Kanye is one of those complex, creative artists, that we won't always fully understand.
In ways, that is a good thing, in others it is bad.
Kanye sat down with Sway, of MTV and explained some meanings behind his film.
On the scene with Michael Jackson float (pictured above):
The hood, what it does represent to me … in relation to the Michael Jackson thing is not the KKK but the concept of cult, because it’s multiple people with this hood on. It’s me taking [the phoenix] to my world and saying, ‘Let me show you what my world is about.’ ”
The greatest, biggest pop-cultural figure of all time, arguably bigger than Jesus Christ, is Michael Jackson.
“If you saw the kid in the beginning, he’s running and running at top speed holding his torch, and his torch represents his thoughts and ideals. At the end, after he’s been cultivated, he has the hood on now and he’s walking extremely slow. That’s basically how people think. It’s the way society has set people up to be able to control them, slave mentalities.”
“[By] just creating this mentality by cultivating the ideals … you could just make people just stand in their own mental jails. What happens when someone isn’t in a mental jail?”
What in the John Lennon is this?
Jesus & MJ...in the same sentence...not right at all.
There is no connection, very poor comparison.
Jesus = the holy Son of God. MJ = a globally known artist/legend.
People are making excuses for the statement on their blogs...you can interpret what he said in any way you want but in no way should Jesus be compared to a human!!
Absolute nonsense.
On meaning behind the Phoenix:
I personally think the Phoenix idea was very creative and Selita Ebanks played the part very well, she really showed the beauty of what a Phoenix is.
The greatest, biggest pop-cultural figure of all time, arguably bigger than Jesus Christ, is Michael Jackson.
“If you saw the kid in the beginning, he’s running and running at top speed holding his torch, and his torch represents his thoughts and ideals. At the end, after he’s been cultivated, he has the hood on now and he’s walking extremely slow. That’s basically how people think. It’s the way society has set people up to be able to control them, slave mentalities.”
“[By] just creating this mentality by cultivating the ideals … you could just make people just stand in their own mental jails. What happens when someone isn’t in a mental jail?”
What in the John Lennon is this?
Jesus & MJ...in the same sentence...not right at all.
There is no connection, very poor comparison.
Jesus = the holy Son of God. MJ = a globally known artist/legend.
People are making excuses for the statement on their blogs...you can interpret what he said in any way you want but in no way should Jesus be compared to a human!!
Absolute nonsense.
Even before the parallel of the crash in my career and the rise from the ashes, even before that parallel I was feeling this idea of this Phoenix. Thinking about it, I wanted Every girl I have ever been in a relationship with to feel like a piece of her was being represented and even for my mother to feel like she was being represented when she sees this and just for females to connect with the different emotions. And also a representation of creativity and being different. Like that point “the world knocks the wings off of the Phoenix and turns them into stone”. The whole thing is, I won’t [let society] turn me to stone. There was this line “I sold my soul to the devil, that was a crappy deal”, when I say that, I am saying “when I allow other people’s ideas to interfer with what I know is true to myself, that’s the devil. People talking mess on the blogs, that’s the devil, or people calling me names. Me thinking twice about what it is that’s really in my heart because of what people’s reaction will be, is me selling myself to the devil.
I personally think the Phoenix idea was very creative and Selita Ebanks played the part very well, she really showed the beauty of what a Phoenix is.
In regards to Kanye's comment the selling of his soul to the devil...
A line like that is bound to create rumors...
Kanye has his reasons for what means what in the film. Some, only he may know.
It was beautifully put together, I must say.
But some of his statements weren't. B.S.
He's a great artist, with great music...now with a great film?
He's a great artist, with great music...now with a great film?
Jezebel featured a very interesting and detailed analysis of the short film. I advise that you check it out!
Anyways, Kanye plans to take "Runaway" to Broadway! Good luck.
By the way, have you seen his permanent diamond teeth/grillz/whatchamacallits?
Post your views of the post in the comments below :)
"There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living so there's no end to it." - Bono
Dee
He's sooo controversial! But an artist I suppose.
ReplyDeleteHe's a very controversial artist...I think that's what people love about him.
ReplyDeleteDee
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I kind of wish he'd go back to the way he used to be. I feel like he's being all creative and hip just for the sake of it? You know like people who just bullshit about art when really it can mean absolutely nothing?
ReplyDeletePersonally I think Kanye is a genius. He expresses himself without worrying about what the public think, which is the way an artist should express himself, its all about the art. I think he is playing on the controversial image to help further promote his work, which I dont think there is anything wrong with
ReplyDelete@Serina I get where you're coming from, I loved his music from the "Through the Wire Days" artists have to grow and so that's not to say that I don't like his music now.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do think his last album was pretty rubbish.
And lol yeah, he's one of those types definitely!
@FXL Kanye IS a genius and yes he is playing on this controversial image to promote his work, seeing as it worked for other artists...
There's nothing wrong with him using this to further his image, but to be honest, a lot of the things he was saying up there in the excerpts was total B.S.
Dee
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