Using the comparison of these two texts as your starting point ‘explore the media issue and debates which they raise’. (1 hour)
Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ and ‘Your Revolution’ by DJ Vadim featuring Sarah Jones, raise main issues that are debated about within the media. Both artists have a strong view point in their beliefs and project their values and ideologies to the audience. In a sense, the initial response after listening to or reading the lyrics is shock, due to directness of them. The use of colloquial language gets the point straight across, with the use of derogatory terms, contributing to this ‘shock-value’. Many issues arise from the artists’ statements and will be explored in detail in this essay.
Following the release of ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ (1971), by 1972, the media was predominantly owned by the white and wealthy in society, therefore enforcing upon a western and white cultural ideology through media texts. This conforms to the idea of the Effects Theory, which states that the audience take a passive approach into reading a media text, therefore the values and ideologies of the ruling class, the hegemony, are indoctrinated in the audiences’ mind, manipulating them into thinking from one specific view point. It is these values and ideologies that are injected into the passive audience, whereby the hypodermic needle model is applicable and evident. What Gil Scott-Heron intends to achieve from this song is to argue and challenge these theories, that wrong stereotypes are being presented to audiences. “You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out”, suggests that you need to stand up and be counted for, and that “The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox”, means you need to make a difference, conjugate and form your own opinions. The “Revolution” in the title is reference to liberisation amongst blacks, and “Televised”, reference to revolution for black equality to whites.
As the media is predominantly white, “The revolution will not get rid of the nubs”, is a parody of advertising keeping you in control. This idea complies with that of Marxism, where we live in a capitalist society. Capitalism is based on the profit motive, and that under capitalism, profits are generated by exploiting workers, in this case, black people. When applying Marx’s theory to the song it is evident to see the two social classes; the working class i.e. the black society, and the bourgeoisie i.e. the white dominated media. It is the hegemony of these white people that exclude the representation of the black minority and the anxieties that advertising promote to them, “The revolution will not be right back after a message about a white tornado, white lightening, or white people”. Through the process of colonialism we see how the representation of black people have developed, where at first they were victimised, then became successful in the entertainment industry, and finally are now see as a savage and negative force, “There will be no pictures of you and Willie May pushing that shopping cart down the block on the dead run / Or trying to slide that color tv into a stolen ambulance”. This is evident in other texts such as Michael Moore’s ‘Bowling For Columbine’ (2002), where his mockery through the animation section of the ‘fear of the black man’ and also through the insert of the television series ‘Cops’ where every suspect seemed to be a tall, black, middle aged man.
By the end of the song, a more up lifting and positive tone is induced. “The revolution will put you in the driver’s seat”; that only you can make a difference. “The revolution will be live”, suggests that it is time to start something new, and to challenge the hegemony of white society.
Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ and ‘Your Revolution’ by DJ Vadim featuring Sarah Jones, raise main issues that are debated about within the media. Both artists have a strong view point in their beliefs and project their values and ideologies to the audience. In a sense, the initial response after listening to or reading the lyrics is shock, due to directness of them. The use of colloquial language gets the point straight across, with the use of derogatory terms, contributing to this ‘shock-value’. Many issues arise from the artists’ statements and will be explored in detail in this essay.
Following the release of ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ (1971), by 1972, the media was predominantly owned by the white and wealthy in society, therefore enforcing upon a western and white cultural ideology through media texts. This conforms to the idea of the Effects Theory, which states that the audience take a passive approach into reading a media text, therefore the values and ideologies of the ruling class, the hegemony, are indoctrinated in the audiences’ mind, manipulating them into thinking from one specific view point. It is these values and ideologies that are injected into the passive audience, whereby the hypodermic needle model is applicable and evident. What Gil Scott-Heron intends to achieve from this song is to argue and challenge these theories, that wrong stereotypes are being presented to audiences. “You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out”, suggests that you need to stand up and be counted for, and that “The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox”, means you need to make a difference, conjugate and form your own opinions. The “Revolution” in the title is reference to liberisation amongst blacks, and “Televised”, reference to revolution for black equality to whites.
As the media is predominantly white, “The revolution will not get rid of the nubs”, is a parody of advertising keeping you in control. This idea complies with that of Marxism, where we live in a capitalist society. Capitalism is based on the profit motive, and that under capitalism, profits are generated by exploiting workers, in this case, black people. When applying Marx’s theory to the song it is evident to see the two social classes; the working class i.e. the black society, and the bourgeoisie i.e. the white dominated media. It is the hegemony of these white people that exclude the representation of the black minority and the anxieties that advertising promote to them, “The revolution will not be right back after a message about a white tornado, white lightening, or white people”. Through the process of colonialism we see how the representation of black people have developed, where at first they were victimised, then became successful in the entertainment industry, and finally are now see as a savage and negative force, “There will be no pictures of you and Willie May pushing that shopping cart down the block on the dead run / Or trying to slide that color tv into a stolen ambulance”. This is evident in other texts such as Michael Moore’s ‘Bowling For Columbine’ (2002), where his mockery through the animation section of the ‘fear of the black man’ and also through the insert of the television series ‘Cops’ where every suspect seemed to be a tall, black, middle aged man.
By the end of the song, a more up lifting and positive tone is induced. “The revolution will put you in the driver’s seat”; that only you can make a difference. “The revolution will be live”, suggests that it is time to start something new, and to challenge the hegemony of white society.
‘Your Revolution’, by DJ Vadim featuring Sarah Jones is far more explicit than Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ in terms of the language that is used. On the other hand, its main similarity is that the artist again is arguing a strong view point. Whilst Gil Scott-Heron was debating on the issue of equality between black and white people in society, Sarah Jones topical issue is that of the equality between males and females. As this is a post-modern text released in 1998, she makes reference to Scott-Heron’s track through the usage of “Revolution”.
Her song is a critique on black media, a feminist attack on macho values typical of rap music. She argues that the black society within the rap and hip-hop culture are not representing themselves in a positive way, and therefore bring it upon themselves when stereotypes are asserted and believed by the public. It is this culture which functions as a degenerative disease, lowering the status of black youths, and makes them a target for politicians and law enforcement authorities. The dress code that comes with the culture has now become iconographic to the status of that person, and also led to the restriction of visiting certain public places, i.e. banning if ‘hoodies’ in shopping centres.
She challenges the misogynistic and patriarchal values of males associated with that particular culture. “The real revolution ain’t about bootie size”; that sex and using your sexuality is irrelevant to becoming successful and wealthy. Jones’s viewpoint here can be considered to agree with that of a pluralist. In Pluralism, society is viewed as a system of competing interests, where none of them are predominant. In this case, women have the ability and same capability of men and therefore can compete with them in the work place in order to be a success instead of resorting to objectifying themselves.
The text can be considered as a pastiche, where it combines other texts. For example, the intertextual reference to rap star L.L. Cool J, and parodies elements of his song, “Doing it and doing it and doing it well”. The ideology of sex and selling yourself is the way to be successful is due to the hegemony of the ruling within this culture, and now has become part of the norm, whereby these stereotypes are accepted. Jones offers an alternative voice that challenges the black male in this culture, and is trying to educate the females within it. The constant repetition of “Your revolution will not happen between these thighs”, is constantly addressing these women; that they will not be liberal by sleeping around but by working hard.
In conclusion, both texts have to ability to raise many issues occurring in society today. They are direct in projecting their views whereby many of the media theories are applicable to these texts. Social and political contexts are addressed and aid the hegemonic constraints; however it is debatable whether these will breakdown. Will there be equality between black and white? Will there be equality between males and females?
Gurveer Ubhi
Her song is a critique on black media, a feminist attack on macho values typical of rap music. She argues that the black society within the rap and hip-hop culture are not representing themselves in a positive way, and therefore bring it upon themselves when stereotypes are asserted and believed by the public. It is this culture which functions as a degenerative disease, lowering the status of black youths, and makes them a target for politicians and law enforcement authorities. The dress code that comes with the culture has now become iconographic to the status of that person, and also led to the restriction of visiting certain public places, i.e. banning if ‘hoodies’ in shopping centres.
She challenges the misogynistic and patriarchal values of males associated with that particular culture. “The real revolution ain’t about bootie size”; that sex and using your sexuality is irrelevant to becoming successful and wealthy. Jones’s viewpoint here can be considered to agree with that of a pluralist. In Pluralism, society is viewed as a system of competing interests, where none of them are predominant. In this case, women have the ability and same capability of men and therefore can compete with them in the work place in order to be a success instead of resorting to objectifying themselves.
The text can be considered as a pastiche, where it combines other texts. For example, the intertextual reference to rap star L.L. Cool J, and parodies elements of his song, “Doing it and doing it and doing it well”. The ideology of sex and selling yourself is the way to be successful is due to the hegemony of the ruling within this culture, and now has become part of the norm, whereby these stereotypes are accepted. Jones offers an alternative voice that challenges the black male in this culture, and is trying to educate the females within it. The constant repetition of “Your revolution will not happen between these thighs”, is constantly addressing these women; that they will not be liberal by sleeping around but by working hard.
In conclusion, both texts have to ability to raise many issues occurring in society today. They are direct in projecting their views whereby many of the media theories are applicable to these texts. Social and political contexts are addressed and aid the hegemonic constraints; however it is debatable whether these will breakdown. Will there be equality between black and white? Will there be equality between males and females?
Gurveer Ubhi
posted by Gurveer at 6:08 PM
1 Comments:
Gurveer - A well written essay. You have gone into depth linking different theories to each case study. Your expression is of a high standard following an excellent concise structure.
You comment on theorists and views such as marxism, capitlism misogynistic and patriarchy.
You also have many quotes from the both case stuides and explain them, not only with your knowledge but linking theorists to your argument.
Excellent Work!!
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