The following presentation shows a modern theorist of religion (Marx) and how he might comment on the typicality of Christian belief as it is today. The argument centers around illusory and real happiness, as well as how religion can easily become the opium of people. Links to any extra visual aid are presented on the second slide.

1. I’VE GOT MY HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
BY: CAYLA BERSCHEID
STUDENT OF UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA

2. LINK TO VIDEO AND LYRICS
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
gtXEASm55zg
 https://genius.com/Rachel-bloom-
ive-got-my-head-in-the-clouds-lyrics
 Please click on the first link above,
which will guide you to the YouTube
video that already provides lyrics.
The second link will provide lyrics
only and is not needed, but can be
used as a helpful tool for further
analysis.

3. CONTEXT OF THE VIDEO AND THE SONG ITSELF
 This song is from the CW show, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, featured in Season 3, Episode 2: To Josh, With Love.
 The character portrayed in the video is Josh Chan, a man seeking to become a priest. But… why?
 At the end of season 2 (Episode 13: Can Josh Take a Leap of Faith?), the main character, Rebecca, and Josh are preparing
for their wedding. Rebecca, through all her scheming, feels that her answer to happiness will be a marriage to Josh Chan,
a boy who she has loved since 16. The show makes great use of spectatorship and manipulates the audience for the
majority of season 1 and 2 by idolizing Josh Chan through Rebecca’s point of view, and it isn’t until season 3 that the show
really drives the point that Josh is just one big man-baby.
 But once again, why is Josh attempting to become a priest? Josh left Rebecca at the altar without any notice to her or
anyone else. Throughout season 1 and 2, Josh had been in three relationships (including the one with Rebecca), each one
happening almost right after the other. So right before season 2 ended, Josh got cold feet and questioned why he always
ran into the arms of other women when he faced problems in life. Was it so that he does not feel sadness? Maybe he just
wished his life to be simple and unchallenged? Ultimately, he thinks that the answer to all of his problems is to renounce
women and become a priest.

4. HOW KARL MARX AND JOSH CHAN COLLIDE
 As stated by both Prof. Bugyis and Karl Marx’s essay, “Religious suffering is at the same time an expression of
real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the
sentiment of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. The
abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of men, is a demand for their real happiness. The call to abandon
their illusions about their condition is a call to abandon a condition which requires illusions” (54).
 Marx basically states that religion is the opium (both considered a narcotic as well as an
analgestic pain reliever) of people. He further claims that religion is currently thought of as
bringing people ‘illusory happiness’ when it should really be encouraging ‘real happiness’.
 Within the context of Josh Chan running away from his marriage, and, incidentally, his
problems to find himself within the Christian fellowship, the action both shows the effects
of the opium metaphor as well as Marx’s concept of illusory happiness.

5. WHY DO PEOPLE ENGAGE IN THIS RELIGIOUS PHENOMENA? ESCAPISM
 “Reality was getting so complicated; All the drama was getting insane; But now I’ve given my life to Mr. Jesus Christ; So
I’m speeding down the carpool lane; God’s my E-Z pass!” ~Josh Chan.
 Marx believes that people use religion – in this context, Christian faith – as a way to escape the hardships of everyday
living. With his comments, Marx’s arguments could easily apply to any aspect of Christian belief (confession, heaven,
etc.). His use of the opium metaphor allows for an interpretation that could suggest a type of pain reliever (as it is its
medicinal purpose) to individuals seeking it. The opium (spirituality) can give temporary happiness and relief, which
would reflect the idea of illusory happiness. But how does real happiness for individuals and society come to be? Can it be
done through religion?
 Josh Chan fits this model well in the sense that he is using the entirety of the Christian belief to absolve himself of his past
indiscretions. Josh’s reality of finding Christianity is basically his being able to find an escape from all his problems
without having to 1) deal with them and 2) reflect on them (Josh LITERALLY runs away from his wedding ceremony to the
church). Basically, Josh wants to become a priest to both escape his problems and to escape himself and the problems he
creates (“A changed man”). He is engaging in temporary happiness and (unreasonably) hopes that it will become real
happiness. So, how does real happiness come to be for Josh? Can it be done through religion?

6. WHY IS THIS PHENOMENA COMPELLING? WHY DO PEOPLE DO IT?
 According to woodwardenenglish.com, the meaning behind the idiom, “I’ve got my head in the clouds,” means, “To be
out of touch with the everyday world and to be unrealistic because of it. To be living in a fantasy (world). To have
impractical ideas or dreams. Sometimes the person doesn’t know the facts or reality of the situation.”
 Here’s where Marx’s idea of illusory happiness comes into play and how the Christian faith may be misconstrued. It seems
that a lot of people who convert into or follow the Christian faith may be doing so for the wrong reasons. Illusory
happiness plays into the idea of absolving oneself and having one’s head in the clouds.
 “When things get scary; Just say ten Hail Marys” ~Josh Chan.
 I think that everyone can admit to acting as Josh Chan did, at least once and at least as a first reaction. There’s a type of
beauty in escapism which allows people to not have to worry about their problems, whether they are wrong or right to
do so. And it’s typically the first reaction that people will turn to, whether it is to ignore it or completely run away from
the problem. But who can find true happiness and absolution from this? Although facing the issue might not be pleasing
at the time of doing so, it really benefits the long-term happiness of someone.
 This is not to say that I think that all use of religion is characterized as escapism or illusory happiness. It is when religion is
being used as an excuse to discharge oneself from their crimes or guilt that it is being done for the wrong reason. If one is
scared, they ought to face their fear opposed to saying ten Hail Marys. Religion and finding one’s spirituality should be
done out of a sense of curiosity and reasoning so as to fill the sense of real happiness.

7. CITATIONS
 Bloom, Rachel , et al. “I've Got My Head in the Clouds.” Genius, Genius Media Group Inc. , 20 Oct. 2017,
genius.com/Rachel-bloom-ive-got-my-head-in-the-clouds-lyrics.
 CWtelevision. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | I've Got My Head In The Clouds | The CW.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Oct.
2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtXEASm55zg.
 “I've Got My Head In The Clouds.” Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Wikia,
cxg.wikia.com/wiki/I%27ve_Got_My_Head_In_The_Clouds.
 Marx, Karl . Marx-Engels Reader. Edited by Robert C Tucker , 2nd ed., Norton and Company , 1978.
 Woodward. “Have your head in the clouds – Idiom Meaning.” Woodward English, Woodward English , 22 Sept.
2017, www.woodwardenglish.com/have-your-head-in-the-clouds-idiom-meaning/.