Question 7 by Milon (in Durand)
Comment both sides of the debate art vs. dirt/pollution concerning graffiti and tagging. Do tags belong to the tradition of mural painting? Defend your own opinion. The answer to this question depends on perspective. If the view of the person is a limited view, and does not sense the needs or pain of others, that person will see that the tag as an offense, mere graffiti, which is considered from that viewpoint to be a part of a problem that has to do with people breaking the law. However, a less limited viewpoint would realize and see that graffiti is the only way a person felt that they could express, or reflect the life they live, and react to how life has made them express life. Their tag is their signature, and their written commentary, which is a natural extension of today’s very vocal society, yet from a group that many do not want to hear, or care to hear. For this reason, being open to realize that the work is art of this time period, the answer is yes. Tags do belong to the tradition of mural painting, because the tag itself identifies the artist and their artistry. One has to do differently, to promote change in art perception, in my opinion, formed from this study. Any master of art from centuries past put their mark, or commentary on their murals. There is no difference now, in my opinion. If a work was discovered that proved to be the work of Leonardo da Vinci, and there was even questionable writing on it, it would not be sold on a shabby street corner. It would either be placed in the Louvre without question, or sold at Sothebys. Bach had double digits of children, and never enjoyed the prestige his music represents, and neither did many others. (A & E, 2016). Where does the world think great art and music come from? Privilege? The answer is often suffering.
Who are these authors-actors who contribute to the modification of the City’s landscape? How do tags, murals, graffiti participate in the construction of the city’s urban face or landscape? They are artists who beautify what they have had to accept with bright colors. Perhaps in their way, they mirror what they do have, which cannot be taken from them. This changes an old landscape where people are bound by economic woes to what the they wish for. Brightness of life. This cannot be purchased, because if that person can find positivity, then that’s beyond money, and it is their comfort. Tags, murals, graffiti all have a part in this. I remember seeing an old set of train cars on a railroad. They were very drab—with the exception of the graffiti which had been added at the bottom of the cars. It immediately made me excited, because the work was riveting. It also made me realize that many people might never get the chance to show their worth, except by these works. These works of art give forth a vibrant feel to something very drab. That work is their skyscraper, their message, their company, their job they might not have, and their chance to be great or just show themselves their potential.
What is the main difference between the French and American traditions as far as tags are concerned? The main difference between the two is the French have a tradition of honoring the arts more than America. The French do not confuse art with morality, or right or wrong as much as America has in the past. In my opinion, they see a greater work in tags than America does, because the medium denotes a social statement, even if it is spray paint on a stop sign. They associated tags with art before it was somewhat popular to do so, even presenting it, or perceiving it in different mediums, just as a collector of fine art would (Gray, 2016).
In your own opinion, is graffiti an art? Are tags and murals a part of a city’s skin, or are they but scars more or less deeply engraved on its body? Graffiti is an art of a people who might not have had the opportunity to hear or see what “proper art” is. The streets became their canvas before art school was an option they felt they could attend, let alone deserve. Tags are both art and scars. The art comes from the pain of people who have to make their own voice, and a great deal of it came at the expense of harshness from the hierarchy of the city. The best the artist felt they could do is make the scar as colorful and bold as they want their lives to be. It is an outlet for pain and many other inexpressible ideas and feelings.
What is the importance of MC Solaar for French and francophone rap? Write your own critique of “Galaktika” (A critique is not a simple summary of the song’s lyrics, it is an analysis, a discussion of a song’s strengths, weaknesses, and values/origins illustrated with specific examples in the lyrics). Read the lyrics in English translation below. My answer is, MC Solaar is important for French and Francophone Rap because of his depth, which is reflected in the fact that he studied several languages (“MC Solaar”, 2016). This has helped him to be verbal with several languages of people. This is an important feature, because in my opinion, it makes him able to relate to people of entirely different languages his form of rap. Also, early in his career, he related to American rap groups like De La Soul, a group which was among the top rap groups in the 1990’s. (“MC Solaar”, 2016). From this fact, it can be assumed that MC Solaar established himself to an extent in the US, initiating an American following as well as from his linguistics. Concerning the musical piece, “Galaktika”, the lyrics are reflective of the artist’s depth. It is a different form of rap than the common themes. There is no offense intended in my writing this—people who are expressing themselves have the right to do so, and in some cases, actually have a valid point to convey, and sometimes expose what needs to be exposed; However, MC Solaar seems to be on a different train of thought. In writing this, I mean to say that while the rap genre generally (and usually in America), has the tendency to speak as if to boast of some material aspect of its artist. Sometimes it disrespects some aspect of a person, place, or thing. (“50 Cent”, 2005). Sometimes rap is dedicated to a special person, place, or thing. 2PacVEVO, 2011). Occasionally, the rap perhaps tries to speak for a social change, sometimes in a negative way. (N.W.A, 1988). “Galaktika” is more a journey of MC Solaar’s love for music, language, the things he has learned, from an intellectual perspective. Yet it does all of this with a danceable beat. “Galatika” comes off as smooth rap, not offensive, or blaring, but smooth, and it represents what rap can be. This, in my opinion is refreshing. I have also noticed different instrumental sounds, and more musical differences in the music of MC Solaar in most of his pieces. This is different from the repeats, and simpler, though catchy, beats I hear in the other rap presented. The video of the music is also inclusive of people of a different race, and not in a negative sense. This was also refreshing. To some who like the aforementioned characteristics of rap, the piece might come off as not being genuine, or soft, because many think of rap as being the examples presented. However, rap is poetry set to a musical beat, and it is a piece that is different, and fresh, from what I have heard for the reasons written.
What is the importance of Doc Gyneco for French and francophone rap? Write your own critiques of “Born Here” and “My Street” (A critique is not a simple summary of the song’s lyrics, it is an analysis, a discussion of a song’s strengths, weaknesses, and values/origins illustrated with specific examples in the lyrics). Read the lyrics in English translation below. Although the link for Doc Gyneco was removed, I did listen to other samples of his music, and read the lyrics. Doc Gyneco is the opposite for Francophone Rap from MC Solaar. Where MC Solaar is more the artist, doing an objective poetic flow about life. His name, Doc Gyneco, or Doc Gynaecologist, let everyone in France know that he was not coming without controversy. (“Doc Gyneco”, 2008). He has been accused of being out there in the sense consistent with the way American Rap has been, as mentioned in answer two. Besides this, he is half a decade younger than MC Solaar. American rap, almost in verse, but not as consistently harsh, is his contribution to French Rap, apart from the fact that he was born in Paris, France, and is a native of the country. (“Doc Gyneco”, 2008). (Incidently, MC Solaar is not French; He was born in Africa of parents from Chad and Senegal). (“MC Solaar, 2007). Doc Gyneco speaks the French rap of where he is from. It is somewhat like American rap, because it does draw negative criticism, but it is still less abrasive. In the first piece of Doc Gyneco’s “Born Here” (Translated from the French by A-P Durand), Doc Gyneco speaks where he was born, but it is more tasteful than the gritty realism in American rap. An example of this is when he raps of a female feeling the need to sell her body. In American Rap, it might have been a mutual agreement, and that would have been the subject of the rap, not a question, as in the example of “Bandz a Make her Dance.” (TheJuicyJ VEVO, 2012). This rap features only what the female, and the male is willing to do for the money, to the enjoyment of the fans. In this example Doc Gyneco might want to sound controversial, but he doesn’t match his gynecological name. It sounds as if he is trying to be something he is not. Yet, he has fans, and he is honest in a way that would be almost tasteful as that area of Hip Hop Rap goes. However, this is the music of an artist who produced this music at least a half a decade before the artist of the former music. In the next piece of music by Doc Gyneco, “My Street” (Translated from the French by A-P Durand), the rapper is successful and his lyrics are good in the French sense. It is still not gritty like American Hip Hop/Rap. sometimes is, but it does speak of the conditions of the streets in France where Doc Gyneco lives. In other words, the music has an intellect to it, much like that of MC Solaar. The depth of both artist’s music is in the lyrics, by intellect. American utilize the twists of words to show their knowledge, as in Lil Wayne’s “Six Foot, Seven Foot”, where he says, “silent like the g in lasagna.” (“Six Foot, Seven Foot”, 2010). The reason this is so, I believe, is that, as I wrote before, the French do not confuse morality with art. Therefore, there is no frustration, I believe, in their artistic work. Even though Don Gyneco’s lyrics are realistic, the American artist’s rap music is more frustrated, and more harsh. Don Gyneco’s music, overall, is more like American Rap in melody, without a lot of varying instrumentals sounds, and has a main and consistent flow for the most part.
Works Cited
A & E. "Johann Sebastian Bach." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 2016. Web. 06 Aug. 2016.
"Doc Gynéco." RFI Musique. N.p., 2008. Web. 06 Aug. 2016.
50 Cent. ""Window Shopper" Lyrics." 50 CENT LYRICS. G-Unit/Interscope., 2005. Web. 06 Aug. 2016.
Gray, S. (2016). "Graffiti History - 10 Important Moments". WideWalls. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Aug. 2016.
"Lil Wayne." - 6 Foot 7 Foot Lyrics. Bangladesh, 2010. Web. 06 Aug. 2016.
"MC Solaar". RFI Musique. N.p., 2007. Web. 6 Aug. 2016.
N.W.A. Fuck the Police. Priority/Ruthless Records, 1988. Lyrics Directory. Web. 6 Aug. 2016.
TheJuicyJ VEVO. "Juicy J - Bandz A Make Her Dance (Explicit) Ft. Lil' Wayne, 2 Chainz." YouTube. YouTube, 23 Sept. 2012. Web. 06 Aug. 2016.
2PacVEVO. "2Pac - Dear Mama." YouTube. YouTube, 05 July 2011. Web. 06 Aug. 2016.
