Discussing "This Is America" w/ Open Mike Eagle 

Brizzy Danks theres only so much these platforms can do though. When an artists leaves his art up for interpretation, it leads to EVERYONE to take away their own viewpoints and messages from the work.

First off, thanks to DEHH. Both the original and the follow up videos are great. Brizzy I like your comment and the idea that leaving it for interpretation forces opinions good, bad or right-out-of-it. The idea of an organic experience is very compelling to me and has created some great discussions on a myriad of topics in the past. I love the idea of people taking away a personal truth from amorphous creations. However in this instance I feel myself agreeing more with Open Mike. Glover has created a high budget, high profile piece of art with a very distinct viewpoint and, arguably, message. With no context the conversation that follows invariably turns into a shouting match. And in a shouting match, the loudest voice wins. Mainstream media's framing of This Is America seems to be "It's gratuitous" or "It's harmless". They have the loudest voice, so they win. I think adding some context into the mix would settle things down and allow for real conversations to occur.

This was a part of the point I was trying to make on the previous video linked to this video. These sorts of pieces create dialogue that is necessary regardless of the emotion/PTSD/societal situation that exists. In fact, it can be even more necessary for controversial pieces like this to exist to create these very same dialogues which are constructive towards positive ends. Open Mike Eagle respectively states that we need platforms for these discussions. Yet, without Glover, this conversation wouldn't even exist. I take real issue with someone critiquing the legitimacy of an artist (Glover's intent for conscious expression) after admitting to their legitimacy through a different artistic medium. On one hand, Atlanta the show fulfills this requirement, but because his musical expression hasn't, he all of a sudden loses credibility? So, you're going to segregate his art, and in a way segregate the man into pieces? This seems a little absurd. Also, what's wrong with waiting until you have a massive platform to make this statement, as opposed to other artists who toil in obscurity never making a meaningful impact in the minds and lives of many. His show will live on forever in a way (visually) that is profound, and a lot of us are visual creatures. Open Mike thinks people need comfort, relief, and answers. Yes, yes they do. And clearly, what we have been doing as a "culture" hasn't adequately fulfilled these needs. And, how do you do that without collective dialogue, collective participation, a collective ideology, linked engagement that fulfills the ends that we need? You cannot. What you end up having is individuals trying to execute individually, and prominence attached to individuals as opposed to an overarching system. Open Mike states that without clarity, we end up in conversations that are not central to the conversation, or having no idea what the central conversation is. Maybe that's that point. To initiate a conversation that eventually evolves into something constructive. We as a "culture" cannot force artistic expression through a filtering process because it will stifle progress. Regardless of questioning someone's credibility. Forget a "case-by-case-" basis, because there may be someone out there who is legit, who has something great, but we end up watering it down. Open Mike harps on "Context" not explanation. But in a lot of cases, providing context provides explanation. If the pieces are there, and someone provides context, they put the pieces together. And that stifles the art itself, it limits the impact of that art. If I were an artist, I'd want a massive widespread impact. I'm OK with a lot of people not getting it, if it arrives at an end such as this. With chaos there is opportunity. All this stuff about the "Pandora's Box", the messenger changing the perception of the message etc, for me isn't particularly relevant because of the importance of having these intense conversations. The "system" is going to continue on the way it is, in fact, it may even think of new and creative ways to do "certain things". It is a necessity for these dialogues to happen, and quite frankly, outside of extreme situations, I welcome outlandish artistic expressions if it accomplishes that end. Mike C-Town says something about Glover wanting his work to be infamous, or take on this infamous quality. Absolutely, I think in some respects most artists want their work to be infamous, and the motives are based on the individual artist. But, when amidst the chaos, sane minded individuals emerge as a voice of clarity. And so, despite what his intentions may be, this is a good result. Because highlighting issues keeps them relevant. And, based on what many say about Atlanta, that relieves issues about the intent of his infamy to some extent. There's a lot to unpack from this discussion, but I think it's vital to not stifle expression, or sanitize expression, or translate expression, because there are a lot of people who, conceptually may not even be able to exist without that. And dialogue often cannot exist without it. Think of all the people doing positive work out there who cannot achieve this end, and they're doing it with transparency.

Aaron C but at the end of it all he's definitely right about having a clear intent specifically for these kinds of issues.. these are serious issues that he's addressing yet people are making memes out of it... parody etc.... rather than us discussing the issues... the confusion leads more to a conversation about the actual video which is perfect for a piece like because the internet... but it's different for shit like " the blacker the berry" , " be free" & " this is america" because these are real people and issues we're talking about

I agree that these are real people, and these are serious issues. I hope I didn't come across as disrespectful. But, how many songs, shows, so on and so forth have been direct, and obvious, yet fail to create any sort of sustainable dialogue, or sustainable agenda. I'm not saying that there aren't real people making a difference out there, but at the same time, the type of traction and cohesiveness that's required hasn't been developed yet in my opinion. And so, until that happens, I don't think we can just summarily write it off because it causes people to feel a particular way. Every time a man gets shot on TV, they relive it anyways. It becomes a running loop on the internet. They cannot cut that off any quicker than that video, and those men getting brutalized repeatedly is actually real. It's going to be a continual cycle anyways, sadly. These sorts of situations have been happening forever and a day. If an internal uproar gets us there, then that's what needs to happen IMO. The type of conditions being endured required serious philosophical dialogue, formulation and implementation. I don't think it's outlandish to say that what has been going on for the last 50 plus years has been a massive failure. And to say, well, lets just throw on some Talib Kweli (no disrespect to Talib, I enjoy his art) and it's going to make it all better, or, that's the "proper" way to address things. Let's live in this "comfort zone", despite being made uncomfortable collectively on a daily basis. I think people need to feel uncomfortable within the group, they need to feel the need to speak, they need to feel the need to say to their brothers that collectively we need to come to some sort of conclusions that address things in a way that we haven't considered. There are too many zombies just moving about, a guy gets gunned down and they become numb to it. No matter who the shooter is. Or, any other situation that occurs in relation to the group. There are too many fractured units with outlandish philosophies that will not result to anything. All of that needs to change. There needs to be a space for multiple forms of thought and expression.

Feefo look like Mike Eagle stole his lunch money and he plotting revenge

I hope he was just cold lol.

He knew open mike was just being a hater and was backtracking like crazy

afro curly girl lmfaooooo

afro curly girl Yoooo

He sink any deeper into that sofa and he gonna be lying down on the floor

afro curly girl lol

Haha, thought the same thing!

This was cool as hell.. seeing dehh's and myke c-town's reviews on mike eagle projects actually helped pull me into being a consistent fan of the reviews and conversations.

Or at least one of the many issues he tried to convey and I really don’t think memes are going to destroy the impact of the song / video

Mykell Broughton 💯

Fail. You missed 99%. Filled with illuminati symbolism

Ziggy Xavier Niiiga 😂

KC Lorenz my only question is who is confused or misinterpreted this is America? Are DEHH saying the people who meme it misinterpreted it? Like the majority of people who saw the video got the message. People joking about it has nothing to do with misinterpreting something so I want to know who DEHH is talking about

SSPYR0 I was hoping it would be on the podcast

The video is what made it go viral. The imagery was very well done, but the song was ok

That feeling when wifey say you can't bump nothing in the whip till yall "figure some things out"

Yeah agree. In the past year Mod's really brought the sho to another level. RESPECT. Cant wait to see what he and the crew got up their sleeve moving forward.

*show

Youwy Truuuuuuuu

Youwy, that's a great insight. I love it.

Anything popular, no matter how serious, turns into a meme. Coronavirus is proof

afro curly girl I think it's more about not allowing people to twist the video to forward their own agenda. Memes are fine but the bigger issue is manipulation

They arent saying he should/should have come out and tell people not to do that. Theyre simply saying itd be beneficial for him to guide the convo - not explain every detail, just to guide the convo

ChrisJ Fox yeah exactly... here's the thing.. certain people are gonna make memes... they're allowed to do that... but within the context of " the conversation ".... there needs to be someone leading and giving a clear idea as to what that conversation is actually supposed to be about... having a clear indication as to what this is would help to avoid people trying to hijack it...

people already do make memes about it to spite the people who say not to meme it

afro curly girl I like u

I was looking for a way to understand why I felt this way and you nailed it for me. Totally agree.

Khoi Kidd definitely refreshing. Cuz we don't see him enough

Why can’t good or bad opinions be heard anymore? I’d rather have a natural, open and honest conversation with our own thoughts and interpretations rather than borrowing the argument that the artist made.

Did you watch the video? OME specifically said he isn't suggesting that Gambino should explain the details, just guide the conversation. Guiding the convo is not the same thing as explaining the video/art

The example he gave about Beyonce's Lemonade was pretty perfect. Best I know, Bey never once came out and explained various lines from those songs but the mere context of her life being known was enough to anchor things. She didn't have to explain her art, and neither does Glover

ChrisJ Fox “this is one DEHH conversation I 100% disagree with” I was talking about deadend specifically and not open mike so ok...

ChrisJ Fox the conversation doesn’t need to be guided by cb that’s the point. People were discussing and still are about the video. His point was unnecessary though in reality. But thank you for trying to say I didn’t watch the video.

walls.beats I agree! Why should Childish Gambino waste his time explaining his art and message for/to people that are closed mind and mocking/"mudding" his message. It's not that they don't understand.. it's that they don't care.

there was no need for one, people just wanting to be spoon fed. that's not how all art works

NotRealMusic thank you, you’re the only person I’ve seen make this point

I feel like the fact memes are being made, solidifies one of the points made in the video

They specifically acknowledged that memes are going to happen no matter what. That wasnt their point.

Yeah, I noticed this myself. It almost strengthens Glover's point, I think. Crazy.

Rory Munro i think is the way he’s sitting in that position he’s kinda slouched over lmao but if you look closely he was nodding his head in approval

See, I interpreted that nod as uncontrollable rage. He obviously approves and all but couldn't help laugh when I saw his frown.

Rory Munro yea when they put the camera on him i was cracking up too 😂 i was like why he making that face lmao

this is like one of the only good comments here.

Hulk Smash!!