June 20, 2013
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Is Kanye Glorifying Materialism or Condemning It?
It's easy to see Kanye West's descent into self-centered hedonism as a societal vice. "The kids are repeating his lyrics!" "No child of mine would ever have be allowed to purchase...!" etc. And in the past, I'd just agree that one should ban and ignore such ramblings.
However, at times there's the uncomfortable truth that sinners (in other words, all of us) speak the truth because they know it best. When examined more carefully, by his description of his life, isn't Kanye showing his own wrongs and revealing the emptiness behind his lifestyle? There's an interesting debate to be had about whether artistic performances that showcase bad behavior also demonstrate its ultimate futility. If you had a child, would you rather shield them from hedonism or say "Look, here is what really happens: the man in full is bankrupted by the fire of his vanities (lupine* grin) and is left a husk of what he once was, screaming "I am Yeezus, I am Kanye West" long after the phrase ceases to stand for anything meaningful?"
*If you fully understand the wordplay in this sentence, have mah babies.
Comments (3)
I feel like if he were really condemning materialism, that he wouldn't live the super-lavish celebrity lifestyle.
kids don't get to see Kanye's life behind the scenes, and even if they did, they wouldn't care. it wouldn't phase them. kids are going to react what they see in the media and what they see from his fans. only the cool people have millions of fans and followers. if Kanye was condemning anything, the last thing he should be doing is idolizing it on TV for the whole country to see.
It depends on whether or not the kid has a wise adult around to point these things out.
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