When thinking about the world we live in, it saddens me to not see as much passion about changing the issues we face as a country. Our voices are silent in comparison to the volume at which we, as a nation, has spoken in before.
In the 70′s, finding a radical, liberal, and outspoken artist in the media was easy. At the time, the country was in turmoil. Protest were a regular occurance due to the way our government treated us as citizens and Vietnam, and musicians and other artists alike expressed their political frustration through their art. These artists were successful in conveying that message and getting it out to the public. The public loved it because they agreed. Many people were united because of their political views and because of the music and the art that drew them together.
Today, the media plays a big role in the way protesters are viewed. Media tends to cover protesters in a negative light because times have changed. My generation lacks the passion and drive to bring about change and have our voices heard that the generation of the 70′s had so much of.
Celebrities in the public eye today tend to be move conservative in their passions than the celebrities of the 70′s. Their are few exceptions that take that extra step and do what they really feel and express it to the world.
A recent example of this would be the release of r&B artist, Eyrkah Badu’s recent video for her single, “Window Seat.” This video sparked the debate of how far is too far with artistic expression instead of sparking the true question it was meant to spark. She questions our liberity, our ability to think for ourselves, and our ability to dare to be ourselves. Free ourselves from the chains of society.
The video was shot guerilla style in the Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Recognize the name? She shot her video in the same plaza John F. Kennedy was assainated. There was no camera crew or any preparation prior to the shoot.
One cameraman follows Badu as she walks around the plaza as she strips down to nothing in broad daylight in a populated plaza. When she is finally completely naked, she is shot by an unseen assaisain, falls to the ground in slow motion, and bleeds out a message, “Group think,” from her head.
Badu claims her video is a commentary on self acceptance and breaking away from group think. Group think is a type of thought that makes people think for the whole of the group which often causes them to agree with something them are against to avoid conflict. The video was simply to convey that message.
Badu, who is a Dallas native herself, faces criminal charges of public indecency, which she pleads not guilty to. An unnamed citizen filed a formal complaint with the Dallas Police. She chose Dealey Plaza because it is one of the busiet places in town. Badu was fined $500 dollars for the video by the city of Dallas.
“Window Seat” sparked quite a heated debate amongst many people in my generation, but it didn’t spark thewrong debate. Though she was fined $500 for this stunut, many argue that it was worth it due to the artistic message Badu was trying to convey.
Where is our passion as a nation for out nation? Badu sees the world for the way it is and only stood up against one of the main causes of the state of this country. It is one of the reasons why we are not represented as individuals. Group think takes individuality away which is what our democratic way of government is based on.
Group think keeps us from asking questions. This is why Badu’s video was received the way it was. She is conveying an artistic and politically aware message to my generation. My generation is missing the message because the media has shifted our focus away from the main point of the video. Break away from group think.
Instead of having arguements about whether or not she should be punished, the arguement should have been focused on what is she trying to say and what if she’s right. My generation needs to look for solutions instead of critizing those of us who are seeking for a solution, for a change.
Eyrkah Badu is a singer, a songwriter, a poet, a artist, and a modern day activist. She has the passion reminescent of the 60′s and 70′s. The passion that caused protests to break out across the country. Protests that help bring about the end of racial segregation, end of oppresion of many groups, and the end of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Our country needs that passion. We need to bring about change. our voices need to be heard.
http://www.bet.com/music/videos/artist/badu_erykah/44348
