Natalie B. answered • 05/20/24
Experienced High School and Elementary Tutor-Specializing in ELA
One instance of music in Killer of Sheep is "This Bitter Earth" by Dinah Washington. This song is heard during the scene where the character Stan, the protagonist of the story, is seen working in the slaughterhouse. In this scene, the soulfulness and poignancy of the music is in sharp contrast to the harshness and brutality of Stan's life, day in and day out, and atmosphere where he works. In this instance, the music is reinforcing the irony of the situation. If you listen to the lyrics of the song, you see how they portray the themes of suffering and just how hard life can be. This is a direct reflection of Stan's life circumstances. However, the sweet, melancholy melody is in sharp contrast with the shocking and horrific imagery of the slaughterhouse. This creates an unexpected, jolting effect on the reader. The irony spotlights the difference between the depth of emotions attached to Stan's inner life and the disparity of his outward circumstances.
A second instance of music in Killer of Sheep is "The House I Live In" by Frank Sinatra. This song is heard in the scene where the children are playing in the dilapidation of a neighborhood in Watts. This song is associated with patriotism, as it references the American Dream and a perfect vision of life in America. The use of this song creates an atmosphere of hope and anticipation, which is the antithesis of the actual circumstances of the children's environment. Their lives are marked by impoverishment and neglect. The song serves to highlight the promises of the American Dream that are unrealized for the typical African American family in Watts. It reinforces the ruinous and neglectful scene while at the same time pointing out the disparity between American ideals and the reality of the life experiences of its disenfranchised citizens.
