Art, Expression, Resistance
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s “The Message” (1982)
“The message,” is a work of art form the Bronx in the 1970s depicting the urban catastrophe in the area that included high unemployment and poverty. This song came out at a time the Bronx was the ground zero of a city in crisis. From landlords torching whole blocks for insurance money to overwhelmed precincts squeezed by austerity, the neighborhood depicted London during the blitz. During the end of the decade the city lost 40% of its population especially on the south side of the Bronx. DJ Grandmaster Flash’s adolescence occurred in fox street where he lived.
“The Message,” speaks to the human need to celebrate and make art. He describes the creative process of music during this era as each form of expression that formed its local heroes, commonly known as street kings. Art during this time was more of like a positive outlet for competitive energy instead of gang affiliation. As the gang movement continued to ravage the Bronx, something else was brewing. DJ Grandmaster Flash used the negative from his community to build a foundation for a genre of music that in the 21st century has taken the world by storm. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Participation is an experience of art that involves becoming one with the work to grasp it. The artistic form of a piece is very crucial when it comes to establishing participation. Weak forms of art do not draw participation; therefore, attendance is affiliated with intense forms of art. In this context, there exists a significant type, which is the result of the elements of a piece of art. The elements’ relationship results in the perception of the general representation. When these elements are perceived individually, they water down the work of art to commercials means of communication. To fully understand art, an individual must be able to see these elements in unison.
Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” (2018)
Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, released a controversial masterpiece named This is America in the year 2018. The music video four minutes in length touches on matters related to race, and gun violence in the United States. The artistic approach to the music video is guaranteed to catch one’s attention depicting a vivid representation of the injustice minorities undergo in the country. Childish Gambino views his song, lyrics, and video as a call to awareness on the dangers of unregulated gun ownership and racial profiling that plague the modern world. In his work, he sarcastically suggests that the brutality depicted in the video is the norm in America, calling out the relevant parties to take responsibility for their actions.
The video got a whopping 20 million views on YouTube during the first few months of its premiere. It reveals some level of proactive imagery with his choice of grey pants as a show of his humanness. The rap is filled with the depiction of violent contradictions that are linked with being a black individual in America today. The central message in the video and song is based on guns and violence against minorities (Bailey et al., 2017). Consuming this kind of abuse is mainly done through entertainment. The issue is also part of the national conversation raking in mass opinions and reactions, most of which advocate for gun safety laws.
Participation is inclined to specificity rather than generality in the perception of art. When participating in art, the piece represents something in such a manner that we are unable to recognize our separation from that very thing (Martin, & Jacobus, 2014). Participation requires an individual to avoid the physical representation of the piece and delve deeper into understanding it. Participation as a distinction of art is also crucial as it initiates thoughts and feelings within an individual. If a part of work cannot stir this in an individual, then it cannot be perceived as a work of art. A work of art should be able to draw attention and call for its sustenance by the individual. Basically, in participation, an individual loses their self-consciousness to become one with the piece.
Public Enemy’s “Rebel Without a Pause” (1988)
Public enemy’s Rebel without a pause is a depiction of African Americans championing for change and better lives. The lyrics depict the city as extreme, and things tend to happen fast, while change is sudden and complete (Enck & Morrissey, 2015). The song calls on to people to be ready to deal or get left behind. Public enemy is considered to be the inspiration to N.W.A where their militant blackness got rerouted and effectively transposed depicting gangsters of Los Angeles.
Evidence and discovery in the modern age support the use of music to strengthen the body and the mind. All these findings continue to form a strong foundation for the physiological and psychological of musical therapy. No wonder musicians refer to music as medicine or food for the mind and soul. Personally, on reflecting on the information presented during this research, I have realized that music has played an essential role in my general well being physically and emotionally. Music has substantially tied to iconic moments and events in history, as aforementioned. Music is a way to remember and put past in context. It is a powerful way to view the world. African-Americans have used music to uplift themselves and relate it to survival and as a revival of the leaders and colleagues lost during the revolution.
Art is crucial as it draws us to understand the details and the interrelationships of the piece clearly. The experience of participation with art is so full and fruitful that it nourishes our lives and impacts our future. In my life, I have participated in art through interaction with the Public Enemy’s music. I found a sense of simplicity of form with the piece and was able to see beyond the music. I incline to the understanding that perception is the most crucial of the distinctions of art.