Music as Environmental Communication

D. J. Rosenthal's article called "Hoods and the Woods: Rap Music in the Environmental Literature" discusses how many rap artists narrate different regions and urban spaces in their music. Studying rap can reveal, "...the genres ability to narrate a 'metaphorical geography of Afro-American expression'. Thus, rap, ecologically informed and informative, constitutes an urban environmental discourse that both analyzes and comments on the built environment" (p. 662). Rappers often use rhythm and rhyme to tell long, abstract stories through memorable phrases and beats in order to get their message across to their audience.

The article brings in Lawrence Buell and his checklist of 4 characteristics that are used to tell how environmental a piece of work is. This includes the following:

1. Nonhuman environment is present and suggests human history exists because of it
2. Human interest is not only the legitimate interest
3. Human accountability is present
4. The environment is a process, not a constant or given

Although not all rap songs can satisfy the entire checklist, some still manage to do so. The song I would like to look at and relate to this checklist is Death in the Wilderness by J. J. Cale.

Death in the wilderness
It's a hopeless case I guess
Who's looking out for the wilder side
It will soon all be gone
You can tell it won't be long
We'll find the wilderness has died

We'll be the lonely one

Concrete plastic human throng
Tellin' one another have you heard the news
We'll mow it down, we'll rape the ground
'Til there's nothing left to abuse

The rabbit, he'll be gone
The bird will sing no song
The wolf, the bear, the lion too
The insect far and near, creatures like the deer
We'll put in cages at the zoo

Death in the wilderness
It's a hopeless case I guess
Who's looking out for the wilder side
It will soon all be gone
You can tell it won't be long
We'll find the wilderness has died

The stream will all dry out
The fish gone no doubt
We'll have no animals to fear
The tree will be no more
We'll use it to build the store
Mountain scene will disappear

These changes takin' place
Will affect the human race
We'll all know it when it's gone
God save this planet now
We've got to help somehow
We've left it happen way too long

Death in the wilderness
It's a hopeless case I guess
Who's looking out for the wilder side
It will soon all be gone
You can tell it won't be long
We'll find the wilderness has died
We'll find the wilderness has died

Read more: J. J. Cale - Death In The Wilderness Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

I think that this song represents at least two out of the four characteristics on Lawrence Buell's checklist. Human accountability is shown when the singer talks about how the trees will disappear because we'll use it to build a store. It also uses powerful words such as "rape" to explain how badly we abuse the environment. The second characteristic shown through these lyrics is the environment as a process, not a constant or a given. This is shown as the lyrics repeatedly mention that "We'll find the wilderness has died". By this the singer means that the environment will only be around for awhile until it can no longer exist because of human abuse.

The other two characteristics are not shown because the lyrics still suggest that human interest is the only reason why we should care about the environment. This is shown through the line that says "These changes takin' place will affect the human race, we'll all know it when it's gone". It also does not mention anywhere that human history exists because of the nonhuman environment.

The article is showcasing the idea that your talent can be used to educate the public about issues. Music is a significant form of art that is used to evoke emotions in its audience. This is shown when we watch videos about environmental issues online or in media. The images don't evoke as much emotion as the music does. We as audience members are more moved by the beat of music as they go along with the lyrics. Similarly, some musicians use their music video to portray the idea of their song. In this case, the music adds to the visual appeal of the song message. For example, when something sad happens and the music becomes soft. This evokes a feeling of sadness among the audience as they identify with the music and ultimately with the song itself because of its musical cues.