Wesley Gibson said...
The need or desire to censor our art such that it displays some community sanctioned viewpoint is to me clear evidence that either we feel the need to present a certain image to a hostile outside world, or that we've internalized their thoughts about us to a degree that it restricts our intellectual freedom.- By way of evidence, many of the responses to my critique of TP generally concern the fact that he is presenting positive images. The question is to whom? Why do we care? (please don't say to black children--not the movies demographic although I'd feel better about it if it was animated).
- Essentially, my point is that our need to present a good image is restrictive of our artistic freedom (and by correlation our minds). Its telling that the best and most honest treatment of a black subject (read best black movie) in recent memory is Hustle and Flow, a veiled autobiography of the struggles of a white writer. Our main criticism of that movie, although its the most accurate depiction of black life in the south that I've ever seen, is that its about a pimp. Imagine if a black man wrote Nabokov's Lolita...
The need or desire to censor our art such that it displays some community sanctioned viewpoint is to me clear evidence that either we feel the need to present a certain image to a hostile outside world, or that we've internalized their thoughts about us to a degree that it restricts our intellectual freedom.
WG, this piece speaks to my pitbull like defense of Hip Hop as one of the few remaining vestiges or intellectual and artistic freedom in American popular culture. The anti-Rap crowd, like most Americans, has been suckered by the simple-minded polemics of positive vs negative and good guys vs bad. That is why their interpretations of characters like 50 Cent and T.I. are debilitatingly linear and out of step with their actual and potential impact on young people.The constant parade of public scorn and disproportionate punishment of these characters (Negro Flogging of The Week) is part of a larger effort to discourage intellectual freedom among African-Americans and to encourage wholesale conformity which as you so eloquently point out, ultimately robs us of our humanity.
14 comments:
Wesley,
That was well said. That was probably the best and most clear discourse on hip hop I've read in years.
You said: "The need or desire to censor our art such that it displays some community sanctioned viewpoint is to me clear evidence that either we feel the need to present a certain image to a hostile outside world, or that we've internalized their thoughts about us to a degree that it restricts our intellectual freedom."
I agree with this, except that I think it's slightly too limiting. I think there are other possibilities. Some people don't like certain visual artists becaue they find their paintings personally disturbing. If that's their opinion, who are we to say that's invalid. Similarly, SOME people find SOME commercial rap to be intellectually and creatively limited. Personally, I feel like SOME of the more recent rap doesn't really challenge me to think. For example, I LOVE The Game, but 50 is boo boo. I LOVE Nas.
In your scenario, I feel like you've kinda taken out personal choice.
Wesley
It's no particular need or desire to sensor our art to impress white people or qualify ourselves. Its a NECCESITY!!! It's TP need for financial independence and a steppingstone towards being in control of our images. Hes well aware of the hoops a black filmaker must go thru in order to get theatre distribution. Perception is reality my friend! white power is based on perception. Our Jewish brother's are keenly aware of the power of the media and I feel TP is wielding his power wisely.
Right and Im sure U know that H and F was an accurate depiction cuz u were a memphis pimp? lol
State of..
No one is saying you should like anything for any reason, what I'm saying is that if you dislike it for viewpoint discrimination rather than the fact that you think it sucks you may be guilty of the type of thought process I talked about above.
Inside man..
omg. That pimp line started a fire. Get ready.
Aiight. I gotcha.
Which raises another point. What is "art?" Is all music "art?" Are all movies "art?"
My big Cuz Denmark often criticizes horror movies but endorses hip hop. Is there an "artistic" difference between the two?
I D-e-c-l-a-r-e
"It's no particular need or desire to sensor our art to impress white people or qualify ourselves. Its a NECCESITY!!! It's TP need for financial independence and a steppingstone towards being in control of our images. Hes well aware of the hoops a black filmaker must go thru in order to get theatre distribution."
"See that rap shit is really just like selling smoke
If you got some fly shit, yo niggaz gonna always toke
Dope, is not what I be slanging on this track
Niggaz don't comprehend that it be deeper than Cadillacs" -- Dre (Myintrotoletyouknow)
What is the worth of a man? Is it the value of the chain around his neck or the value of the strength of his convictions and ideas? How can one be financially independent if that very independence is dependent upon creating and catering to an image of oneself that one intends to enventually destroy? What can you buy with that type of "independence"? A house in a white neighborhood? A car, a model chick, throw some D's on that bitch? What value is his financial independence if it comes at the price of selling short the ideals that he purports to represent? Look, if at base the motivation for his art is capitalist we don't need him. He can never make enough money to counteract the damage he'll do to the quality of black discourse. Our perceptions of the world are shaped and supported by the framework given to us by our thinkers, our artists. To the extent those ideas become diluted, those emotions less genuine the value of our thoughts is depleted doubly so. If you're looking for a criticism of much of mainstream rap there it is. Put simply, when our rappers make the decision that selling albums is more important than expressing themselves through their medium we all lose. Rap then becomes the same type of cartoon that Tyler Perry sat down and decided to waste my time by writing. Who gives a damn what hoops he has to go through to be in the industry. The artist has a higher calling. If it was purely economic, then he should have just tried to be a banker, its a more rational path. But I suspect you're absolutely wrong about his motivations. The real crime here is that he most likely believes in the value of his work. His is an artist, just a terrible one. But, alas, all is not lost I can find solace in blaming YOU for supporting it and having the unmitigated gall to want to censor pieces of a black man like this:
"…and just the other day my nigga Chris killed himself
I pray to God that I never feel the way he felt
where do we go when there’s no help
he figured heaven so he went left
y’all know that ain’t right
plus he was high as a plane on that same night
shit, I probably been on that same flight
shit, I probably had that same fight
I just kept swinging
twelfth rounds coming, bells ringing
introduced to the game when I was just a child
Momma loved a drug dealer, straight quit her job
they took his life and along with him I died
and she died… and we died…
and then came my daughter to my bed side
told me ‘Daddy don’t cry, I’m alive’
I look her in the eyes and see me with no sins
and this is how the note ends…"
--Weezy F. Baby
As for the southern pimp reference. I guess I shouldn't respond intellectually to anything that myopic. Just watch the movie and then visit memphis.
Perception is reality my friend! white power is based on perception. Our Jewish brother's are keenly aware of the power of the media and I feel TP is wielding his power wisely.
Right and Im sure U know that H and F was an accurate depiction cuz u were a memphis pimp? lol
I absolutely understand both of you regarding the issue of artistic free speech. T.I. is free to express himself any damn way he pleases. And I am free to critique his expressions, especially to the extent that they do damage to any part of the fabric of my community. Just as you are free to critique TPWDIGM. My only problem is that the critique seems to be centered around the "authenticity" of the character portrayals. How is Terrence Howard's rappin pimp (a portrayal I thought Oscar worthy) any more authentic than any of the characters in Tyler's joint? Just because you don't know anybody like that? Do you really know any rappin pimps, or is it just that the portrayal fit so neatly into your fanticized version of pimping?
I am reminded of the Cosby show. I grew up middle class and I always used to hear people say that no real Black people lived or acted like the Huxtables. I always thought my family acted very similar to the way Bill chose to present his characters. So it spoke to my reality even as it made me realize that not everyone had it like I had it. You may not like Tyler's portrayals, but you have no idea how they are impacting others. That's art in my book.
Wes Loc firstly brotha you gotta get that "drought is over Mixtape. Weezy is a Genius I was gonna say a beast but... you know. Anyway Tyler Perry is starting his own studio system. He's so powerful now that theyve tried to shut it down three times due to union bullshit. Next thing you know we'll be able to greenlight movies! No Black person can greenlight anything in this business and tyler perry has the best chance of being the first.
My family is from Memphis and Id visit every summer and i had pimp cousins. lol. I dont remember any skinny white kids creating the beats for pimps while his upwardly mobile marriage stifled buddy helps out while his hoes sing hooks. laughable at best or oscar worthy at worst. Terrence is awesome though. I think youre being myopic and shortsighted when you critisize TP. Not everything is art Wes. For black people I think art has to be didactic. ok im on "all over the map" but I absolutely agree with exodus. I ski and snowboard and we used to go to a cabin every March. Go TP wit yo gay ass. Just reproduce with a Black woman!!!!! GO TP!! GO TP!
Denmark thanks my brotha. I like your blog. How ya love dat?!
First off, black folks obviously don't understand what Hustle & Flow is about.
It's not about the pimp, and it ain't about the black hos.
The film is about the white ho.
"Whose in Charge?"
No Mike he was manipulating her.
no homo
Exodus said...
"I absolutely understand both of you regarding the issue of artistic free speech. T.I. is free to express himself any damn way he pleases. And I am free to critique his expressions, especially to the extent that they do damage to any part of the fabric of my community."
Minister Louis Farrakhan said...
Minister Louis Farrakhan recently spoke to Hip-Hop leaders in the ATL:
“What you really are is not boob or butt. Force men to respect you. Black women are not for sale.”
“As long as a women is a b***h and a hoe in your mind, you will never stand up for her. A record contract cannot get you your virtue back."
DV says...
We are all haters???
No, the white ho turned out to be the gateway to his success.
White woman magic. A white woman may be a ho, but she still got more access than any Nigga.
Lesson? You wanna make it in this world as a black man, get yourself a white woman. Even a skank Ho will do.
Whose in charge?
Case closed.
Co-sign on that Weezy F. endorsement!!
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