Hunky Dory: An Analysis Of David Bowie's Work

Throughout musician David Bowies career the artist discography has covered a large array of subject matter and themes. Noted for his chameleon like ability to shift through personas, ideas and subject matter, Bowie’s work can be sectioned into different thematic movements, from Ziggy Stardust to the Thine White Duke. Yet connections can be drawn and linked throughout his whole musical career. Themes presented in his early work are referenced and connected into Bowie most contemporary albums. A major theme within Bowie’s work as a whole is loneliness and alienation. From the personas Bowie has created and the albums that go alongside them each connected and build, in some way on these ideas of loneliness. By examining three songs off Bowie’s …show more content…
The album has been considered a major album in solidifying Bowie’s artistic and creative genius. The album is considered one of David Bowie’s best albums and an extremely influential work for contemporary music and culture. The album is styled in an almost constructed conversation that creates a direct link to Bowies influences. Songs on the album such as Andy Warhol and Song for Bob Dylan lyrically reference Bowies influences as well as musically referencing (when applicable) the style of music his influence creates. This calling out of inspiration is its own way is a theme of loneliness, as it separates Bowie from his influences, from where we wants to be. The album is a conversation of isolation from celebrity and success and those who have achieved …show more content…
The song creates almost a surrealist set of images as the lyrics narrative scenes of mundane and uneventful life. The song centres on the theme of loneliness within the whole of society. Through the songs narrative Bowie address the collective loneliness of mundane life as well as the loneliness which is brought on through media. The song is laced with images and depictions of the ‘silver screen’ and easily recognized commercial driven images. The song play on the notion that everything is repeated, life circumstances as well as the media one is surrounded by. This is seen in lyrics such as; “But the film is a saddening bore/ Because I wrote it ten times or more/ It’s about to be write again/ As I ask you to focus on” Bowie identifies the ideas of loneliness driven by media and his own role within that notion.
The song identifies loneliness within society as a whole through the desensitization of the media and pop culture. As everything becomes repeated, everything become boring there is no longer anything to connect to and whole of society is placed into a repeating loneliness. Life on Mars? Identify loneliness within society as a whole and then expands and Bowie then recognize the role he plays within cultural desensitization. As a performer Bowie is adding to repeating sceptical and entertainment for society to get lost in, thus adding