Report on the Socio-Cultural Impact of “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals
This report analyzes the HBO documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” focusing on themes relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The film chronicles the latter half of musician Billy Joel’s life and career, providing case studies applicable to several global development targets.
Promoting Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
The documentary provides a candid examination of health challenges, aligning with the objectives of SDG 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Key Health-Related Narratives
- Physical Trauma and Career Resilience: The narrative commences in 1982, detailing a motorcycle accident that resulted in a broken wrist, posing a significant threat to Joel’s career as a pianist and demonstrating resilience in the face of physical adversity.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse: The film addresses Joel’s long-term struggles with depression and alcoholism, particularly following financial ruin and the dissolution of his marriage to Christie Brinkley. This highlights the critical importance of mental health support systems.
- Chronic Health Conditions: Although completed prior to his recent diagnosis, the documentary’s context includes Joel’s subsequent public disclosure of normal pressure hydrocephalus, underscoring the ongoing health challenges faced by individuals, even those with public profiles.
Advocacy for Reduced Inequalities and Justice (SDG 10 & SDG 16)
A significant portion of the documentary details Joel’s use of his platform to advocate for social justice and stand against discrimination, directly contributing to the aims of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
Stance Against Intolerance
- Confronting Historical Injustice: The film explores Joel’s family history in Nazi Germany and his reconnection with his father, providing a personal context for his deeply held convictions.
- Public Statement Against Supremacy: A key event highlighted is Joel’s decision to wear a yellow Jewish star during a 2017 concert at Madison Square Garden. This act was a direct response to a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
- Explicit Condemnation: Joel is quoted making an unequivocal statement against Nazism in response to political rhetoric, asserting his identity and rejecting hate speech: “The Nazis are not good people, period… No matter what, I will always be a Jew.”
Fostering Sustainable Economic Activity and Community Resilience (SDG 8 & SDG 11)
The documentary illustrates principles of decent work, economic resilience, and sustainable community engagement, reflecting the goals of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Career Longevity and Economic Impact
- Financial Crisis and Recovery: The narrative covers Joel’s bankruptcy resulting from financial mismanagement by his former brother-in-law and manager. His subsequent efforts to rebuild his career through new albums and extensive touring serve as a case study in economic recovery and the importance of transparent financial oversight.
- Madison Square Garden Residency: The decade-long, 100-show sellout residency at Madison Square Garden is presented as a model for a sustainable career in the arts. This long-term engagement provided stable work for his band and crew and contributed significantly to the cultural and economic life of New York City.
Community Engagement and Disaster Relief
The impetus for the MSG residency was Joel’s participation in the “121212” relief concert following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. This act demonstrates the role of artists in fostering community resilience and mobilizing support for climate-related disaster recovery, a key component of SDG 11.
Exploring Gender Dynamics and Partnerships (SDG 5 & SDG 17)
The film offers insights into Joel’s personal and professional partnerships, touching upon themes of gender equality (SDG 5) and collaborative efforts (SDG 17).
Role of Women in Joel’s Life and Career
- Marital Partnerships: The documentary features commentary from ex-wives Christie Brinkley and Katie Lee, as well as his current wife, Alexis Roderick. Their perspectives provide a multi-faceted view of partnership, influence, and the personal costs of a demanding public career.
- Agency and Influence: Christie Brinkley is credited with discovering the financial mismanagement that led to Joel’s bankruptcy. Her role highlights the importance of equal partnership and agency within a relationship.
Partnerships for the Goals
The film features commentary from numerous music luminaries, including Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and Sting. These collaborations and mutual respect among artists underscore the power of partnership (SDG 17) in creating cultural value and, as seen in the “121212” concert, achieving humanitarian goals.
Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The article, while focusing on a documentary about musician Billy Joel, touches upon several themes that directly connect to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The following SDGs are addressed:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article discusses Joel’s personal health struggles, including mental health, addiction, and physical ailments.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: It details his long and successful career, but also financial ruin and the challenges of managing a career in the arts.
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article highlights Joel’s public stance against religious and racial intolerance.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: It mentions a natural disaster and the community’s response through a relief effort.
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article touches upon themes of justice related to financial fraud and promoting peace by standing against violent ideologies.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:
- Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
- Target 3.4: Reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. This is relevant as the article mentions Joel’s struggles with “depression” and his “recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus,” both of which fall under this target’s scope of mental health and non-communicable diseases.
- Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol. The article explicitly states that Joel’s career moves “led to severe drinking” and mentions his “struggles with addiction” and “alcoholism.”
- Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
- Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The article describes Joel’s long and productive career, citing his “record-setting residency at Madison Square Garden” and “100 sellouts over 10 years” as evidence of sustained, productive work in the cultural sector.
- Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… religion or other status. This is addressed when the article describes how Joel “wore a yellow Jewish star on his suit during a 2017 concert following a white supremacist rally” to protest intolerance and assert his identity, stating, “No matter what, I will always be a Jew.”
- Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
- Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and… decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters. The article references the impact of a natural disaster, noting, “After Hurricane Sandy decimated parts of Long Island in 2012.”
- Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resilience to disasters. The community response to Hurricane Sandy, where Joel participated in the “‘121212’ relief concert at Madison Square Garden,” is a direct example of building community resilience after a disaster.
- Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
- Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms. This target is relevant to the part of the article that describes how Joel’s manager was “spending his fortune indiscriminately,” which led to Joel’s “bankruptcy.” This is an example of financial fraud and a failure of justice for the artist.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, the article provides several qualitative and event-based indicators that can measure or demonstrate actions towards the identified targets:
- For Target 3.4 & 3.5 (Health and Well-being): The indicators are the explicit mentions of Joel’s health conditions: “candid assessments of other struggles he’s endured, including depression, bankruptcy and alcoholism” and “Joel’s recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.” The documentary itself, by discussing these issues, serves as an indicator of promoting awareness.
- For Target 8.5 (Decent Work): The indicators of productive employment are the specific career achievements mentioned: performing “100 sellouts over 10 years” during his “record-setting residency at Madison Square Garden.” The mention of “bankruptcy” due to mismanagement serves as a negative indicator, highlighting challenges to securing fair earnings.
- For Target 10.2 (Reduced Inequalities): A key indicator is the specific action taken by Joel: he “wore a yellow Jewish star on his suit during a 2017 concert.” His public statement against the President’s comments that there are “‘very fine people on both sides'” is another clear indicator of promoting inclusion and fighting discrimination.
- For Target 11.5 & 11.b (Sustainable Communities): The primary indicator is the community’s response to a disaster. The article mentions the “‘121212’ relief concert at Madison Square Garden” as a specific event organized to support the community after “Hurricane Sandy decimated parts of Long Island.”
- For Target 16.5 (Justice): The indicator is the specific instance of financial crime mentioned in the article: “his manager, Frank Weber… was spending his fortune indiscriminately,” which directly relates to corruption and fraud.
4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators Identified in the Article |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.4 Promote mental health and well-being.
3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. |
Mention of struggles with “depression.” Diagnosis of “normal pressure hydrocephalus.” Mention of “severe drinking,” “alcoholism,” and “struggles with addiction.” |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.5 Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. | Sustained career as one of the “preeminent musicians of the past 50 years.” Achieved “100 sellouts over 10 years” at a “record-setting residency.” Negative indicator: “bankruptcy” due to financial mismanagement. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.2 Promote social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of religion. | Action: “wore a yellow Jewish star on his suit during a 2017 concert following a white supremacist rally.” Statement: “No matter what, I will always be a Jew.” Statement against Nazism: “the Nazis are not good people, period.” |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.5 Reduce the number of people affected by disasters.
11.b Implement plans for resilience to disasters. |
Event: “Hurricane Sandy decimated parts of Long Island in 2012.” Response: Participation in the “‘121212’ relief concert at Madison Square Garden” to support the community. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms. | Instance of financial fraud: a manager “spending his fortune indiscriminately,” leading to the artist’s “bankruptcy.” |
Source: aol.com
