Mixtape: Love and War

 Sanai Goree 

Dr. Harris 

Engl 2016 

1 November 2025

 Mixtape: Love and War 

Introduction

This mixtape will demonstrate the overall theme of the course which is binary opposition. Specifically it will highlight the interpersonal relationship in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Hurston. Janie the main character goes through a lot of  self reflection and realizations in the story learning valuable life lessons throughout her life. These lessons include sticking up for yourself, finding your worth, and creating and following your own path in life.  Interpersonal relationships are social connections between two or more people built through communication and self-disclosure. I chose to expand on Janie and Teacakes' relationship for this mixtape. It will show a variety of artist and song selections that describe their relationship.  https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/major-project/pl.u-xlyNqLlukp7XVdZ

Track List and Contributions

  1. “Somebody to Love” by Queen : This was my first song choice for this mixtape because it is a song begging for love and understanding. Before Teacake Janie went through multiple relationships that were negative and not good for her. 

  2. “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” by Olivia Dean : This song was next on the list because once Janie became sexually awakened she was admitted to finding true love. This song is an example of self love and informing that person that you are the right choice for them. 

  3. “There Goes My Baby” by Charlie Wilson : This song is one example of how Janie and Teacakes' relationship was. He treated her like a queen and showed her true companionship. This is the first song that shows how they felt about each other because she met him as a carefree man that she had never seen before. 

  4. “Crazy in Love” (feat. Jay-Z):  This song choice is how Janie felt about teacake. Their relationship was the best that she has ever been in. The town already thought that Janie had a lot going on in her life but she knew that path that she was destined to be on. 

  5. “Prettiest Girl” By Tamar Braxton: In this song Tamar is explaining how no matter what she does in her life her man will not look at her differently. This is how Janie feels about Teacake.

  6. “Butterflies” By Queen Naija:  This song is now transitioning to the more emotional deep side of their relationship. No matter what hardships or challenges they faced she still felt strong about him and their relationship.

  7. “Jealous” By Nick Jonas: This song is now showing one of the challenges that occurred during the duration of their relationship. Teacake started to get jealous about Janie having her own money and not needing to depend on him entirely.

  8. “You and I” By Avant: This duo song shows both povs of a relationship which I think was very special for this mixtape. The lyrics “ I know the things in life are not perfect” captured my attention. 

  9. “No Fear” By Dej Loaf: This song choice was perfect for this situation because they ran away with each other out of emotions and feelings. This song is about trusting that the person that you are with will be able to be with you blindly.

  10. “Every Kind of Way” By H.E.R : After moving to the everglades they were living a way that Janie never had to before so she had to accommodate and learn different ways of living from him. 

  11. “II Most Wanted” By Beyonce and Miley Cyrus : This song is about being a ride or die for your partner. Unfortunately this is the part of the mixtape that starts to show the war part of the binary opposition. 

  12. “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” By Meghan Trainor ft. John legend: This song is about loving the person you are with knowing that tomorrow isn't promised. After the hurricane hit their home reality hit Janie that things were not all sunshine and rainbow. 

  13. “ I Will Always Love You” By Whitney Houston: After the tragic rabid dog Janie and Teacake’s whole relationship changed. He started to feel the effects of the disease and Janie had started thinking of what needed to be done. 

  14. “See You Again” Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth: The last song choice is about grieving for someone that you were close with. Janie had to tragically end his life after he started to show the signs of aggression from the dog bite.

Conclusion: 

This mixtape carefully showed the relationship between Janie and the man that was supposed to be her endgame. She got to experience love finally in her life but with that also came pain. This interpersonal relationship was very important in her life because she got exactly what she had been waiting for but it also came with opposition.  Janie had to be strong and do what was best for her at the end of the day with every relationship she was in. In the end of the story she finally found her voice letting the town and the people around her know that she survived a lot.Her story was known by everyone and she was better because of it. 

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