2. "Face Down" by: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

2. "Face Down" by: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

"Face Down" tells a story about an abusive relationship.  It perfectly illustrates the issue of the "tough guise" that we covered in English this year.

"Do you feel like a man?

When you push her around?

Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?"

    The artist is criticizing the way this man abuses his girlfriend.  He is asking him why he does abuses her, and if it makes him feel masculine.  In the movie "Tough Guise" it talked about this issue.  It brought up that over ninety percent of abuse is initiated by men.  They offered an explanation that men do it because it empowers them.  Male domination has been apart of our culture for years, which has also fostered abuse because society teaches men that they should be powerful and respected.  In books like "Romeo and Juliet", "Antigone", and "The Epic of Gilgamesh", all of the women are subject to the rule of men.  Brothers, husbands, and or fathers dominate them; they are supposed to keep quiet, and those who don't are punished.  It also address the idea that abuse is a chain reaction that is carried through the generations in the following lyrics:

"A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect,

Every action in this world bears consequence"

    The lyrics suggest that one descion, like abuse, can start chain reactions.  One boy who was abused can abuse his kids, who can abuse theirs, and the vicious cycle continues.