Feature Post Four “Cultural Criticism”

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb by U2 is an album of complexity and art, a harmonious blend of the strains of love and peace, violence and misfortune, faith and the loss of it. Its cultural relevance comes in the form of its applicability; it’s an album that touches on every painful and passionate experience of life, and its broad interpretations allow anyone to relate to it. It’s a manifestation of the ups and downs of life’s daily struggles, and the spiritual struggle of any individual trying to make sense of themselves in a senseless world. It exposes the fact that global culture lacks depth; that people attempt to connect over materials and status, but no one truly understands and utilizes the complexity of human emotion, and the convoluted nature of what it means to be human. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb uses lyrics and sonic elements to communicate the innate desire to be understood, and the universal challenge of trying to find oneself amidst the turmoil of existence.

Every song on How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb touches on a different aspect of life and the human experience. Most notable, however, are the songs “Vertigo”, “Miracle Drug”, “Sometimes You Cant Make it On Your Own”, “One Step Closer”, and “Original of the Species”. Arguably the most popular song from this album, “Vertigo”, is intriguing because it details a total loss of control. It is a song about confusion and being driven absolutely insane by the shitstorm that is life. The lyrics are a jumble of metaphors and ideas and imagery and the guitar riff is hard and fast, creating a desperate intensity. It seems to represent the chaos of the mind as it wrestles with reality, what constitutes reality, what is only perception, and whether or not there is a distinction between any of them. As Bono sings “It’s everything I wish I didn’t know”, the overwhelming nature of life becomes obvious, and it speaks to the subtle cultural ideology that in life, no one knows what they are doing or where they are going; they are merely navigating its obstacles the best they can.

However, the songs “Miracle Drug”, “Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own”, and “One Step Closer” all have similar tones that are very different from that of “Vertigo”. “Miracle Drug” is also about confusion, but in a different way than the frantic, erratic confusion of “Vertigo”. “Miracle Drug” speaks to the melancholy confusion of the individual, the misunderstandings between people and the misunderstanding of oneself. It anonymously begs the subject to free their mind, and implores whether or not there is a “miracle drug” to help inspire this freedom, claiming “I’m not giving up” and “I want a trip inside your head” to “hear the things you haven’t said”. It is a song about personal growth and the mystery of everything that is left unsaid, how it can misconstrue the understanding of an individual. In terms of culture, it exposes the human tendency to 'play it safe' or look for fulfillment in outside sources instead of coming to terms with individuality and unapologetically expressing it.

In the same tone but with a different message, “Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own” reveals the reality that people are frequently unwilling to ask for help. In a cruel world with a general, widespread ‘every man for himself’ mentality, there is a subversive cultural expectation to constantly achieve and excel. “Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own” highlights this fact and the resulting attitudes people often take on because of it, believing that they don’t need anyone else to survive and that the basic human need for love and comfort is a sign of weakness. It challenges this ideology, stating that “you’re telling me and anyone/you’re hard enough” but “you don’t have to put up a fight/you don’t have to always be right”.

The song “One Step Closer” is actually about the death of Bono’s father, and therefore has a more general theme concerning the mystery of what happens when a person dies. It addresses the culturally shared and instilled fear of death and the unknown, seeming to express that this idea should be challenged and death should be treated less as a sentence by society and more as the next mysterious step after life, something that should be contemplated rather than immediately feared. The song is slower and the profound, atmospheric sounds that radiate throughout it immediately create a philosophical sadness surrounding the song that is more than simple misery.

            The last especially extraordinary song on How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is “Original of the Species”, which appears toward the end of the album. It wraps the album up on a more uplifting note, still addressing the existential topics that are U2’s specialty on this album, but in a more positive way. “Original of the Species” is about embracing individuality and being unafraid of uniqueness. Bono declares, “everywhere you go you shout it/you don’t have to be shy about it”, giving this song an empowering vibe that encourages personal pride. It challenges the cultural idea that everyone should strive for perfection, and annihilates the mold of conformity that is often forced upon the population through advertisements, entertainment, and belief systems. It is a radical song in that it encourages love, peace, and acceptance, shattering low-lying cultural ideologies.

             How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is an insightful commentary, reflecting on culture and the ideologies that we share globally as a result of the world we have created through actions, ideas, and inactions. It reveals the illusion of superficiality, pulls back the curtain of all that exists on the surface to uncover the intricacy of the human mind and spirit. It speaks volumes to the individual, as well as to society as a whole, and acts as a mirror to these entities. It is essentially the perfect cultural criticism simply because it applies to every culture that exists.