Art as Protest
- AlexanderRoman
- Nov 10, 2018
- 4 min read
Art is not just reserved for the wealthy elite today. Art is no longer meant for visual pleasure but to deliver a powerful statement for the world.
Historically, art has not always been used for protest whether it be a dance form, music, photography, or paintings. However, as politics continued to dominate the way society lives and shift from one polarizing end to the other, many artists have used their work to spread a message of protest. A good example of this protest is the song "This is America" by rapper/singer Childish Gambino.
His song is a protest against the rampant gun violence that is spreading in the US as the result of a lack in gun laws. His song also deals with the oppression against black individuals in the country and how easily it is to completely overlook or forget that such horrendous acts occur nationwide.
The song and music video were released earlier this year (around May) and contains heavy visual imagery that really narrows down in the issues that Childish tries to get across of violence and neglect against black people, as well as the pacing and music choice for the song. In a nutshell, he represents "America" through the different visual elements chosen in the music video. Many parts of the video contain Gambino dancing and then using acts of violence. This is to show the construct of American society today, how violence is still rampant and a matter of importance in the country but entertainment and music is used to block this; entertainment from the black community (or from any community really) serves as a shield to distract the public and create ignorance overall.
The start of the video/song begins with a melody that sounds similar to African music; the instrumental sounds very cultural with the different vocals in the background. It is very different from the usual formula of music used today so it has a stark contrast. This use of African melody interrupted by a gun shot is representative of the culture of African Americans being interrupted and tainted by guns and violence in the country. Another BEAUTIFUL metaphor is the pants that Gambino uses in the video. The pants are from an old confederate uniform...I don't think that needs much explanation.
In this snapshot of the music video, Gambino is seen dancing with a group of young black kids. Behind them, chaos and destruction is rampant. This juxtaposition is representative of America, how the entertainment business is heavily made up of African Americans and their innovative techniques to entertain the public, but behind the curtain of fun is the real life of how African Americans are treated but the entertainment business casts a shadow on the real life struggles of these individuals. The industry and the youth of today is more center focused on fun and music rather than the crime happening on a daily.
Here is a link to the music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY
Another protester that has an amazing reputation, one of the most famous artists in history, is Michael Jackson.
His song "They Don't Really Care About Us" remains one of the most controversial songs the artist has ever released. Many were led to believe the lyrics used in his song were anti-Semitic. He issued various apologies after initial release of the song and having to rewrite some of the original lyrics. Despite this, it is still quite an empowering and strong song talking about racial discrimination and prejudice against the black community, and even any other minority community that may be affected by any form of discrimination and/or brutality by a higher power such as police force.
There are two music videos that accompany this song; the original is based in Brazil and the second is based in a simulated prison. Although the music video located in Brazil is beautiful and stretches the message just fine, it is the imagery of being incarcerated and real life footage of people being beat by police or other individuals that really creates a more dramatic and heavy tone for the lyrics of the song. "Bang bang, shot dead, Everybody's gone mad" really sets the tone for the imagery of the real life footage. The bang of a gun or heavy, blunt instrument used to hurt someone and everybody gone mad is an unfortunate summary of America and more specifically of the time Michael Jackson wrote this song. That is not to say that this type of abuse still goes on in the US.
"Tell me what has become of my life I have a wife and two children who love me I am the victim of police brutality, now I'm tired of bein' the victim of hate You're rapin' me of my pride oh, for God's sake I look to heaven to fulfill its prophecy Set me free"
In this segment of the song, Michael Jackson expresses his hatred and disappointment of brutality in the country. He is the victim and sympathizes with those that are oppressed, as the dancing of the prisoners in the music video is representative of him knowing and sharing the same life as those that are discriminated. He and them are the same.
Here is a link to the music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1pqi8vjTLY
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