Assignment for Summary/Analysis

 Introduction:

I discussed in class today how music videos are one area where we can test our visual literacy. I also like music videos because you are able to pay attention to lyrics, visuals, and even music (if you are musically inclined). Your first assignment is a summary/analysis, which corresponds in your book roughly to the "Strong Response" explained in your book (and which we will go over in class) in Ch. 5 of Allyn and Bacon Guide (see pgs 104-123).

Assignment:

You are to write an approximately 1000 word summary/analysis of Kanye West's video/song "Power" (linked below). Pay attention to the way the lyrics and video interact as well as purely visual elements. Refrain from using outside sources (i.e. blogs where people have already interpreted the video--there are several) and make sure to properly cite the lyrics. Focus your essay around a clear thesis about the video/song.

Questions to Consider (in order to form a thesis):

What is Kanye saying about himself and his career?
What is the significance of the video's images?
What medium does the video imitate?
How are various figures in the video contrasted

Your analysis should strive to combine these forms of strong response writing:

• Rhetorical Critique
• Ideas critique

Some reflection may be taken into account, but we are striving for a bit more 'objective' analysis of the video.  This video is full of interesting things, so you need to watch it/listen to it several times.

If you decide to include the lyrics (if they are relevant for the argument you want to make about the video), you should consider the complete lyrics of the song (which goes on for quite some time after the video ends:

Power

I'm living in that 21st century doin' something mean to it
Do it better then anybody you ever seen do it
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero need his theme music

[Chorus]
No one man should have all that power
The clocks tickin' I just count the hours
Stop trippin' I'm tripping off the power
(21st century Schizoid Man)

The system broken, the schools closed, the prison's open
We ain't got nothing to lose motherfucker we rollin',
Ha? motherfucker we rollin'
With some light skinned girls and some Kelly Rowland's
In this white man world we the one's chosen
So goodnight cruel world I see you in the mornin',
Ha? I see you in the mornin'
This is way too much, I need a moment.

[Chorus]
No one man should have all that power
The clocks tickin' I just count the hours
Stop trippin' I'm tripping off the power
Till then, fuck that the world's ours
(21st Century Schizoid Man)

Fuck SNL and the whole cast
Tell them Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass
More specifically they can kiss my ass hole
I'm an asshole? You niggas got jokes!
You short minded niggas, thoughts is napolean
My furs is Mongolian, my ice brought the goalies in
I embody every characteristic of the egotistic
he knows, he so fuckin' gifted
I just needed time alone, with my own thoughts
Got treasures in my mind but couldn't open up my own vault
My child-like creativity, purity and honesty is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts
Reality is catching up with me, taking my inner child I'm fighting for custody
With these responsibilities that they entrust in me
As I look down at my diamond crush to piece thinking...

[Chorus]
No one man should have all that power
The clocks tickin' I just count the hours
Stop trippin' I'm tripping off the powder
Till then, fuck that the world's ours
(21st Century Schizoid Man)

Colin Powers, Austin Powers
Lost in translation with a whole fuckin' nation
They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation
Well that's a pretty dour way to start a conversation
At the end of the day goddamn it I'm killin' this shit
I know damn well ya'll feelin' this shit
I don't need your pussy, bitch I'm on my own dick
I ain't got a power trip who you going home with?
How 'Ye doin'? I'm Surviving
I was drinkin' earlier now I'm driving
Where the bad bitches huh? where ya hidin'?
I got the power make your life so excited..

(Oh hey Oh hey Oh hey
Hey Hey)

Now this'll be a beautiful death
[Dwele]
I'm jumping out the window
Letting everything go
Letting everything go
[x3]

You got the power to let power go..

[ad-lib]
(21st Century Schizoid Man)

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Power (video)