Worldview Wednesday: On Individuality and Freedom
Willow Smith’s song “I Am Me" echoes the sentiments of our culture in regards to the value it places on individuality and freedom. Willow Smith sings that the culture pressures her to look a certain way, but she is only being herself and that is “all [she] can be.” As a whole, the American culture values individuality and “harmony” among individuals, even if that means denying appropriate limits on what individuals can be.
Willow Smith expresses her dismissal of the society’s pressures when she sings, “Days pass, I'm tryna find who I really am / People don't like the way I dress, or where I am at / I dye my hair and it's not just vanity / Your validation is just not that important to me.” In an age full of adolescent and teen insecurity, Willow Smith’s non-conformity is commendable. Even more commendable is Willow Smith’s encouragement to “live in harmony / Coexist with each other / [and] love each other.”
As is usually the case, when a pendulum is set in motion it usually goes too far in one direction or another. In this case, there is a danger of going too far in the song “I Am Me” as well. Willow Smith sings, “Night falls and I find it's here I am in peace / Making friends with spirits lost and it sets me free / Express myself, 'cause it's my liberty.” It is not clear what Willow Smith is referring to when she sings about the “lost spirits” who make her feel free. Two likely possibilities are 1) people who are considered spiritually lost or 2) the spirits of departed individuals. Either of these two options are very problematic. Furthermore, Willow Smith seems to think being herself gives her a “liberty” to make “friends” with whomever she pleases. Being yourself also seems to imply being able to redefine yourself: “create yourself / redo yourself / renew yourself.” However, in reality humans are not free to redefine themselves, but are bound within the limits of our nature.
The implications of accepting the message of this song are both positive and negative. On the positive side, listeners can learn to be loving toward other people and to value differences in others. Listeners can also learn to appreciate the uniqueness of themselves as individuals and not be afraid to go against societies ideals. On the negative side, instead of being happy with the people that they are, people may choose to redefine themselves. Furthermore, this redefinition of self and the expression of this new self, may be considered by many as an inalienable right. Lastly, those who oppose such redefinition may be considered unloving or intolerant. As a matter of fact, this worldview has already been accepted, though this is not the fault of Willow Smith. Willow Smith, as a young artist raised in a secular industry, is only a mirror reflecting the cultural values of our society and is not solely to blame.
Willow Smith expresses her dismissal of the society’s pressures when she sings, “Days pass, I'm tryna find who I really am / People don't like the way I dress, or where I am at / I dye my hair and it's not just vanity / Your validation is just not that important to me.” In an age full of adolescent and teen insecurity, Willow Smith’s non-conformity is commendable. Even more commendable is Willow Smith’s encouragement to “live in harmony / Coexist with each other / [and] love each other.”
As is usually the case, when a pendulum is set in motion it usually goes too far in one direction or another. In this case, there is a danger of going too far in the song “I Am Me” as well. Willow Smith sings, “Night falls and I find it's here I am in peace / Making friends with spirits lost and it sets me free / Express myself, 'cause it's my liberty.” It is not clear what Willow Smith is referring to when she sings about the “lost spirits” who make her feel free. Two likely possibilities are 1) people who are considered spiritually lost or 2) the spirits of departed individuals. Either of these two options are very problematic. Furthermore, Willow Smith seems to think being herself gives her a “liberty” to make “friends” with whomever she pleases. Being yourself also seems to imply being able to redefine yourself: “create yourself / redo yourself / renew yourself.” However, in reality humans are not free to redefine themselves, but are bound within the limits of our nature.
The implications of accepting the message of this song are both positive and negative. On the positive side, listeners can learn to be loving toward other people and to value differences in others. Listeners can also learn to appreciate the uniqueness of themselves as individuals and not be afraid to go against societies ideals. On the negative side, instead of being happy with the people that they are, people may choose to redefine themselves. Furthermore, this redefinition of self and the expression of this new self, may be considered by many as an inalienable right. Lastly, those who oppose such redefinition may be considered unloving or intolerant. As a matter of fact, this worldview has already been accepted, though this is not the fault of Willow Smith. Willow Smith, as a young artist raised in a secular industry, is only a mirror reflecting the cultural values of our society and is not solely to blame.
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