In some cases, composers often reflect the concerns of their society through their texts. The text could be anything from a movie, a poem, a newspaper article or even the lyrics to a song. But in this particular situation the Prescribed Text is a novel called "Letters from the Inside" and the Other Related text is a movie with named "Hurricane" directed by Norman Jewison. These texts will be explored and analysed through to discover how composers reflect the concerns of their society through their texts.
All composers will obviously have different thoughts and reflections on society, and this also depends on the time period. For example if the text was written in the early 1940's during the war, then their text focus would be on the war. So the time period of when the text was written is an important factor within the statement. Also, the techniques used such as emotive language, colloquial language and imagery are just a few of the many techniques used in the Prescribed Text, and the Other Related Text. .
The Prescribed Text "Letters from the Inside" tells a story of 2 teenage girls, Mandy and Tracey and their different lifestyles and situations. The novel addresses themes such as friendship, trust, violence, and confusion, growing up and many more. Mandy is a 15 year old that writes to Tracey, and believes that she is a normal girl like herself. Little does she know, Tracey has lied about her living arrangements that the fact that she actually is in a detention centre. .
When Mandy writes to Tracey, it becomes the only opportunity of escape from threatening situations at home. Her older brother Steve abuses her physically and emotionally, "The most frightening in my life is Steve" Pg 91. Tracey reveals that she had a traumatic childhood with her abusive father "He"d hit mum and we"d hate that and try to fight him off." Pg 129. Because she is in a detention centre, when she starts to correspond with Mandy, it is the only thing that keeps her life in perspective.