Visual Culture Art Education

As I looked at the news today I noticed that the visual culture of popular music videos keeps getting attention. To preface this latest music video with questionable visual culture I have to go back a few weeks to the “Window Seat” music video by song stress Erykah Badu. Originally, I had no idea why the news media conglomerates and radio stations were all talking about her music video. Frankly, I like Erykah Badu’s music. She has a beautiful voice that I enjoy listening to. However, when I did get a chance to view the music video I understood why some people were so outraged. Basically, the music video entails the artist getting out of a car and eventually walking down the street as she disposes of each artifact of clothing. Yes, each artifact! I was surprised as well when at the end of the music video she bares all. I cannot speak for anyone else of course, but I think that parents especially were upset since as she walked in the music video kids witnessed her disrobe. Possibly, if the kids were not a part of the viewing population the parents might not see it that way. As a fan of Erykah Badu I wondered why she went to this extreme as well. On a talk radio show a few days letter she explained her reasons for doing this. From what I understand this was a symbolic gesture that shows that she no longer worries about putting on a front for other people. In short, this was a liberation of sorts from the people who judge her. Now, the current music video of the Sri-Lankan singer/rapper M.I.A. that is getting so much attention has what some would call very graphic visual culture. The nine-minute video shows a police force rounding up young men and includes such graphic scenes such as a young man being shot point-blank in the head and another being blown to pieces. The graphic nature of this music video is not the only genre that this happens though. I think that it is important to note that graphic violence and sexual innuendo that pervades these two music videos is apparent in other forms of media such as movies, video games and magazines so this is a much bigger issue. Point-blank dramatizations can be found any night on public television in many households so it is not just music videos. Nevertheless, for those of you who are interested in this topic I would challenge you to take a look at these music videos and others that interest you and post your thoughts.

-Zerric Clinton ABD
Art Teacher
Cairo High School
Cairo, GA 39828