In the eyes of today's politically and socially divided youth, the '60s and '70s were a period of idealistic activism on the part of both the celebrated musical artists and those still struggling in the streets for their craft. People revered composers and performers not only for their talent but also for their ability to make an impact upon the greater society.
Now, nearly a half-century after John Lennon declared The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus," the concept of the deified legendary artist appears to have all but disappeared completely, as figures in popular culture find themselves growing more and more out of sync with the country at large. The fault for this modern environment where true legends and their messages are now no more than mythology, lies on both sides of the celebrity spectrum. The mutual understanding which once existed between a star and their fans, which made artists from nearly half a century ago so imperative in their own times, is nearly extinct.
A few modern performers, including the relentlessly egotistical Kanye West, who once explained his philosophy toward picking up a good book as being "I feel like I'm too busy writing history to read it," still walk about with the delusion that their messages will extend much beyond the airwaves of the radio or the ear-buds of an iPod.
The reality is that between the consistently demonizing paparazzi and celebrity gossip bloggers, it's easier than ever for today's jaded youth to draw the line between entertainment and what's "really important." The Beatles were so continuously effective in having their messages echo as icons of a moment in history, precisely because they put so little effort into doing so. It only takes a casual viewing of "A Hard Day's Night" to discover the early Fab Four weren't ashamed to admit that they didn't bother occupying themselves with much beyond chasing tail and playing cards. Their art spoke for itself, and thus the message came across as all the more powerful.
While contemporary artists do their considerable share of activism work, for the large part, it fails in making a notable impression upon their audiences at large, mostly because they too have created a divide between what they do for entertainment and everything else in their lives. Beyoncé Knowles dedicates herself to working with an organization such as the Survivor Foundation for Katrina victims, but then proceeds to shun her activism completely, making it difficult to take her outside messages with any real sincerity. When she writes hollow songs that are devoid of any significant societal meaning whatsoever, such as "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" on her new album, it becomes difficult to take her message seriously.
It's not that I'm calling for all celebrities to flag-wave in charity organizations, but merely to respect that what made legends out of mere singers in the past was that their songs and films actually meant something to the greater world at large. In neglecting to place a message of any real importance in their work, these modern celebrities are in fact undermining the power of art as a whole.
In my short time at AU, I've noticed a great disconnect between students who set their sights on international and political studies, and the world of popular culture at large. But for this, I can't really blame them. With weightless songs such as "Womanizer," "Hot N Cold" and "Just Dance" occupying the top 10 list on iTunes, why should these students, who are preparing to dedicate their lives to making the world a better place, pay any attention to these celebrities whose only real directive is to produce a good beat?
The Russian literary critic Vissarion Belinsky once wrote that "If something true can be understood about art, something will be understood about liberty too." So in the land of the free, why is our art so constrained? The product of an artist should reflect their deepest soul and emotions and convey onto their consumers the same passions. Politicians may write the laws of our country, but it is our heroes and idols of culture that will carry out the image which truly defines us. Why not make it one really worth hearing?
You can reach this columnist at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
