The Power in Art

About a year ago, I sat down with a good friend of mine in the darkness of my dorm room and reluctantly watched, “Across the Universe;” a movie based on numerous songs of the acclaimed 1960s British rock band, the Beatles. Throughout the entirety of the film, to my amazement, my lower jaw was unhinged from my upper jaw, forming an “O” with the whole of my mouth as I was in complete awe and utterly fascinated with the artistry of the underground movie. Never had I seen such illustration of art, information, and emotion in my life; and I say that sincerely.

I remember one scene in particular. The melancholy keynotes of the piano echoed as the somber melody of the song “Let It Be” could be heard. At this point in the movie, the female lead was pictured pedaling her bike on her way to the home of her boyfriend, in an attempt to surprise him on his arrival home from fighting overseas in the Vietnam War. As she anxiously rode around the corner, two officers dressed in appropriate attire could be seen regrettably handing a letter to her beau’s mother. At once, the mother, losing all strength in her body, leaned against the doorframe fell to the ground in hysteria. The girlfriend, comprehending the situation, broke into tears soon after.

Immediately, the cameras flashed to a young black boy, about the age of 12, who began to harmonize to the music. He was sitting on the ground, hiding behind the charcoaled frame of a car ablaze in the background. Trying to understand what was going on, the cameras soon focused in on a swarm of innocent civilians, mostly of the African American ethnicity, who were being shot by white members of the U.S. Army in the midst of a chaotic riot. About a minute into the song, the powerful, yet humbling vibrations of a woman’s voice took over the lyrics of the song as the camera flashed to the young boy lying in a casket; for he was shot in the same riot he was singing about just prior. Giving the audience enough time to take in the death of the young boy, the cameras flashed back to the lead female as she was attending the funeral of her boyfriend. Members of the U.S. Army were pictured folding up the American flag and slowly handing it over into the trembling hands of his mother who broke down once again.

I found this scene, as well as the remaking of the song, to be elequently human and nothing short of phenomenal. It was portrayed with such compassion and emotion which undoubtedly captured the exact story at this point in history. This four minute scene encapsulated both sides of the story; it allowed the audience to understand the fateful account of different ethnicities, opposite social classes, and yet how both were affected by the war in such a similar and catastrophic way. Every time I watch this scene, I can’t help but break down because every aspect that was put into it came together in such a beautiful portrayal of a horrific tragedy.