A Story in Two Keys: Finding Class and Culture in a Pop Song | 雙重調式的故事: 在流行歌曲中尋找階級與文化

What can a 1980s pop song teach us about class, ambition, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we’re allowed to want? In this reflective, multi-part video series, literary translator and cultural storyteller Shelly Bryant takes us deep into Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” — not just as a catchy tune, but as a layered cultural artifact. With warmth, insight, and personal memory, she unpacks how a single lyric — “I bet her momma never told her why I’m gonna try for an uptown girl” — opens up a world of hidden meaning. From race and romance in small-town 1980s America to enduring questions of class aspiration, social boundaries, and desire, this series invites you to see what a pop song can reveal — about society, and about ourselves. 💡 You’ll explore: Two competing readings of the song’s narrative — romance or conquest? How class and race shaped personal interpretation across generations Why stories work on us even when we don’t fully understand them A metaphor for meaning that will reshape how you read anything 🎥 Includes: 5 video essays (20–30 min total) 1 bonus video on reading & interpretation Replay of a live session on the language of "Uptown Girl" Whether you grew up humming along to Uptown Girl or you’re hearing it for the first time, this is your invitation to slow down, listen closely — and read like a river. 一首80年代的流行歌曲，能否揭示關於階級、野心，以及我們如何編織「愛的可能性」的深層敘事？ 在這部充滿思辨與個人色彩的多段式影片系列中，文學譯者與文化說書人雪莉·布萊恩（Shelly Bryant）帶領我們深入剖析比利·喬（Billy Joel）的經典之作〈Uptown Girl〉。這不只是輕快上口的旋律，更是一首文化意涵豐富的作品。而一句看似輕描淡寫的歌詞 —— 「我敢說她媽媽從沒告訴她，為什麼我要追求一個上城女孩」 —— 卻打開了通往另一層故事的大門。 從1980年代美國小鎮的跨種族戀愛禁忌，到今日仍未解決的階級焦慮與社會邊界，本系列邀請你重新傾聽那些被包裝在旋律中的文化訊息。 💡 你將探索： 歌詞背後的雙重解讀 —— 真愛還是征服？ 種族與階級如何影響不同世代的理解與共鳴 為什麼故事即使無法被完全理解，依然深深影響我們 一個關於閱讀與詮釋的隱喻，將改變你看待文本的方式 🎥 本系列包含： 5支主題影片（總時長約20–30分鐘） 1支延伸思考影片：「像河流一樣閱讀」 1場直播講解：〈Uptown Girl〉的語言解析 無論你是否曾經在青春時哼唱〈Uptown Girl〉，或是今天才第一次聽見，這是一場文化與自我閱讀的邀請 —— 讓我們慢下來，細細聆聽，學會像河流一樣閱讀世界。