some of the characters heads, providing insight to us about how they feel and what they are thinking, and then we switch back into an objective point of view as the story unfolds.
One musician that I think really excels at this technique of blending together the two writing styles is Chet Faker.
Chet Faker is an electronica type musician that uses some stream of consciousness writing techniques in his verses, and then blends into a traditional narration for his choruses.
One example is from his song, "Talk is Cheap"
"Cold pain Verse
I cannot sustain it
That's what I'm thinking
Not what I'm drinking
I hold up my ways
These thoughts are pervasive
It's not a statement
But peace can be evasive...
Talk is cheap, my darling Chorus
When you're feeling right at home
I wanna make you move with confidence
I wanna be with you alone"
I cannot sustain it
That's what I'm thinking
Not what I'm drinking
I hold up my ways
These thoughts are pervasive
It's not a statement
But peace can be evasive...
Talk is cheap, my darling Chorus
When you're feeling right at home
I wanna make you move with confidence
I wanna be with you alone"
Faker goes from an introspective internal dialogue in the first part of the verse as he sings about the pain he feels and how he deals with it. As he progresses through the verse, his statements begin to turn from internal dialogue to a conversation he is having with another person when we reach the chorus. The chorus writing is different from the verse, as he is singing directly to someone or something.
He switches between the two styles seamlessly which enables him to create really unique songs with moving lyrics.
Both Morrison and Faker employ similar techniques to advance their work effectively and create movement and emotion in the reader.
He switches between the two styles seamlessly which enables him to create really unique songs with moving lyrics.
Both Morrison and Faker employ similar techniques to advance their work effectively and create movement and emotion in the reader.
The first link is for "Talk is Cheap" by Chet Faker The next is another song by him, "Gold" that uses the same kind of writing style | |