Kanye West Hate Thread
Out of context: Reply #446
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- nb0
Honestly, I think you should cut the guy some slack. Before you disagree, hear me out.
Kanye is an 'artist', using the word 'artist' in the broad sense of the word. Maybe you don't like his work, maybe you hate him, and that's fine. Maybe he'll be forgotten quickly after he dies, and yes I agree there are many artists that are more important and better.
But, before you write him off completely, consider this: He's one of the few recording artists who makes art ABOUT celebrity culture, the glorifying of celebrities in America and the ego of celebs, etc. There are other people who address it, but they aren't in the spotlight, they aren't being heard the way Kanye is.
Like any good artist, he doesn't just make art, he lives his art. He has a bigger ego than any celebrity. He plays that role. He speaks up when no one asked or cares what he has to say. He's an asshole all the time. He married a woman who became famous for selling a sex tape and having a reality show about her. What could be a better example of American celebrity culture? It's that whole thing taken to the extreme. His albums are about maturing, but he's "matured" into this asshole celebrity that draws love/hate and criticism whenever he opens his mouth.
I honestly can't think of another artist that addresses celebrity culture in the way that Kanye does.
Do I think he's a dick? Well, sure. That's part of the art.
I like some of his work and hate some of it. He makes a lot of mistakes. He says crazy shit and lives to a level of ridiculous that you can't help but hate. I mean, I hate the average celebrity, why wouldn't I hate the super-celebrity that he's become?
The difference is that he's this celebrity who is making art about celebrity, fame, culture, black life in America, etc. But it's not enough to just critique culture, he's actually a part of it. He embodies that shit to such a level it's become surreal.
Listen to his better songs, his better albums. Listen to Yeezus, he's addressing that shit in a very real way.
Like I said, he makes a ton of missteps, I'm NOT saying he's some kind of brilliant perfect artist. You don't have to like him or listen to his work, but I respect him. He lives his art. Who better to comment on or critique celeb culture than the man who lives it? For example, he went on a late night show and declared himself a creative genius. Who does that? Only an asshole celebrity, but he's just mirroring and expanding on something that all these fucking useless celebrities do all the time.
- Yeezus
Fucking
Krispy
Kremeorganicgrid - nb = Kanye = Yeezus.ideaist
- you sound like you think he knows he's aware of him self mirroring other celebrities...pango
- What is "celebrity culture"? You think people who show up on People magazine are special?omahadesigns
- When I say "celebrity culture", I mean America's fascination with celebrities. People are famous for being famous, etc.nb
- Kanye's lyrics are self-aware. He wrote a song warning men about Golddiggers then married one of the most famous Golddiggers!nb
- There's about a billion people deserve 'slack' before him
babaganush - nonsense... no 'human' should ever be elevated to the level kanye elevates himself to... shame on you, nb :(PonyBoy
- You 'respect' him? good grief... that's the last thing you should have for the man... :(PonyBoy
- I don't respect him, the man. I respect him and his process as an artist. He's blurring the lines between himself and his work.nb
- It's all quite intriguing. Even if his results are sometimes flawed or awful.nb
- I can' think of a better way to address the bizarre American custom of idolizing celebrities than to become one yourself!nb
- *can'tnb
- Michael Moore and Many, many others do this whilst enlightening and informing...I can think of far better ways...probably fill an entire threadbabaganush
- entire thread. He's a pretty talented douchbag with a messiah complexbabaganush
- Michael Moore? He makes docs, not art. Nor does he address celebrity culture.nb
- Well I think suggesting he's some kind of musical pop-artist is just crazybabaganush
- M. Moore films are terrible, though. Pandering, patronizing trash. Check out Errol Morris, have your mind blown. :)nb
- +1 for @nb - he's got some valid pointshardhat
- Yeezus