Art is not merely a photo-op, and posing in front of art is reducing it to a backdrop. People photograph everything, look but don't see, understanding very little of context. My second thought, and I'm not proud of this, was, ruefully "cool, more museum selfies." One of my pet peeves is, in spite of how many visitors there are in museums, how little time people actually spend looking at the art. I'm less sure about this current project. The relationship between Julie Dash and Arthur Jafa's Daughters of the Dust and Beyoncé's Lemonade was, to my mind, a brilliant way to incorporate art in a music video, elevating the music and, in some ways, highlighting the artistic inspiration. The video itself is gorgeously shot, and does show a continued interest in art on behalf of the artists, JAY-Z and Beyoncé, to engage with art (notable precursors being JAY-Z's "Picasso Baby," and Beyoncé's use of David Hammons and Richard Prince in “7/11”). My first reaction, was being thrilled that art was being featured in a music video at all. Like other awards shows, MTV has been coping with declining viewership as audiences are increasingly spoiled for choice on what to watch.First of all, what were your initial reactions to the “APESHIT” video? Previous spectacles at the VMAs have included Lady Gaga sporting a dress made of meat, Britney Spears and Madonna locking lips and Kanye West declaring his aspirations for the White House. Other contenders in the category include rapper Logic's "1-80," named for an anti-suicide help number and featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid, and feminist singer Janelle Monae's "Pynk," whose video depicts her at a slumber party with other women bonding over a shared love of their vaginas.ĭrake, rarely seen as a political artist, was nominated for Video With a Message for "God's Plan," in which he doles out charity money, while emerging Canadian singer Jessie Reyez is in the running for "Gatekeeper," a #MeToo-era song about an established music producer who tries to pressure her into sex.ĭespite the serious side, the MTV Video Music Awards is best known for made-for-the-cameras pop culture moments with less attention paid to who ultimately wins than the music industry's Grammys. "This is America" was also in the running for best Video With a Message as MTV for the second straight year tried to capture the political moment by honoring works with an activist bent. The video for "This is America," directed by Hiro Murai, depicts Glover in acts of violence that reflect gun massacres and racism in the United States, complemented with dancing in homage to African traditions. Childish Gambino, the hip-hop alter ego of actor Donald Glover, received all his nods for "This is America," his much-discussed meditation on the contemporary political landscape of the United States. "Apeshit" was part of the surprise album "Everything is Love" by "The Carters," who celebrated their marriage in soulful hip-hop after a rough patch that was thoroughly aired in previous music.Ĭhildish Gambino and Drake each received seven nominations. The video pays tribute to "In Living Color," the trailblazing African American television comedy show of the early 1990s.Ĭardi B stormed into pop culture prominence last year with "Bodak Yellow," a song in which she touches on her former life making ends meet as a stripper, but was controversially passed over at the latest Grammy Awards - which Mars dominated.īeyonce and Jay-Z were nominated for eight awards, all for "Apeshit," the meticulously attired and tightly choreographed production shot at the Louvre, opening with music's first couple standing like a painting in front of the Mona Lisa. The 25-year-old, who recently became a mother, was nominated for Video of the Year as the featured artist on "Finesse" by funk revivalist Bruno Mars. The Bronx native born as Belcalis Almanzar was in the running in both hip-hop and Latin categories as well as Artist of the Year and Best New Artist. Cardi B was in the running in both hip-hop and Latin categories as well as Artist of the Year and Best New ArtistĬardi B, who in little more than a year has become one of the most prominent women in the male-dominated world of hip-hop, received 10 nominations for the awards show that will take place on August 20 in New York.
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