From Aretha Franklin to Rhianna, the industry has been thriving on bops provided by talented black artists. Black music has its roots in “Spirituals” sung by African slaves laboring in plantation fields and were often about suffering. This theme is a continuity in many of the songs created by black artists today because suffering is a present reality for many of their non-white listeners. Today, we see a contradictory story emerge of black suffering in which there is a narrative of hope for a better future and another of hopelessness for the world. This is America by Childish Gambino (2018) expresses hopelessness for the future while APES**T by the Carters (2018) (otherwise known as Beyonce and Jay Z) celebrates hope for black success. Despite the common theme of black suffering and solidarity, these music videos project different messages.
Black music artists often feature a nod to their roots and culture through fashion. Childish Gambino and Jay Z both wear gold chains (Glover, 2018). Beyonce also adorns herself with gold chains and African style dressing (Beyonce, 2018). Having a gold chain is a rite of passage for many African Americans. Gold chains aren’t just a symbol of wealth, but also of the African diaspora. The Gold Coast in West Africa is full of riches and there’s tales of the African King Mansa Musa going on a journey giving away gold. Black elements like these are common to have videos so black viewers can relate and feel empowered.
Harvard professor Teju Cole (2019) wrote an online article explaining how cameras aren’t neutral because they can reveal race and power struggles. Although scenes in music videos aren’t exactly photographs, his theory can still be applied. We see this manifest in This is America when the camera zooms out and focuses on Gambino being surrounded by dancing black children (Glover, 2018). In the background we see mass chaos going on while they just dance along (Glover, 2018). This scene reflects how black children use black music artists to distract themselves from the mass chaos going on around them. Cole’s theory of race and power manifests itself here because black children gain a sense of toxic security through music as shown by the camera focusing on them around Gambino. There’s a similar use of the camera in APES**T when the camera goes back and forth between scenes to show a poor black couple and then Beyonce and Jay Z dressed in white (Beyonce, 2018). This contrast in scenes tells the story of overcoming the black struggle as a couple. This shows the power of black love which is so rarely depicted in the media as a way to empower black audiences.
Scholar Stuart Hall (1997) coined the idea of intertextuality meaning that texts or images can communicate with each other (p. 232). Both videos use intertextuality when they make references to current events. In APES**T there is a scene where a man is interpretive dancing as if he was chained and then the camera cuts to a painting of black hands being tied by a rope (Beyonce, 2018). Later, we see young black men kneel which is in reference to NFL players like Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem for black lives (Beyonce, 2018). If we contrast these two scenes we see that although America has a long way to go, there has been progress in that black men are standing up for themselves. In the same way, similar elements arise in This is America when one of the first opening scenes is a dead man with a bag over his head being dragged away echoing the lynchings from the Jim Crow era (Glover, 2018). Childish Gambino makes various facial features and poses that resemble the popular violent stereotype of Jim Crow (Glover, 2018). There’s a scene where Gambino shoots a church choir which is another reference to the Charleston Church shooting from 2015 (Glover, 2018). Gambino also includes various references to police brutality by including cops being violent in the background (Glover, 2018). The video ends with Gambino running away while being chased which also bares a resembles to runaway slaves escaping their captors (Glover, 2018). These scenes all show how little we have come from the Jim Crow era since many of the current events eerily resemble past events.
Black solidarity manifests itself by depicting black women supporting and comforting black men through their struggle. In This is America we see SZA a talented black woman admiring Gambino as he dances on top of a car (Glover, 2018). In APES**T we see a black woman comforting and kissing her black boyfriend (Beyonce, 2018). There’s also a scene of a black woman lovingly combing a black man’s hair (Beyonce, 2018). Black women standing by black men is a common theme in these videos as a message that both parties need each other while struggling.
References
Beyonce. [The Carters]. (2018, Jun 16). APES**T [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbMqWXnpXcA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbMqWXnpXcA
Cole, T. (2019, Feb 6). When the Camera Was a Weapon of Imperialism. (And When It Still Is). The New York Times, Photography. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/magazine/when-the-camera-was-a-weapon-of-
imperialism-and-when-it-still-is.html
imperialism-and-when-it-still-is.html
Glover, D. [Childish Gambino]. (2018, May 5). This is America [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY
Hall, S. (1997). Chapter 4: The Spectacle of the ‘Other’. Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices (pp. 225-249). Newbery, CA: Sage
This commentary was brilliant and extremely insightful - I would have never thought to connect these music videos, but, after this comparison, I can’t believe it didn’t come to mind. What stood out to me was the idea of using real-life events relevant to the black community in each of their music videos as a way to comfort black youth that may be watching as well as opening the eyes of blissfully ignorant white viewers. As celebrities, people like Beyonce, Jay Z and Childish Gambino have a devoted audience that follow their every move. Their power over their audience is described by Marshall as “a parallel form of rationalization and the irrational”, drawing the comparison that “like the prophet’s power, the celebrity’s formative power rests with the people as an expression of popular culture and social will.” With said power, celebrities are given the voice and “stage” in which they can share and raise awareness to causes that matter to them. In videos like “APES**T” and “This Is America”, they used their tool to ensure that the suffering of black Americans was seen and heard. This is extremely powerful and cannot be overlooked. It is incredible to me that something so subtle like the quick allusions in the videos to Colin Kaepernick and to the shooting in Charleston can generate such meaningful conversations. Although we must be wary of celebrity activism and their downfalls, we must not overlook how influential their voices can be in creating greater social change.
ReplyDeleteMarshall, P. D. (2014). Tools for the analysis of the celebrity as a form of cultural power. Pp. 51-76 in Celebrity and Power. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
- Olivia de Rezende
DeleteThis commentary was brilliant and extremely insightful - I would have never thought to connect these music videos, but, after this comparison, I can’t believe it didn’t come to mind. What stood out to me was the idea of using real-life events relevant to the black community in each of their music videos as a way to comfort black youth that may be watching as well as opening the eyes of blissfully ignorant white viewers. As celebrities, people like Beyonce, Jay Z and Childish Gambino have a devoted audience that follow their every move. Their power over their audience is described by Marshall as “a parallel form of rationalization and the irrational”, drawing the comparison that “like the prophet’s power, the celebrity’s formative power rests with the people as an expression of popular culture and social will.” With said power, celebrities are given the voice and “stage” in which they can share and raise awareness to causes that matter to them. In videos like “APES**T” and “This Is America”, they used their tool to ensure that the suffering of black Americans was seen and heard. This is extremely powerful and cannot be overlooked. It is incredible to me that something so subtle like the quick allusions in the videos to Colin Kaepernick and to the shooting in Charleston can generate such meaningful conversations. Although we must be wary of celebrity activism and their downfalls, we must not overlook how influential their voices can be in creating greater social change.
ReplyDeleteMarshall, P. D. (2014). Tools for the analysis of the celebrity as a form of cultural power. Pp. 51-76 in Celebrity and Power. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
I absolutely loved this blog post! The premise that the music industry thrives off of talented black artists is nothing new to society and goes back to the creation of jazz music in the early 20th century. The theme of suffering being congruent with the experience of black Americans is not only a reality in music but literary works, which was depicted by authors like Zora Neale Hurston in the 20th century. I found the concept of having a gold chain as a rite of passage symbolizing wealth and the African diaspora very interesting because it had never been brought to my attention before. I think ‘black music’ (music created by black artists), is often disregarded as aggressive rap but you do a great job of highlighting the positives of the category that many nonblack listeners are quick to discredit. Your labeling of music as a form of toxic security was also insightful because music often acts as a refuge that distracts people from the issues within their lives or society as a whole. These high profile celebrities have a responsibility with such a large platform and they are using it to develop a message. The beauty of their hidden messages is that they are talking to the people who would understand them without need for an explanation. They are using their influence to make sure cries of suffering are heard to continue a dialogue. I also liked your description of the role of black women in black solidarity and wish you explored that deeper. Historically, black women are the most overlooked category of people in the U.S, but you start a conversation of their importance even in supporting back men. - Ashley Oden
ReplyDeleteAshley, your blog post was extremely well-written and insightful. I am familiar with both music videos and I believe the manner in which you spoke about and connected the two was very well done. The “This is America” video surfaced at a pivotal time last year in which the US suffered mass shooting after mass shooting. At this time, many people all over the world demanded for common-sense gun reform and the music video heart-wrenchingly highlighted the epidemic of gun-violence in America. I think you did a great job analyzing Childish Gambino’s video and explaining the message that certain scenes were trying to convey. Similarly, you did a great job in breaking down the “APES**T” video and explaining the message Jay Z and Beyonce attempted to convey. As you stated, Teju Cole once spoke about the relationship of photography and violence. I would like to add that Cole believed photographs of suffering were meant to elicit action, and both music videos displayed certain images that were meant to empower the black community. It is important to note that as celebrities, Beyonce, Jay Z, and Childish Gambino all have large platforms in which millions of people pay close attention to the message they attempt to spread. As you mentioned, I think all three celebrities did an excellent job in embracing their race and culture, as well as addressing the history of and struggles people of color have faced for thousands of years. Your post reminded me of Khutoretsky’s article in which she discussed how celebrity activism is turning mainstream; many celebrities are found using their platform to demand action. An example of this is “when Michelle Obama took to Twitter to raise awareness for kidnapped Nigerian girls, the world paid attention” (Khutoretsky 1). I believe it is important that celebrities use their platforms to promote positive change.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I absolutely loved everything about your blog post!
- Madison Leal