Just to set it straight, this blog is for class so these posts will be class-related for the most part.
This week our assignment is to take a piece of media that relates to pop culture and analyze it and define what's going on with it. I chose to pick apart Kanye West's "The New Workout Plan" which dropped a couple years ago. Now, understand no matter what I say about it, this is a hilarious music video and I don't think anyone can disagree with me when I say Kanye West was The Shit back in the day. So to refresh ya'll's memories, here's the video. (clean)
After I listen to that, the first thing that pops into my head is the notion of how we value body image in our culture today. Kanye makes references to ideal women looking like Hally Berry and tempting girls with the reward of maybe getting boned by Mr. West himself someday if they can get that fit, toned body. When those girls give their testimonies about how Kanye's workout plan has shot them straight to the top of the social ladder, I'm pretty sure there's a message there. To the weak-minded, easily-influenced teen girl, the hopes of someday shopping on Rodeo Drive definitely has an impact. I think Kanye's intent of this song was to encourage girls to "twerk their bodies" so they'll be more appealing in general. He uses the visual style of a television commercial to make his song come off as a product that people should want. By encouraging girls to better themselves according to the standards of society today, he dismisses laziness and apathy as negative behavior that yields no reward. Girls who work at the mall for the rest of their lives, have no chance of ever scoring an NBA player as THIER man. Of course, this is somewhat exaggerated, but c'mon, it's Kanye West. This video reflects not only Kanye's personal style of presentation, but also fits in with hip hop's idea of greatness through work and passion that ultimately results in self fulfillment. It's been that way since the beginning. Whenever I feel down on my luck, one listen to Nas' Illmatic strengthens my spirit and puts me back on my feet. Although a lot of rap/pop/whatever is becoming lazier and lazier in terms of lyrical content and musical production, it nonetheless still embodies an idea of greatness and superiority that one can achieve any number of ways, which when you think about it, sounds strikingly similar to the concept of the American Dream. If you listen to the other work Kanye's put out, (specifically pre-808s & Heartbreak) you'll notice how Kanye makes more observations of pop culture rather than trying to directly drive new ideals to his audience, which makes his songs a bit more intelligent in terms of content compared to someone like Soulja Boi. case in point: CLICK HERE.
I'm glad you all liked MSTRKRFT. Staying on the whole hip hop thing, if you guys want some fresh stuff, these guys have some soul. Their album is amazing.
The Tones - Dreamtalk
www.myspace.com/thetonesblacktierecords
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
response to mike moore and mr. our schools suck.
Alright, I give Michael Moore credit for being the outspoken person he is. He's got an opinion and he loves digging up dirt on people and rattling off a bunch of statistics about how screwed up stuff is, but cut to the chase, dude. I get it, America is a country of ignorant, lazy idiots who don't give a damn about much. Does anyone disagree?
I guess those who would disagree with that claim are doing so only because they're ignorant. You feel me?
Michael Moore is not awesome by any means. Fahrenheit 911 is a bunch of speeches cut and spliced together. Most if not all of them are taken out of context and re-worked so it fits in with his message. It's another stupid documentary that spins some topic into something the reader should BELIEVE in by the time it's over. As far as what he said here, he's right about the message he's trying to get across and it's interesting and startling, but I don't think anyone gives a hoot about doing anything about it.
Think about what the average American is like today. They've been divorced, have a bunch of kids to deal with and about to foreclose on the home the bank shouldn't have given them a loan for in the first place. Don't forget about those credit cards you've maxed out and throw away the bills for every month! What motivation do these people have to learn about our world and how to make it better if they can't even sustain themselves in society? There is very little that makes America great, and the things Moore brought up in the text are definitely a testament to that.
As for the teacher who wrote about how crappy our schools are: NO S##T, MAN.
This guy is cool because he tells it how it is-- unlike almost every other teacher I've come across in my time. Not only did I find myself agreeing with him as I read this, but I also related to it. If the way education is conducted and introduced into our society does not undergo an extreme alteration in order to adapt to the changing social climate in our country, we're pretty much screwed. Disagree?
let's brighten the mood with some disco.
MSTRKRFT - Work On You
I guess those who would disagree with that claim are doing so only because they're ignorant. You feel me?
Michael Moore is not awesome by any means. Fahrenheit 911 is a bunch of speeches cut and spliced together. Most if not all of them are taken out of context and re-worked so it fits in with his message. It's another stupid documentary that spins some topic into something the reader should BELIEVE in by the time it's over. As far as what he said here, he's right about the message he's trying to get across and it's interesting and startling, but I don't think anyone gives a hoot about doing anything about it.
Think about what the average American is like today. They've been divorced, have a bunch of kids to deal with and about to foreclose on the home the bank shouldn't have given them a loan for in the first place. Don't forget about those credit cards you've maxed out and throw away the bills for every month! What motivation do these people have to learn about our world and how to make it better if they can't even sustain themselves in society? There is very little that makes America great, and the things Moore brought up in the text are definitely a testament to that.
As for the teacher who wrote about how crappy our schools are: NO S##T, MAN.
This guy is cool because he tells it how it is-- unlike almost every other teacher I've come across in my time. Not only did I find myself agreeing with him as I read this, but I also related to it. If the way education is conducted and introduced into our society does not undergo an extreme alteration in order to adapt to the changing social climate in our country, we're pretty much screwed. Disagree?
let's brighten the mood with some disco.
MSTRKRFT - Work On You
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
my hood: trying to survive in the 715.
Yo, I'm Sam. What up.
This video best represents my neighborhood growing up. I would estimate 90-92% of residents living within a half mile of my house are over 70 years old. When they had enough courage to go outside, stuff like this would happen to them all the time.
My next door neighbor is 93 years old and fought in the Battle of the Buldge during WWII. During the summer, he mows the lawn every other day and washes his Ford Taurus off with a hose every time he gets back from driving it. From what I understand, he's an excellent at card games and has an inner ear problem from the war.
This video best represents my neighborhood growing up. I would estimate 90-92% of residents living within a half mile of my house are over 70 years old. When they had enough courage to go outside, stuff like this would happen to them all the time.
My next door neighbor is 93 years old and fought in the Battle of the Buldge during WWII. During the summer, he mows the lawn every other day and washes his Ford Taurus off with a hose every time he gets back from driving it. From what I understand, he's an excellent at card games and has an inner ear problem from the war.
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