Azeem wrote, about Eminem:
> I'd also be very surprised if what he's saying is any worse than what's been said by
>countless
> other rap crews; there's the whole argument about inhabiting a character, as Ice-T
>did with
> "Cop Killer", which struck me as fairly obviously a character piece.
That's particularly interesting now, as Ice-T portrays a cop on NBC's "Law & Order,
Special Victims Unit" each Friday night.
> When Randy Newman writes a song from the viewpoint of some kind of bogeyman, he's
>hailed
> as a satirical genius, when some others do it, it's a different story.
Yep. What's up with that? Who determines who is a "genius" and who is merely
"offensive?" Record sales sure don't tell the story.
Recently Mary and I were listening to Led Zep's fourth LP (on CD), and I commented to
Mary that (at age 42) I think I can now understand my parents' concern at overhearing
me play that (and similar) music in my teenaged room, night after night (after night).
And then I thought, "my god." To paraphrase Joni: "We sound like our mothers did
now, when we were those kids' age ..." (And remember: Nothing lasts for long --)
The Academy prez (what's his name?) who (imho) spoke so eloquently about Eminem and
the entire controversy made a good point: most young people live VICARIOUSLY through
music.
Yes, some songs MAY inspire someone to believe their prejudices are being sanctioned,
or to carry out a heinous crime. However, there will always be "sick" people whose
ultimate act is waiting to be set off by something. Part of Charles Manson's
justification was "Helter Skelter." Look at how long ago that happened, and now most
everyone agrees that The Beatles' music was pretty tame.
I think Eminem is a performance artist and perhaps a chronicler of our times -- or of
his own experiences and fantasies. His use of hateful words and his descriptions of
terrible acts are no more threatening than a Stephen King novel. Fer chrissakes, even
TONY BENNETT supports Eminem's right to say, write, and sing what he wants. And thank
goodness for that!
Because ... what's the alternative?
Lori
near DC
~
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