Hi.
Back on January 13, a website called Slate ran an article about Jay-Z and his interest in art (http://www.slate.com/id/2241208/pagenum/all/#p2). I found this article and the response to it disturbing on many levels. Where to begin?
First of all, the basic thesis of the article seems to be, “isn’t it interesting that Jay-Z (of all people!) has taken an interest in Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst?!” What the hell is that supposed to mean? What’s being implied here? Lots of people are interested in modern art. Why is it particularly noteworthy if Jay-Z is interested? Considering the answer to that question gives me the creeps. Is it simply because he’s famous? I’m sure lots of famous people like art. Is it because he comes from the lowly world of hip hop where the expectation is that rappers are only supposed to be interested in… I don’t know… porn and guns? Or even more sinister, is it because he’s black?
Why Jay-Z? Would it be a story if it was George Clooney instead? “George Clooney likes art! Fascinating!” Would it be a story if it was a musician from another genre? “Surprise! Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips digs Jackson Pollock!” (I don’t know if that’s true. Just a made-up example). I’m a big fan of Manet. Is that a headline grabber?
Second… The article suggests that what motivates Jay-Z’s interest in art is simply the pursuit of another material status symbol. “I don’t really like art, but I pretend to because it makes me seem fancy…” (not a real quote either). I don’t know what’s worse – being accused of such a thing, or the thought of it actually being true!
I find the whole thing to be so condescending that it makes me want to barf. But it gets worse!
Many of us have our heads so far up our asses that our response is, “Oh, that Jay-Z is so pretentious!” There’s this tide of anti-intellectualism and low culture glorification that has brought us to the point where somehow it’s a bad thing to have sophisticated tastes!
So again I ask, “what’s worse? Making a big deal out of someone reading a book or dissing them for doing so?”
In the last few years I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a website or a magazine go out of its way to point it out when I rapper mentions he likes some indie band. I’m sure you’ve seen it too. “Kid Cudi likes Vampire Weekend!” Jesus! Who cares?! Remember how everyone freaked out when Jay-Z went to a Grizzly Bear show?
Sure Jay-Z’s fame plays into this kind of hype. But whenever I read/see/hear this kind of thing, it always has a whiff of condescension and subtle racism. And when people get up in arms about it because they think it’s a compromise to one’s authenticity, it runs a little deeper. To be super-blunt about it, white people have long fetishized black culture and so when a black person takes any interest in white culture, it upsets our expectations. So we either react positively with “pleasant surprise” or negatively because they’re not black enough for us anymore…
White people can be so retarded.
Just a thought,
Buck
ps – follow my ass on Twitter – @bucksixtyfive
9 Comments
Thanks so much for putting into words what I’ve been thinking for a long time!!
tru dat.
First of all, what’s wrong with porn and guns? I’d think Buck would be quite the connoisseur, what with all the pin up pictures he uploads on his twitter thing every five minutes. I wager guns would also be quite useful up there in Canada, what with all the Grizzly bears trying to bite your face off.
Also, I can never tell Manet and Monet apart. I only know that there’s one I like (the impressionist) and another one that’s rubbish. I wonder is this is a common ailment or I’m just an idiot. I’ve looked them up a thousand times but I just can’t seem to remember.
Anyway, I like Jay-Z. He has quite the sense of humor, what with having half the world convinced that he’s an Illuminatus.
Thoughtful perspective. I suppose I’ve never thought of it quite like that, although similar ideas have entered my mind. I read the article which you’re referring to, and I found it did indeed imply that jay z’s interest in art was related to status. I don’t know jay z, so I can’t say what’s the truth. I once saw lil Wayne on chelsea lately. I thought of him as a real dink (kinda still do), but I found it weird the huge disconnect between the persona he presents in his music/videos, and the dude he seems to actually be. Admittedly, I was surprised at how eloquently he spoke, and I was humbled by how, well, humble he seemed. I do have to wonder why someone like him, who clearly has a lot of skills, chooses to present a persona that’s all about hoes and dollaz and gunz. I know next to nothing of someone like him, and I realize a person’s experiences shape the art they create, but, in my humble opinion, there is a big disconnect that exists. Buck65 is Canadian, he didn’t grow up on the streets, and his music seems to reflect his real personality. It makes me wonder then why people that do have genuine interest in fine art, or indie bands, or philosophy, or anything, choose to make music about bitches and bling? I think that’s where the question comes from. I do agree, though, that often it presents as racist and condescending…in my humble opinion.
Jay Z:
http://sharebee.com/1327e4be
vs. Critics:
http://sharebee.com/e7eb8544
“So again I ask, “what’s worse? Making a big deal out of someone reading a book or dissing them for doing so?””
Those aren’t the only options tho… But good for him (or anyone), for taking an interest. As for how interesting that is to the rest of us, it isn’t, it’s equally interesting to what shoes Cameron Diaz wore to the last premier. So, personally I couldn’t care less. He does flaunt it and want people to notice tho, so yeah, whatever.. business is business is…
Understand me right, knowing that he likes Warhol, reads Proust or watch Tarkovsky every night is of no interest. It really isn’t. On the other hand if he had anything to say about it, glean some great insights or philosophise about/around it, then it could of course be interesting to us, but just knowing that he likes that stuff is not. So how about those shoes Cameron wore last week eh?
As for the whole black vs. white issue you brought up in the end there, I think that’s very North American, most people don’t see it like that up here in the pagan north (read Sweden). Certainly we have our issues with racism and ignorance (and it’s getting worse, 65 years and people have already forgotten), but not in the same way you guys over there do. What is being sort of fetishized over here is American culture in general, which in itself is kinda bad lol, not black American in particular. In my opinion at least, feel free to disagree.
And all people can be retarded.. Well, we all are to some degree I guess (at least I know I am when it comes to certain things).
O
Great post Buck. *Would Kanye’s stunt have been anywhere near as big a deal if say… it was one of the dudes from Blink 182 who’d done it? Still a dick move, but the difference between a wild and crazy (white) pop punker and a “rapper” (who happens to be a person of color) would’ve been drastic. Definitely time to keep pursuing next level prejudice. We can’t relax.
Random Comment:
“Days On End” off – Dirty Work Ep…best track ever made