Pop Goes the Independence

So it’s the 4^th of July, and like many Americans both stateside and around the world, I’m all set to celebrate Independence Day with good food, family, friends, and fireworks. Of the many holidays Americans embrace, the 4^th of July is probably the most frenetic and has left an interesting mark on the popular culture landscape.

First off, it’s worth thinking about why we use July 4 as the day to celebrate the original thirteen American colonies and their break from English rule. For a quick review, head over to the National Archive for a look at the Declaration of Independence and its origins. The movement towards this landmark document began in June of 1776; John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and, of course, Thomas Jefferson collaborated on the creation of the draft with Franklin and Adams providing lead writer Jefferson with editorial guidance, according to Jefferson’s own account.  The National Archives’ article on the history of the Declaration outlines the process by which the Declaration was put into place. On July 2^nd the Continental Congress agreed to “the Lee Resolution for independence" which "was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York not voting”. The formal version of the Declaration was not approved by all the colonies until the 4^th. The Declaration was designed to make clear to England why the colonies wanted independence but also to tell the world (i.e. France) in hopes that the break would at best receive some financial and military support and at worst non-interference.

Popular culture loves the notion of the drafting of the Declaration. From 1973 until 1985, ABC taught kids the basics or perhaps the commonly held beliefs about American history through a series of interstitials during Saturday morning cartoons. I learned the Preamble to the Constitution thanks to Schoolhouse Rock!, and "Fireworks," "The Shot Heard 'Round the World," and “No More Kings” showcase the origins of the American Revolution. Thanks to “Fireworks,” which aired during the bicentennial celebration, every kid knows that the American War for Independence was about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” In 1993 the animated series, Animaniacs, had an episode segment titled “The Flame.” In it a candle flame watches over Thomas Jefferson and provides encouragement as he works through the night to create the Declaration.

The connotations of the phrases, 4^th of July and Independence Day, are largely positive, but popular culture has explored the nuances of these phrases and the ideas they allude to in a number of ways. Here are just four of the many examples of the very positive and the very problematic ways we see our national celebration.

Yankee Doodle Dandy – This 1942 biopic starring James Cagney about the life of George M. Cohan is told in flashback as Cohan receives the Congressional Gold Medal from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The film features many patriotic songs penned by the prolific entertainer: “The Yankee Doodle Boy” certainly stands out on the 4th. The song was a part of Cohan’s musical Little Johnny Jones. a chronicle of the life of jockey, Little Johnny Jones, who rode a horse called Yankee Doodle. The film features a shortened version of the song, but even in the brief scene in which it appears, the song exemplifies an American spirit of bravado and perseverance. Other patriotic numbers to look for are “Over There” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” For a critical look at the film, check Jennifer Garlen’s review at Examiner.com.

Born on the Fourth of July – The biography (1976) and the film (1989) look at the cost of war on a person's body and soul. Ron Kovic’s story, the story of a wounded, paralyzed Marine veteran and his evolution into a peace activist, shows the flip side of the war experience. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Kovic in the 1989 film, co-written by Kovic and director Oliver Stone, was hailed as authentic and searing. For a thoughtful of review of the film and its potential impact, see Roger Ebert’s review from December 1989.

Independence Day – Released in 1996, this Will Smith film launched a thousand blockbusters. It established Smith as an action hero moving him further away from his persona as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Here Independence Day is all about freedom from domination, this time from alien invaders. Like their predecessors in films from the 1950s and 1960s, these alien invaders are stand-ins for the threatening issues of the day; in this case the issue may be the growing divisions within America itself. The invasion provides a way for the disparate elements of the American community to come together to fight for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Many of the contemporary reviews of the film found the plot, characterization, and effects laughable, and yet a check of the TV listings for today reveals that Encore will be showing the film all day long.

“Independence Day” – Martina McBride’s 1993 hit takes the notion of the fight for independence into the realm of the domestic. Written by Gretchen Peters the song tells the story of a woman’s struggle to get out of an abusive relationship. The video for the song is set during a small town 4^th of July parade and contrasts the celebration of one kind of independence with the destructive nature of gaining another. Again “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are at the core of this fight for independence, but the struggle is personal and costly.

These complicated and varied visions of the ideas and ideals of the American Revolution and the 4^th of July are just reminders and extensions of another great pop culture idea – the Great American Melting Pot. 

***Your Muppet Moment of the Blog -- Sam the Eagle's tribute to America, "Stars and Stripes Forever"