blah blah bloging my thoughts since i've quit facebok cold turkey

You know what? our age is strange.

Here is Erykah Badu's latest music video: (art)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hVp47f5YZg

And here is Lady Gaga and Beyonce's new video: (art)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ95z6ywcBY

I realize these videos are on the opposite side of the musical spectrum, but when i was told to watch both of them, i couldn't help but notice the similarities.

I mean other than the fact that both of them have to do with (basically) getting or being naked,

I think these videos are showing something that is emerging in our current culture.

In Erykahs video, it seems to me that she is pointing out what we (as americans) have become, especially at the end when she speaks;

"they are quick to assassinate what they to not understand, they move in packs, ingesting more and more fear with every act of hate on one another. They feel most comfortable in groups; less guilt to swallow. THEY are US. THIS is what we have become. Afraid to respect the individual. A single person within a circumstance can move one to change. To love herself; to evolve."

It seems to me that by stripping down completely naked she forces the people around her to see the rawness of the human body; of the pure individual. She talks about respecting the self, about loving, evolving. I'd like to mention, by the way, that this song is from the New Amerykah Part Two album. ... Anyway. What she is pointing out is our FEAR of what isn't in "the norm."

She does it in such a powerful way too, to force the viewer to follow her and watch as her story unfolds; as she undresses in the streets and gets shot.

Gaga's videos, i must admit, are something else. She directs them herself, too. And the weird parallels between the videos move me to ask questions about our culture. Gaga's reputation is strange; what with the hermaphrodite rumors, outlandish costumes, and "i don't give a fuck about what you think" attitude.

I just feel like these two videos touch so much on the same subjects, and the backgrounds of both the artists contribute highly to the messages that they deliver. They are both emphasizing the importance of the SELF. of BEING yourself. Not following the crowds, not doing what other people do, but following your heart and your soul and letting things take their course by making your decisions. Gaga's reputation and video shows that. Badu literally just tells us.

They touch on LOVE; love is love, gay or straight, black or white. (which, i find hilarious in the end of Gaga's video that Beyonce is dressed in black and Gaga in white.) Erykah shows love by contrasting it with hate and fear. She was killed because she was trying to express herself.

i would also like to add, as a last note, why i think these videos reflect our culture. It comes from the title of Badu's album, New Amerykah part two, and the part of Gaga's video when there is a huge group of people dancing in sparkly america costumes. There you have it. plus it is contemporary art. I shouldn't even be arguing this, it is so obvious.

SO, if anything, the message i get from these videos is to express yourself. Be COMFORTABLE with yourself; move yourself to break your boundaries, to grow, to EVOLVE, to show whoever what you are, what you can be, what you COULD be, how to change.

It showed me that america can be pretty cool;

we've got a lot of great people, a lot of great ARTISTS, living in our country.

i just wish that everybody had the same mindset.

WE ARE US. come on now.

get naked and dance!