On Friday, October 10, 2014, the BGSP Department of Continuing Education hosted “Songs are like Tattoos: Social Critique and Literary Artistry in Joni Mitchell’s Blue.” Dr. Sarah Gates, Associate Professor of English and Chair of the English Department at St. Lawrence University, presented her work on the subject with BGSP faculty Dr. Mara Sanadi Wagner serving as discussant. Members of both the BGSP community and the larger community were treated to a night of live music and lively discussion led by Dr. Gates.
Dr. Gates focused on two aspects of Joni Mitchell’s fourth album, Blue: the narration of the person singing the song, called “Joni” by Dr. Gates, and the producer of the album as a whole, called “Mitchell.” In doing so, Dr. Gates showed the story presented by the sequence of the album as a structure on its own and as a narrative of Joni Mitchell’s life. The overarching story of Blue as shown by Dr. Gates is of a woman who strives for success, and in finding it, recognizes the unfulfilling limitations of it. Mitchell sidestepped some struggles by self-producing her work in an otherwise male dominated field, but she faced other struggles in her personal life, including giving up a child for adoption. Dr. Gates analyzed the symbolism of colors woven throughout the album, tying the colors specifically to the child given up for adoption and to the father of that child. The layout and parallels of the songs on the album demonstrated the many layers that exist between the artist, the voice of the narrator of the album, and those listening to the work.
While the story told in Blue is ultimately one of loss – both loss of people in Mitchell’s life and loss of ideals of fame for herself and her creative work – there is also a story told of finding oneself in the path along the way. Mitchell’s voice, both literally and figuratively, gains strength over the course of the album. Dr. Gates’s analysis and the interaction between her and the group presented the exciting opportunity for a richer understanding of Joni Mitchell’s deep and haunting album.