I really don't think that my professor's choice of clothing for the second lecture could have been more fitting. Firstly, and most obviously, the combination of Reese's Pieces and Jesus on her t-shirt represents the most prevalent example pf the connection between popular culture and Christianity. Yet even more interesting, and I assume not as intentional, is the relation that this t-shirt had to Kanye West (who was focused on for part of the lecture). What is clear about Kanye West is that he has an artistic and outspoken personality which can either earn him a Grammy, as it did for his video 'Jesus Walks', or it can get him in trouble ( "Imma let you finish").
'Jesus Walks' focuses on the idea that Jesus is with everyone, regardless of their sins. Kanye is promoting the idea that Jesus is forgiving even to the most undeserving. The video continously reveals this idea of a battle. For example, the prisoners of a chain gang (who are all black men) are at the will of their white prison guards. Another battle emerges when Kanye is rapping in a small room that seems to be threatened by fire. Thematically, the video depicts the battle between Christianity and Pop Culture. Kanye is clearly testing the boundaries of religions influence on pop culture through his lyrics:
"But if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?"It seems to me that Kanye has consistently been facing this "battle" within himself and has been using his music as an avenue to reveal this fight. Kanye shocked many people with the release of a short film in 2008 titled "We Were Once a Fairytale".
The film consists of an intoxicated West (what's new?) struggling to comprehend his surroundings in a nightclub. After a sloppy night, he eventually ends up in the washroom where he stabs himself to remove a creature that has been inside his body. West watches as the creature kills itself and the film ends abruptly.
This film furthers the idea that, even four years after Jesus Walks, Kanye is still struggle to overcome a battle within him. This demon inside him symbolizes the 'evil' that is prevalent in Jesus Walks. Kanye seems to be implying that this demon was responsible for his reckless behaviour in the nightclub. Like much of his work, Kanye leaves it up for interpretation.
Kanye is seen as a highly opinionated figure. But nonetheless, he is a powerful figure in popular culture and many of the messages in his music confront issues that a lot of people can relate to. Throughout his music he consistently reveals the battles within his life. One of the most interesting is from the 2008 song by Young Jeezy featuring Kanye: "Put On".
"when the Jesus pieces can’t bring me peace…"
Didn't I say the t-shirt was fitting?
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