The song "Hexagons And Other Fun Materials" by Sidney Gish is a reflection on the pressure to excel academically and the desire for external validation. The lyrics express the narrator's wish to learn math again in order to outshine their socially adjusted friends and achieve a high score of 95 percent. The mention of "tiny plastic polygons" alludes to the abstract nature of mathematics and the construction of imaginary shapes. The narrator finds solace in these unreal concepts but struggles with actually understanding and applying them. The song references playing a game called Jumpstart, which further emphasizes the desire to appear smart and knowledgeable. However, the narrator admits to being dumb and not enjoying the process of learning. They are more concerned with others perceiving them as intelligent than actually gaining knowledge. The lyrics indicate a reluctance to continue pursuing math, as the narrator no longer wants to hate themselves or feel the pressure to meet the standards of the Common Core curriculum. They express a desire to study something else that they won't despise. The song includes a brief interlude in which a discussion about squares and rectangles takes place. This conversation serves as a comedic break in the song and reinforces the theme of confusion and frustration with academic subjects. In conclusion, "Hexagons And Other Fun Materials" explores themes of academic pressure, the desire for validation, and personal struggles with understanding and enjoying mathematics.
