The Music of Ani DiFranco and “Community Happening” in a New Millenium The Gen X “Paradigm” The Music of Ani DiFranco and “Community Happening” in a New Millenium

The Song- “Paradigm” – by Ani DiFranco, 2005 I was born to two immigrants Who knew why they were here They were happy to pay taxes For the schools and roads Happy to be here They took it seriously The second job of citizenry My mother went campaigning door to door And holding to her hand was me I was just a girl in a room full of women Licking stamps and laughing I remember the feeling of community brewing Of democracy happening But I suppose like anybody I had to teach myself to see All that stuff that got lost On its way to church All that stuff that got lost On its way to school All that stuff that got lost On its way to the house of my family All that stuff that was not lost on me Teach myself to see each of us Through the lens of forgiveness Like we're stuck with each other (god forbid!) Teach myself to smile and stop and talk To a whole other color kid Teach myself to be new in an instant Like the truth is accessible at any time Teach myself it's never really one or the other There's a paradox in every paradigm I was just a girl in a room full of women Licking stamps and laughing I remember the feeling of community brewing Of democracy happening

Ani DiFranco: “Feminist Fave…. High Priestess of Indie Folk” Indie Label Themes in music Feminism Gender and Sexuality Social Justice “Dubbed… from one dorm room to another…”

“They were happy to pay taxes….” “The surplus is the people's money, and we ought to trust them with their own money.” - G.W. Bush, 2001

“I remember the spirit of community brewing….” Communitarian Movement “Bowling Alone” (2000) We are no longer connected

“Teach myself to…talk to a whole other color kid.” De facto segregation ‘80-’81- 63% ‘91-’92- 66% ‘98-’99- 70% 1997

“There’s a Paradox in every Paradigm” Democracy demands diversity Freedom leads to polarization Polarization prevents democracy To “Know” you need to doubt

“Yarn-Bombed Andy Warhol Bridge” by Knit the Bridge, 2013

“I was just a girl, in a roomful of women, licking stamps and laughing….”