Music Video Discussion: "This is America" - Childish Gambino

Discussion in 'Music and Recordings' started by ultrabike, May 10, 2018.

  1. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    I would love to see more discussions about music videos.

    I know this particular performance is politically charged. But it is impossible to disassociate human affairs from music.

    I will stress the importance of respect. Action in this thread will be taken if this cannot be attained, but we are definitively not going to walk on eggshells either. We should all have some level of common sense, tact, and regard towards each other.

    Here is the video:



    Here we begin:

    Just saw that Childish Gambino - "This is America" video. AFAIK he is free to go live any where else in the world.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  2. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    I liked it a lot. Donald Glover is a talented guy. Also isn't it strange to tell someone they can live elsewhere if they're unhappy with, e.g., race relations, police community interactions, etc? Like, afaik, these are pretty legitimate problems that we shouldn't delegitimize, and that was even before trump took office.

    In other words, should people not voice the problems they see around them? I don't even think this is what you mean,just confused
     
  3. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    The problems have been there, are there, and will continue to be there. But anger and hate begets anger and hate. Kindness, understanding, and love are the kinds of things that unite and inspire people to do better. The video did not inspire in me those feelings. I get the same old we vs. them feeling.

    People are free to voice their concerns. In fact, the video is for international consumption. Something other places in the world would not allow. Hence my comment.

    Furthermore, the "This is America" set of problems exhibited are not American problems. They are world problems. Human problems.
     
  4. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

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    Why do people think we (Americans) are free to go live anywhere else in the world?
     
  5. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Because we can. If things were so bad here one could start a new life in the UK, or South Africa, or Australia. Hell, move to Canada. If you speak other languages, then there are more possibilities. I lived and was born in Mexico, and chose to become an American. Worked hard for it. I know very well it is not perfect here. But I appreciate it.
     
  6. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

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    You don't just up and move to Canada... legally.
     
  7. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    I also think that peace and love are great, but when you have certain groups that are discriminated against, preaching peace and love delegitimize their experiences. It also isn't a sufficient motivation to change the status quo. Nor is this video of course, but I don't think that was it's purpose.

    Also agree they are world problems. But race relations in America exist within a cultural context and history and even current political climate that differs from those in other countries so they can't be thoght of or perhaps even worked on in the same ways.

    Any case, point is well taken man. Certainly don't want to put words in your mouth and I don't think we necessarily see things drastically differently, just offering my response to the video and your post.

    Interesting review of relevant literature for those interested: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721410363366

    Cool ass paper title too "let them eat harmony: [something something]"
     
  8. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    This: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta caused Mexico to go through very real unending internal wars. The likes of which I don't think America has seen. It is still a problem today.

    I know. I'm just arguing. I don't like social injustice. It should be called. But I would much rather see more black engineers, developers, and scientists, than social protesters.

    I've seen good black medical doctors and lawyers. A first cousin of my wife is married to black engineer and they are doing great. We visited them a few years ago. I want to see much more of that.

    Some of my blood suffered great injustice. Some of my blood were the ones inflicting injustice. Some of my blood were neither. Ironically they are all my blood. But I am not them and I can only speak for myself.

    Anyhow. Good nite guys :)

    (EDIT: I probably was too tired.)
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  9. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    Just had a watch/listen. I very much prefer Kendrick Lamar. Also Lamar's stuff is mixed way better.
     
  10. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    1) comparing injustices can't be done, and the sociedad de castas obv sux.
    2) society with black working professionals and social protesters aren't mutually exclusive or incompatible.
    3) if there are fewer minorities practicing law or medicine or engineering, that's a reflection of the societal problem.
    4) I'm glad you have friends who are married to black engineers lol
    5) I <3 U and I'm just arguing.
     
  11. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Agreed. He might not have the voice of an angle Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye had. His style is different. The way he presents existing problems makes you think. People should think more and art can make that happen. Remember Pink Floyd with "Another Brick In The Wall"? The world is changing again...
     
  12. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Late, but: while I totally agree that these are world problems, America is in a unique position, globally; they're the bleeding edge of pop culture, and given that it's as ethnically and culturally diverse as it is, it's unsurprising that the USA is in the world's eye whenever you hear of hate crimes and the like. Not that it doesn't happen A LOT elsewhere, only that it's more visible in the USA.

    As for the This is America video, for one, I'll admit it was shocking to watch, which speaks for Glover's showmanship. The symbolism was so on the nose it was like a suckerpunch, but his performance and the attention to detail is laudable. It was an okay listen I think? Sorry, not my usual genre :))
     
  13. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    I adore this video. It's raw, honest, and important.

    Speaking truth to power is never popular, but we're at an inflection point in this country. I hope people are listening.
     
  14. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    @Lyer25 I am more of the opinion that this video is more of an American phenomenon. Amongst first world countries it seems to be an outlier when it comes to racial tension and violence.

    When I watched it, I was mainly thankful that it completely didn't strike a nerve with me, because if it did, it would have been a disturbing reflection on the places I've lived in.
     
  15. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    LOL! I got too poetic there and made too much of a big deal perhaps.

    Anyhow. It's an interesting video.
     
  16. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    personally, I think this is a song/video we (meaning, culturally aware audiophiles) are going to be pondering for at least a few years. Very powerful exposition. Within the more academic circles, there are no doubt going to be theses upon theses written about this video for years and years. In other words, beyond it's initial shock, this, folks, is good art. And we're gonna be talking about it's meaning and implications for some time. Thank goodness we're moving hip hop to post-Kanye; post-Lil Wayne. Thanks Kendrick Lamar, for pulling hip hop out of it's glut of trope. That video is probably a goodly bit sacrosanct among audiophiles because ORAFS, but I do believe hip hop (right now) is the most culturally succinct means of understanding the American zeitgeist.

    edit - just want to add that although all that above sounds "above the fray" - I do hope that it's obvious that I appreciate the affordance that great art like that video allows my white-ass to at least try to understand, in a kind way, trying to drop the hate, what it means to not be a part of a privileged class in American society.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  17. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    It has always seemed to me that Americans are discouraged from emigrating, or even temporarily relocating out of the country. They have to pay dual taxes (i.e. if you're in the UK, you pay British taxes, and them US taxes too). It's one of the few countries to require this. Off memory, the list of countries that double tax is very short and unflattering. If you renounce citizenship, the government reserves the right to do very nasty things to you economically if they decide you're doing it for 'economic reasons'.
    ^^^ The reason I'm going on about this a bit is that my wife is American and literally has nightmares about the tax system on an annual basis. In the past, whole dinner party conversations have been about changes in tax reporting and citizenship renunciation. Thrilling stuff.

    Okaaay... dragging this slightly back to the video on hand. As a non-American it totally did not resonate with me and was just a bunch of impressively odd dancing and the lyrics seemed heavy handed. Certainly not my cup of tea, but I could appreciate that there is a lot more to it than the generic crap that Tidal seems to keep trying to push at me.

    Oh, and I watched the video twice. Once from work using $5 earbuds out of a PC. The second time from a dedicated chain ending in the HD6XX. It highlighted the reward of going down the audio route.
     
  18. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I'll keep it short.

    It is high art and thus is a reflection of our world or at least one view of it.

    You don't have to share his same viewpoint to appreciate it.

    It also leaves a lot up to your own interpretation, just remember it is only art.

    And he has a right to do it and say it and a right to be unhappy with the way things are in this country without moving out. Suggesting he just move is unfair and short sided.
     
  19. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Those are all good points. I have not tried living outside the US as an American. I honestly don't know how hard it could be because I haven't tried, nor feel motivated to do so.

    I've been reading and watching history topics lately. I have come to the conclusion that a country will go to the shit can not because their people are inferior, or resources, or "the government", or corruption.

    Instability and internal conflict is what I found leads a country to the shit can. Instability scares me.

    Now as far as themes:

    1. Police Brutality: A very real problem. Something that needs to be strongly discouraged among law enforcement. In particular, use of unnecessary force and racial profiling is an on-going problem. On the other hand, with the proper resources, a criminal can use the law to get a "get-out-of-jail" card claiming police brutality. It all rests on a legal system that is not always fair. Any legal system (regardless of organization) is made up of people, which many times fall short of being perfect.
    2. Gun Control: Gun control is difficult. Specially in America, because there are plenty of them. Mexico currently bans gun possession by civilians. However, note this has not stopped gun violence there. Guns can be obtained illegally, sometimes with shocking ease.
    3. Mass shootings: Again gun control is difficult. However, we should be able to do better on prevention.
    4. Media violence dismissal: I don't think American media dismisses violence as the video seems to allude. This is IMO a bit off. I think the media actually thrives on violence. They can't find enough disasters to boost their ratings.
    My main gripe with the video is that Glover keeps repeating "This is America" over and over in a fairly negative context.

    I've been outside America. The grass is not that green on the other side of the fence. I want to see him go "This is Mexico" over and over like that. Or "This is Russia", or "This is UK", see how that goes. (EDIT: Well this may not be entirely fair, because one could think of Glover as performing self-criticism given he is American. So consider a British singing "This is UK" or a Japanese singing "This is Japan" in a similar fashion)

    Are the problems he alludes to real? Yes. I don't agree that it gives a complete picture, because not all is a sewer, but yes. Is all of that which he exposes what defines America? IMO, No.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2018
  20. Imraan

    Imraan Friend

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    As a child of a failed state who has experience with being legally discriminated against because of the colour of my skin, and as someone who has emigrated twice and is now working on emigration to my third, and hopefully last country:

    All countries have problems, it's how we approach dealing with those problems that define our success or failure as humans and as nations. Open discourse is, in my experience, the best way we have to go about this process. Such discourse has historically been a key tenet of the USA's persona, something that as an outsider looking in, I feel is being actively undermined lately. Perhaps this is meant to be a bit of a wake up call?

    I think that the fact that we disparate maniacs are having this discussion in the first place is the core reason the video was made. In that context this piece of art is a resounding success no?

    Childish Gambino chose one specific way to make everyone stop, think and TALK about the current state of affairs in the USA. There are a whole lot of other ways too, but as we know music is the soul of protest and revolution.

    It takes a lot to make our jaded, over stimulated brains stop and take note these days :)

    In any event it is certainly art , and good art at that.
     

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