I remember last year, Kanye released a weird short film ... but it was panned for being pretentious and he basically deleted it from the internet. I watched it and just didn't understand...honestly, it might have been a bit pretentious...but I don't think I really gave it a chance... I don't think people understood it, because I don't think we really understand Kanye West.
I think Kanye is one of the most interesting mainstream musicians around (even more interesting than Gaga if you can believe it). He's the epitome of tortured artist (a title I've only ever given to Lauryn Hill before him), and because of this, his mind works differently. So I decided to challenge myself, and really break down his new short film mv.... Here is my interpretation (mind you, I broke this down before many other interpretations were floating around the internet...so my interpetation is authentically my own and unaffected):
My Interpretation:
The Phoenix is his career and thus his soul/himself (because his art is him)...
The Michael Jackson stuff is Kanye.... how absolutely condemned Michael was on earth...but praised after his passing... Kanye has referenced his legacy when he's "dead and gone" many times... People see him as a jackass now, but when he's gone everyone will say, Kanye was #1...
He plays " Power" to the Phoenix... like...which revitalizes it... "Power" seems to be Kanye's epiphany song...if you've heard it before...
I don't completely get the dinner scene... although when the Phoenix flips out that they are going to eat turkey... I think it's representative of how cutthroat the industry is or "dog eat dog" (in this case, bird eat bird) and people are willing to do anything to succeed (sellout, backstab... ect) ...
Ooh and the ballerinas... I don't necessarily know for sure what they represent...but I notice that they are white in black ...entertaining a table of all black wealthy in white....also that they’re movements can be sort of "odd looking"... based on my literature courses, something like a ballerina would represent beauty and fragility... So perhaps it's something about the ugliness in beauty? Roses and thorns. The ugliness in the industry amongst the beauty that is musical art? Or the ugliness on the surface; Kanye's superficiality vs the beauty/passion within him/his creativity.
The end is mostly about his conflict. The Phoenix (his heart/passion/soul/art) is talking to him right? And she's talking about change... and basically how people don't like what they can't understand and will try to destroy it. Again, based on my interpretation, because of what the Phoenix symbolizes, this is a direct reference to Kanye and his music... how it's different, and he's different and thus people misunderstand him and want to crucify him and write his music/him off.
But yada yada... "the Phoenix rises" which is an age old symbolism of triumph and rebirth, as Kanye heads back to the woods on foot.
In the beginning he's riding through the woods in his sick car, rapping about how he's the shit...in the end he heads back to the woods having learnt humility...
The Phoenix is his career and thus his soul/himself (because his art is him)...
The Michael Jackson stuff is Kanye.... how absolutely condemned Michael was on earth...but praised after his passing... Kanye has referenced his legacy when he's "dead and gone" many times... People see him as a jackass now, but when he's gone everyone will say, Kanye was #1...
He plays " Power" to the Phoenix... like...which revitalizes it... "Power" seems to be Kanye's epiphany song...if you've heard it before...
I don't completely get the dinner scene... although when the Phoenix flips out that they are going to eat turkey... I think it's representative of how cutthroat the industry is or "dog eat dog" (in this case, bird eat bird) and people are willing to do anything to succeed (sellout, backstab... ect) ...
Ooh and the ballerinas... I don't necessarily know for sure what they represent...but I notice that they are white in black ...entertaining a table of all black wealthy in white....also that they’re movements can be sort of "odd looking"... based on my literature courses, something like a ballerina would represent beauty and fragility... So perhaps it's something about the ugliness in beauty? Roses and thorns. The ugliness in the industry amongst the beauty that is musical art? Or the ugliness on the surface; Kanye's superficiality vs the beauty/passion within him/his creativity.
The end is mostly about his conflict. The Phoenix (his heart/passion/soul/art) is talking to him right? And she's talking about change... and basically how people don't like what they can't understand and will try to destroy it. Again, based on my interpretation, because of what the Phoenix symbolizes, this is a direct reference to Kanye and his music... how it's different, and he's different and thus people misunderstand him and want to crucify him and write his music/him off.
But yada yada... "the Phoenix rises" which is an age old symbolism of triumph and rebirth, as Kanye heads back to the woods on foot.
In the beginning he's riding through the woods in his sick car, rapping about how he's the shit...in the end he heads back to the woods having learnt humility...
Something he seems to be addressing overall is:
The mentality behind consumer opinion about celebrities, who they don't actually know and never will?
How people can't differentiate between his persona...and his regrets for representing said "douchebag" caricature, and how people don't really get him...
I think he's also saying:
"don't crucify me, just listen to my music and maybe you'll understand...but if not...I guess it's ok... i'm done living for other people..."
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