The name “John Lennon” is nearly universal within the domain of public memory. Whether the memory of him is as simple as knowing he was in The Beatles or as in-depth as participating in Beatlemania itself, John Lennon is likely a name that inspires some type of emotion within any person that reads or hears the name.
But the memory of John Lennon is actually a bit more complicated than the public memory might convey. Many memories surrounding John Lennon are memories of empowerment and peace, especially considering the anthems of his later works, including “Give Peace a Chance,” “Woman,” and, most notably, “Imagine.” The John Lennon that was communicated through these songs specifically, and through most of his musical work, was a peace activist.
But John’s life was not always one of peace. In fact, he was often a turbulent, sometimes violent person, specifically toward some of the most prominent women in his life. Much of this was hidden from the public eye, specifically the ups and downs of his first marriage. Because this information was kept hidden, the public was able to build a narrative of John Lennon in whichever way they wished. And because his music was the most easily accessible way to connect with John, that was the medium selected.
This project hopes to take an all-encompassing look at the life and legacy of John Lennon, with the specific foci on how his memory permeates several aspects of the neighborhood he called home up until his death in 1980 (Upper West Side, New York City, United States) and how the public memory of John Lennon is skewed favorably and often does not take into account the less-public memory of him which is much less favorable.