AnberlinWF - 00 Social Theory

The Structural-Functional Theory - a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

It took a few years for Anberlin to get on their feet and make a name for themselves as a band. They also did some organizing withing the band. They kicked the rhythm guitarist Joey Bruce from the band because he was "all about sex and drugs", and he was leading the band in a direction they didn't want to go. After multiple replacements, Nathan Strayer, from The Mosaic, took over as the rhythm guitarist. Anberlin promotes stability by only keeping members of the band who share similar goals and visions for the band's future.

In many interviews,
The social-conflict theory sees a society full of conflict and inequality that generates change.
Christian often talks about the process of how each song is created. The drums always set the beat first, and then the melody from the guitarists are added. Once the instrumental ensemble is set, Stephen adds his lyrics, singing anything that comes to mind. A song is a complex system consisting of different parts that form one unified sound.

The Social-Conflict Theory - a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change.

The Social-Conflict Theory states that society places men in positions of power over women. In the same way, it could be argued that women hold power over men in terms of relationships. In the song "Dismantle. Repair", Stephen Christian sings about a broken relationship and how he is still clinging to someone who is long gone. "Four weeks felt like years. Since your full attention was all mine." He goes on to sing about the longing he has to reach out to her again, even though he knows it will only end in pain. "Hands like secrets are the hardest thing to keep from you. Lines and phrases like knives. Your words can cut me through." Through this, you can see that he is at an unfair advantage as she still holds power over his emotions.

In Anberlin's song "Audrey, Start the Revolution!", Stephen Christian encourages children and the next generation to be the change for the future. He wants the young to not feel oppressed by their elders, and to bring fresh and new ideas to the ever-changing turmoil of the world.

The Symbolic-Interaction Theory - a framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals.

Over the years, society has come to view most songs as being about love and relationships. In Anberlin's song "Hello Alone," Stephen Christian sings about lonliness and depression. "Is this where the interstate ends? In coastal towns like this. Waiting for my world to cave under." One would assume that he is singing about losing someone he loved and how he feels
Songs like this one are usually about the qualities of love, which society as a whole can relate to.
that he is all alone. However, songs aren't necessarily always about losing a girlfriend or boyfriend. This song could be about the loss of a friend, or the death of a close family member. Because many people within society place a high value on having a "special someone," society as a whole tends to view love as a major topic in many songs.
For Anberlin's new album, "Dark is the Way, Light is a Place", each member of the band had worked extensively for hours every day to produce the unique sound of the end album. This can be likened to society because each member of society is part of the "band" trying to create a successful end product.