Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Overall Analysis
Jesus and religion will always be there for anyone who is willing to listen and repent. Jesus walks with everyone and it’s never too late to follow his teachings. This is an example of the interconnection between religion and culture because no matter what happens in culture, Jesus will always be there for us. He may not be able to thwart the destructive actions of people, but he will be there when they fall.
Analysis of Cultural Artifacts
Kanye preaching from the podium demonstrates that he is trying preach an important message in his song. This message is that Jesus walks with everyone regardless of morals and past transgressions.
The prostitute, ganger member, and homeless guy with the alcohol all represent people who are involved with amoral and illegal activities. However because Jesus walks with everyone, they are not alone. That represents the meaning of Kanye’s lyrics that Jesus will always be there for people when they fall down.
The old black man in the wheelchair helping the homeless drunk cross the street, the kids helping the prostitute over the gate, and the old white man who helps the gang member that has been shot all have angelic wings and represent God-like figures. When these figures have helped their specific character they turn into white doves. The fact that multiple races, ages, and both female and male gender (shown by the kids) all represent God relays to the audience that God is not the stereotypical white man, but is every man. White smoke and a bright light surround these God-like figures to symbolize the crossing over of the three main characters. These main characters, the prostitute, homeless drunk, and gang member walk into church at the end of the music video and repent for their sins. The drunk puts down his alcohol, the gang members throws down his bandana, and the prostitute falls to the ground renouncing her body and how she has used it in the past.
The white doves. When the angels are facing oppression or violence they turn into doves and fly away. This is important because doves symbolize peace and are the forms the Holy Spirit take in the Christian religion.
Stereotypes of people. It is easy to tell whom the people in the video are supposed to represent. The drunk carries alcohol around with him and sits outside of a liquor store asking for change in order to buy more alcohol. The gang members wear oversized clothing, bandanas, and only button the top part of their shirt. And the woman wears a short shirt, tube top, and high heels. She stands outside of a rundown motel and the viewers can see that the video does not take place in a nice neighborhood. There are short scenes of dogs attacking, police brutality, and havoc filled streets all alluding to the fact that these are poverty stricken people.
Fire burns up their vices. Once in church the three people put in front of them what caused their previous demise. The drunk gives away his alcohol, the prostitute drops to the floor symbolizing that she will no longer use her body, and the gang member gives up his bandana to represent him leaving his gang. Once these items are places fire immediately engulfs them and the people then start over.
The prostitute, ganger member, and homeless guy with the alcohol all represent people who are involved with amoral and illegal activities. However because Jesus walks with everyone, they are not alone. That represents the meaning of Kanye’s lyrics that Jesus will always be there for people when they fall down.
The old black man in the wheelchair helping the homeless drunk cross the street, the kids helping the prostitute over the gate, and the old white man who helps the gang member that has been shot all have angelic wings and represent God-like figures. When these figures have helped their specific character they turn into white doves. The fact that multiple races, ages, and both female and male gender (shown by the kids) all represent God relays to the audience that God is not the stereotypical white man, but is every man. White smoke and a bright light surround these God-like figures to symbolize the crossing over of the three main characters. These main characters, the prostitute, homeless drunk, and gang member walk into church at the end of the music video and repent for their sins. The drunk puts down his alcohol, the gang members throws down his bandana, and the prostitute falls to the ground renouncing her body and how she has used it in the past.
The white doves. When the angels are facing oppression or violence they turn into doves and fly away. This is important because doves symbolize peace and are the forms the Holy Spirit take in the Christian religion.
Stereotypes of people. It is easy to tell whom the people in the video are supposed to represent. The drunk carries alcohol around with him and sits outside of a liquor store asking for change in order to buy more alcohol. The gang members wear oversized clothing, bandanas, and only button the top part of their shirt. And the woman wears a short shirt, tube top, and high heels. She stands outside of a rundown motel and the viewers can see that the video does not take place in a nice neighborhood. There are short scenes of dogs attacking, police brutality, and havoc filled streets all alluding to the fact that these are poverty stricken people.
Fire burns up their vices. Once in church the three people put in front of them what caused their previous demise. The drunk gives away his alcohol, the prostitute drops to the floor symbolizing that she will no longer use her body, and the gang member gives up his bandana to represent him leaving his gang. Once these items are places fire immediately engulfs them and the people then start over.
Lyric/Rhythm Analysis
The lyrics to Jesus Walks by Kanye West provide an avenue for him to express his religious views. Through his lyrics he also compares his views to society’s perspective. When Kanye says that the “devil is trying to break him down” he is admitting that he has made mistakes, but Jesus walks with him (“Jesus walks with me”). His lyrics show that he believes Jesus is conscious of his past mistakes and poor decisions, but continues to stay with him and guide him towards the right path. Even though, they haven't spoke in awhile “I want to talk to God but cause I’m afraid we haven’t spoke in so long,” God will still be there when he stumbles, “Jesus walks with me”. Kanye mentions that you can turn on able to turn on the radio and listen to a song about ``guns, sex, lies, video tapes'', but there are no songs about religion (at least they are not played as often). He wants everyone to know that because they may not attend church every Sunday that Jesus is “walking'' with them as well.
In conjunction with the lyrics of the song, the beat plays a major aspect in grabbing the attention of the listener. The song is held together by the continuous undertone beat (bum bum) that is sung by a choir of people. Kanye’s lyrics are another aspect of the song that holds the main beat together along with sounds from other instruments such as the piano and trumpet.
In conjunction with the lyrics of the song, the beat plays a major aspect in grabbing the attention of the listener. The song is held together by the continuous undertone beat (bum bum) that is sung by a choir of people. Kanye’s lyrics are another aspect of the song that holds the main beat together along with sounds from other instruments such as the piano and trumpet.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Excavation
Kayne preaching from podium, ghetto, prostitute, crappy hotel, homeless guy with alcohol, cardboard, and filled shopping cart, old black man in wheelchair with angel wings (acts as a God-like character stopping cars and later turns into dove), church, kids with wings on fence lend helping hand (God-like and turn into doves), stand still traffic, savior white old man with wings and beard (possibly God meddling by saving gang member), smoke and light surrounds/halos the God-like figures, storm with lightening, crowd around fire, burning car, beat up police car, church choir, police on defense/attack, white doves, church stained glass windows, filled church pews, candles, stereotypical church members throwing hands up, gang member with cornrows, collared shirt and bandana, rival gang members (in silver chain necklace, oversized clothing, hats, sweatshirts, bandanas), bible, guy in car creeping on the prostitute, street race, , suits and nice dresses of people in church vs. prostitute's skimpy skirt vs. gang attire, shirt and heels, attacking dogs, light flooding in through doors as the three enter, havoc filled streets, fire burns up their vices (alcohol homeless man gives up and bandana gang member throws down) after they find God through the church while prostitute falls to floor in empty church
Survey
This video as well as the lyrics are thought provoking. Its stirred up controversy in both religious and hip hop circles. In order to completely understand The Jesus Walks video you must have a knowledge of what the ghetto is, a knowledge of racisim, the religious views of Kanye, and a brief background of Kanye west.
A ghetto is characterized as being an area of the inner city consumed by minorities that has great disparity ie single parent, and low income homes. Gang violence, drug dealing, and prostitution are often associated with streets in ghettos. There is a lot of racism that takes place in the ghetto, both internal and from outsiders. Many people from the ghetto see it as such a negative place that they begin to hate themselves and their surroundings. Police and other authority figures profile people from the ghetto. The media also portrays people from the ghetto as untamed, and animalistic which leads to the people from the ghetto hating themselves and alleviating growth.
Though Kanye West was not raised in the ghetto, his parents made sure he could connect with his African American peers who were less privileged than he was. Kanye is known for being outspoken and speaking with no filter. he was born in Atlanta, GA to a former Black Panther who was one of the first black photojournalist, and who is now a Christian counselor (Father) and an English Professor (Mother). This most likely explains Kanye's character. He is very intelligent and articulate, but at times has very outrageous ways of expressing himself that sometimes makes him look less than intelligent and rowdy.
Kanye west has done interviews expressing negative views of Christianity. According to his blog he has apologized and expressed that He is a Christian and his negative views on the religion are just that, negative views on the traditions created by man. Jesus Christ is his personal lord and savior and Kanye only disagrees with the hypocrisy of people who claim to be Christian. "I one thousand percent believe in God, I believe in Karma, I believe in being a good person. I’m not trying to tell people what they should believe or not believe. To each is his own. I was in situations where someone constantly used Jesus to show me how baaaad a person I was or how not perfect or not Christ like I was. When I say I don’t want to be Christ like I’m saying I’m fine with not being perfect. I’m fine with being a human being. I’m happy with just that." Kanye West (The religious beliefs of Jesus walks Director Chris Milk were not found)
A ghetto is characterized as being an area of the inner city consumed by minorities that has great disparity ie single parent, and low income homes. Gang violence, drug dealing, and prostitution are often associated with streets in ghettos. There is a lot of racism that takes place in the ghetto, both internal and from outsiders. Many people from the ghetto see it as such a negative place that they begin to hate themselves and their surroundings. Police and other authority figures profile people from the ghetto. The media also portrays people from the ghetto as untamed, and animalistic which leads to the people from the ghetto hating themselves and alleviating growth.
Though Kanye West was not raised in the ghetto, his parents made sure he could connect with his African American peers who were less privileged than he was. Kanye is known for being outspoken and speaking with no filter. he was born in Atlanta, GA to a former Black Panther who was one of the first black photojournalist, and who is now a Christian counselor (Father) and an English Professor (Mother). This most likely explains Kanye's character. He is very intelligent and articulate, but at times has very outrageous ways of expressing himself that sometimes makes him look less than intelligent and rowdy.
Kanye west has done interviews expressing negative views of Christianity. According to his blog he has apologized and expressed that He is a Christian and his negative views on the religion are just that, negative views on the traditions created by man. Jesus Christ is his personal lord and savior and Kanye only disagrees with the hypocrisy of people who claim to be Christian. "I one thousand percent believe in God, I believe in Karma, I believe in being a good person. I’m not trying to tell people what they should believe or not believe. To each is his own. I was in situations where someone constantly used Jesus to show me how baaaad a person I was or how not perfect or not Christ like I was. When I say I don’t want to be Christ like I’m saying I’m fine with not being perfect. I’m fine with being a human being. I’m happy with just that." Kanye West (The religious beliefs of Jesus walks Director Chris Milk were not found)
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