Let Art Speak Don’t Strangle It

Just because someone creates something that acknowledges a tragic event and uses it for inspiration in some way does not mean they are in fact intending insult, mockery or by default making less of the event or trivializing it. People need to turn the sensitivity meter way down and not just react automatically whenever their sensitivity meter flashes a red-flag that something is “insensitive” or “offensive” and take a moment to actually think and consider before lashing out. This is one of the bad things about the internet you get that instant response so you just spout off you knee-jerk reaction (yes I am aware of the irony that I am doing the something).

So the issue at hand is there is a fashion house who makes dystopian inspired clothing and they created a new line of what they call “School Shooting Hoodies” which are hoodies that are riddled with bulled holes and of course people are outraged and offended and think it is horrible. Now here is the problem with that response. Fashion design is a form of art should create poignant commentary on our society and address what is happening in the world around us. As mentioned above it should not presumed they are being malicious, that they are mocking the event or the victims, that they are making light of it. But rather I see it as an acknowledgement of this epidemic that we our facing. It is a commentary on the truth of what is happening, It is raising awareness to the tragedy.

Now I  can hear some people already saying but they are using this as a way to profit. Cars all over the place are plastered in little stickers or magnets of ribbons of blue, black, yellow, pink and every other color representing a vast array of causes. Tragic things which have happened to people that have become “causes” and are marketed to be people to display to raise awareness. Someone created these things because they believed they could make money off of it.

I do not see the hoodies as different. They raise awareness, they force people to remember that this happened and they are in fact more visually impactful than just slapping a yellow or red or whatever ribbon on your car.

Art makes people talk. Art makes people think and people talking and thinking about serious issues is a good thing.

If someone was wearing one of these hoodies out and about town while many people might think they were just wearing an old hoodie full of holes, someone might actually make a comment to them about it, ask about it and they can explain what it means and why they are wearing it and this will generate more awareness and discussion on the issue.

 

 

I Am Too Sexy For My Music Video

I have just happened to hear this story that a bunch of controversy is being stirred up by this music video from Maroon 5’s song Animals. Now I am not a fan of Maroon 5, I don’t dislike them necessarily but I don’t really listen to them either. Their music just isn’t usually to my own inclinations, but whenever I hear of an artist taking heat for how they express themselves I like to show my support. Regardless of wheaten or not I may like said artist or whether or not I personally agree with their message I am steadfast against all forms of censorship, and especially in art.

The problem with the video is that people claim that it makes stalking look sexy. Naturally upon hearing this I had to watch the video, and upon doing so, I really don’t get what all the outrage is about. Ok, that is not entirely true, I understand that people have a problem with it because 1. People are stupid and 2. People are over sensitive.

But really, for the people that say the video makes stalking look too sexy, the majority of the video is the stalker guy inside a creepy, dingy meat cellar dancing around beef carcass and smearing himself in blood. If people are looking at that,  and getting all hot and bothered, and thinking oooh, that is too sexy. Well maybe it says more about them, than it does about the video.

And yes there is a scene near the end of the song in which the stalker is fantasizing about having sex with the woman of whom he is obsessed with but I will note that during their whole make out scene they are both covered in blood and the song is from the stalker’s point of view so it is only natural that he would be dreaming about having sex with the woman of him he is obsessively infatuated with.

Quite frankly I thought the video was awesome, but that is because I am not a ninny, and also because I am morbid, and disturbed, and I love horror movies, and the whole stalker/obsession topic is one which does fascinate me. I enjoy literature which deals with the subject, I do have a playlist dedicated to songs about stalkers and other forms of obsessed love/infatuation and I often incorporate some of these ideas and feelings into my own poetry.

But even if you are not demented like me, I think this video is just an edgy artistic expression, and the whole point of it is to show things from the stalker’s perspective, really it is no different to me than making a horror movie. If this was in fact a horror movie and not a music video than probably not as many people would be complaining about it.

So with all that I will present the video for you to watch for yourselves.