Great art can do many things. It can entertain, it can challenge, it can be controversial, it can make statements about the world we live in, it can move popular culture forward, it can stun the viewer or listener with its aesthetic prowess, it can engage, it can confuse, it can make you think. But the greatest art manages to do all of these things whilst sitting in a place that is popular and mainstream. After all what is the point of doing all of the above if hardly anyone is going to take notice?
The new video from Childish Gambino is that great art. It’s shocking, chaotic, mesmerising and its visual narrative is contextually on point for 2018 it’s crazy. This is a bold social statement that tackles racial disparity, gun violence and how distraction techniques can be used to make us oblivious to what is going on in the background. Oh and there's lots of wonderful dancing as well. It's starkly powerful to watch and absorb.
This Is America is currently the most popular video on You Tube and has already had nearly 14 million views in just over 24 hours. Deservedly so. Sadly in my country of the UK it seems that a lot of music websites haven't covered it (yet) and I hope that this is just because it was released on a Sunday followed by a Bank Holiday Monday. Because this needs to be seen and heard.
Childish Gambino - This Is America (Video)
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