Keep the Truth Alive was commissioned by the South Australian Public Primary Schools Music Festival 2023. It is song two from the new song cycle ‘World of Tomorrow’, a bold new work addressing the impact of technology on a rapidly changing world.
‘In this crazy, hazy, phasey world’, how do we know what is real, what is true, what is fake and what is news?’ This piece explores the challenges of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation, particularly the dangers of algorithms leading us down the ‘rabbit hole’.
As we learn more about the content selection algorithms on social media platforms, we see the impacts they have on our decisions, our purchases, our self-image, our careers, our friendships and even our reputations. This piece is written through the eyes of young people who are trying to work out what is right and what is wrong, what is age appropriate and what is suitable and not suitable. With so many options to choose from in a world where one can’t ‘unsee’ or ‘undo’ one’s actions, it is important to be aware and cautious when online and not to go down the ‘rabbit hole’.
While we face uncertainty in this online arena, this piece celebrates positive change through awareness and action. It is call to action against hackers, bots, phishing, or deepfakes.
Audio sample courtesy of the South Australian Public Primary Schools Music Festival
We recommend performing the entire song cycle. The other pieces are
Away From the Screen https://stage.pauljarman.com/composition/away-from-the-screen/
Follow My Own Dream https://stage.pauljarman.com/composition/follow-my-own-dream/
This is our World https://stage.pauljarman.com/composition/this-is-our-world/