https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPeSxMygBIg
*Disclaimer: Minor language and sexual content.
For my first Cultural Artifact, I chose to listen to the song 90210 by D.C. rapper Wale. In this song, Wale tells the story of a young woman striving to make it into the glamorous, Hollywood life. A new life of drugs, sex, and bulimia, awaits for the young girl as she does whatever she thinks needs to be done in order to live the life that she has always wanted.
Though this is merely a song, situations as described happen in our society today. We live in a world today where we are stuck in an Empire based on success rather than living for God. People work hard to get the success and perks of being a celebrity, but many do not use their new talents for the grace of God. Some people go to extreme measures in order to be famous. For example, the women in the song would have sex with celebrity males to try to push herself into the Hollywood scene. Another subject the song touches on, is how some people idolize celebrities and dream to look like them. The second commandment states, "Thou shalt not have any other gods." In our society, people idolize fame to the point where it becomes unhealthy. Women and men strive to be like the people they see on the television. People go to extents of starving themselves, steroids, and plastic surgery to imitate their celebrity idols. Not only are these people living in an Empire of false idolizing, but an Empire that ignores the rules of creation. We are all created in God's image, which means we are created "good." Since we are good then we should have no reason to change our bodies. We are in a Empire with much personal greed, but with our new culture making, we will have the ability to change society for the Kingdom and have hope for redemption.
Questions for discussion:
1. How has society affected the way people feel about themselves physically?
2. What could Hollywood do to help change how it's viewers see their programs?
Interesting song, Courtney! I hadn't heard that one before. I would encourage you to take this a step further to comment on what the artist, Wale, thinks about the world he's presenting (the difference between showing sinful behavior and affirming it). It's my impression that he's trying to dismantle a lifestyle that's often perceived to be glamorous and desirable by making it ugly--which is a good thing! In the hands of another artist, this isolating and degrading lifestyle might be glorified. Thanks for sharing!
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