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Discussion Presentation: Race and Representation

“Beautiful Liar” by Beyoncé ft. Shakira

“Beautiful Liar”, sung by Beyoncé and Shakira, was released in 2007, but has been in development since 2006. Mikkel S. Eriksen, one of the people behind the songwriting and song production process of the Stargate music company, wrote the instrumentals to this song a year before its release. Eriksen was especially proud of its simplicity and ability to carry such strong emotions. When played in front of Tyran Smith, a manager of the company, Smith became the driving force behind the song’s production. He enlisted the work of several other artists to help complete the song; Amanada Ghost and Ian Dench wrote the lyrics and Beyoncé added slight modifications to fit her style of singing. After releasing the song and breaking the Billboard Hot 100’s record of biggest leap in April 7th, 2007, jumping from 94th to 3rd biggest hit, Beyoncé shared her interpretation of the lyrics as a symbol of female empowerment. The women discover that the man they are seeing is courting both of them at the same time, and rather than fight each other for that man, they decide to drop him and ignore his request for a relationship. The subversion from an expected “cat-fight” to a comradery refusal of the male’s acceptance aids the song in shifting the gaze from men to women. “Beautiful Liar” and its powerful message easily allowed it to top the charts internationally, which included the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand, and win the MTV Video Music Award for Most Earth Shattering Collaboration in 2007.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall discusses his analysis of the Black community and how their race is constructed and represented. He explains how popular culture, specifically Black popular culture, is identified by their local hopes, aspirations, tragedies, and everyday activities. Beyoncé, a Black woman, and Shakira, a Latina woman, come from two different ethnic cultures that uphold different beliefs on these values, but they are united over their shared experiences as women. They are familiar with how the male gaze views them as sexual objects to be obtained and the tragedies that come from its subjugation. Through their understanding how men treat their community, they are able to place the fault in the man deceiving them. 

Can’t we laugh about it? (oh)

It’s not worth our time (oh)

We can live without him

Just a beautiful lie

Each woman believed that she was his “one and only”, cherishing the hopes and aspirations of having a future with him, until the other woman was made known to them, revealing his deception. Instead of fighting with each other for the gaze of a “beautiful liar”, they decide to not dwell on their individual relationship with him and completely abandon pursuing a future with him. They take in the truth of their experience to work through the tragedy of his betrayal and continue living without him in their lives. 

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

In his quest to understand the identity of the Black community and the origins of their representation, Henry Louis Gates unravels the mystery of an African mythology, the Signifying Monkey. The Signifying Monkey is described as the trickster character in many of their stories. In the Monkey, Lion, and Elephant myth, the Lion misinterprets what the Monkey says to him and challenges the Elephant, who promptly sends him back to the Monkey. The nuances hidden behind the signifiers describing the significance instead of analyzing the significance of the signified causes this misunderstanding between the two parties. Beyonce and Shakira experience similar misunderstandings when they confront each other as the secret “mistress” their lover is seeing behind their backs. Both have been signified as the only one for our beautiful liar, and after realizing the signifier of the deception came from him, both Beyonce and Shakira understood the significance of his betrayal.  

(He) kissed me, his one and only (yes), beautiful liar

Initially, this line was used to vindicate the hostility between Beyonce and Shakira, as the man is in a committed relationship to one of them. They, individually, were his one and only, and the “beautiful liar”, was the other woman for suggesting that her man would be unfaithful. However, after learning the truth, this line’s meaning is revealed to us, signifying the lie of him being faithful and the “beautiful liar” referring to himself for deceiving the women. Understanding the situation, the two women reconcile with each other and leave the man to suffer the consequences of his tricks.

“I Am Not My Hair” by India Arie ft Akon

“I Am Not My Hair” was written by India Arie, a Neo-Soul and R&B artist, and was released on November 15, 2005.  Often recognized as one of the most influential female artists of the 21st century, Arie’s work often blurs the line between song and poetry, utilizing her work to promote the beauty of one’s soul. This song reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2007. Arie was originally inspired to write this song for female cancer patients who lost their hair due to treatment, but during its development process, her message began morphing into one that challenged society’s idealistic view and standard of female beauty. Symbolized through her hair, the expectations of her as a woman are never enough; your hair is too curly, too straight, too nappy, too braided. These beauty expectations have prevented women from controlling the expression of themselves, denying them the ability to express their souls. Arie cut off her own air in a bold declaration of her worth as a person, demonstrating her own identity, individuality, and self love. Her message of self acceptance and empowerment inspired discriminated and marginalized communities to take pride in their appearance, rebelling against the norm being imposed on them and sticking to their cultures. India Arie’s song paved the way for social change and empowerment to strengthen one’s soul.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

In analyzing the history of the Black popular culture, Stuart Hall discusses the challenges brought to marginalized communities because of cultural hegemony. He echoes the grievances made by American culture critics that the hegemony always shifting and changing also changes the power dynamics between cultures, meaning that it is always an issue of power. “Nothing ever changes, the system always wins,”. Hall condemns this attitude towards the situation, declaring that it prevents them from developing strategies that can make a difference in these climates. India Arie adapts this oppositional mindset to empower the loss of self females experienced because of the Western beauty standard. Arie is tired of the male gaze defining the representation of who she is as a black woman and the women around her. She reclaims her identity and power by cutting her hair, defying the beauty standards that were imposed on her by the dominant culture. Her bold actions against the hypocritical beauty standards encouraged other women to stand up for themselves and seek the beauty of themselves.

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no (hey)

I am the soul that lives within

No longer shackled by the chains of societal expectations of beauty and race, she does not let the color of her skin, the style of her hair, and the thoughts of others detract from her self worth. She accepts the way that she is, and works towards the dismantlement of the beauty standard and empowerment of women.  

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

When trying to identify how the Black community is represented, Henry Louis Gates analyzed other pieces of media that demonstrated the idea of the Signifying Monkey. Their Eyes Were Watching God was one of those films, and it revealed the confusing relationship between the literal and figurative meaning of the signifying. “The apparent significance of the message differs from its real significance. India Arie utilizes this relationship to convey her message through her song. Hair in the song literally refers to the way the Black community had to maintain their hair in order to be accepted in the cultural hegemony. Akon reminisces about the treatment he received with his different hairstyles; nappy hair failed to land him the ladies and dreadlocks failed to land him jobs. It was only when he cut off all his hair, one of the aspects that made him “Black”, that he started seeing success. Following this note, hair refers to Akon’s Black identity figuratively. The unique, distinct style of the Black community’s hair is one of the traits from the Black popular cultures, which easily distinguishes members of the community. It ties them to the other stereotypes that follow the Black community that prevent them from obtaining jobs and turning towards crime to support themselves. Exploring both the literal and figurative meanings of what “hair” allows Arie to tackle the various grievances the Black community experiences.

Discussion Questions

In the analysis of Beyoncé's music video, “Beautiful Liar”, Beyonce and Shakira are able to reconcile their grievances because of their shared experiences interacting with the “beautiful liar”, even though they come from different cultures. How are the various communities that an individual identifies with allow them to be more empathetic towards cultures that completely differ from their own? How can these perspectives be utilized to insight social change like Arie?

Stuart Hall explains the differences between cultures are dependent on their values. “The important point is the ordering of different aesthetic morals, social aesthetics, the orderings of culture that open up culture to the play of power, not an inventory of what is high versus what is low at any particular moment.” How has this discrepancy between the values of different cultures incited conflicts or misunderstandings? Can these discrepancies be used positively? Could you reconcile these discrepancies without compromising the cultural hegemony power dynamic?

India Arie originally wrote her song in order to support female cancer patients as they battle to maintain a positive self image through the loss of their hair. However, the message has evolved to encompass the general empowerment of women and self acceptance. Does the broadened message of Arie’s song dampen the effectiveness of its reception? How does the concept of “signifying” play into the spreading of her message?

[strongmalakai]

@oxyvisualanalysis-fa23

Discussion Presentation: Race and Representation

“Beautiful Liar” by Beyoncé ft. Shakira

“Beautiful Liar”, sung by Beyoncé and Shakira, was released in 2007, but has been in development since 2006. Mikkel S. Eriksen, one of the people behind the songwriting and song production process of the Stargate music company, wrote the instrumentals to this song a year before its release. Eriksen was especially proud of its simplicity and ability to carry such strong emotions. When played in front of Tyran Smith, a manager of the company, Smith became the driving force behind the song’s production. He enlisted the work of several other artists to help complete the song; Amanada Ghost and Ian Dench wrote the lyrics and Beyoncé added slight modifications to fit her style of singing. After releasing the song and breaking the Billboard Hot 100’s record of biggest leap in April 7th, 2007, jumping from 94th to 3rd biggest hit, Beyoncé shared her interpretation of the lyrics as a symbol of female empowerment. The women discover that the man they are seeing is courting both of them at the same time, and rather than fight each other for that man, they decide to drop him and ignore his request for a relationship. The subversion from an expected “cat-fight” to a comradery refusal of the male’s acceptance aids the song in shifting the gaze from men to women. “Beautiful Liar” and its powerful message easily allowed it to top the charts internationally, which included the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand, and win the MTV Video Music Award for Most Earth Shattering Collaboration in 2007.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall discusses his analysis of the Black community and how their race is constructed and represented. He explains how popular culture, specifically Black popular culture, is identified by their local hopes, aspirations, tragedies, and everyday activities. Beyoncé, a Black woman, and Shakira, a Latina woman, come from two different ethnic cultures that uphold different beliefs on these values, but they are united over their shared experiences as women. They are familiar with how the male gaze views them as sexual objects to be obtained and the tragedies that come from its subjugation. Through their understanding how men treat their community, they are able to place the fault in the man deceiving them. 

Can’t we laugh about it? (oh)

It’s not worth our time (oh)

We can live without him

Just a beautiful lie

Each woman believed that she was his “one and only”, cherishing the hopes and aspirations of having a future with him, until the other woman was made known to them, revealing his deception. Instead of fighting with each other for the gaze of a “beautiful liar”, they decide to not dwell on their individual relationship with him and completely abandon pursuing a future with him. They take in the truth of their experience to work through the tragedy of his betrayal and continue living without him in their lives. 

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

In his quest to understand the identity of the Black community and the origins of their representation, Henry Louis Gates unravels the mystery of an African mythology, the Signifying Monkey. The Signifying Monkey is described as the trickster character in many of their stories. In the Monkey, Lion, and Elephant myth, the Lion misinterprets what the Monkey says to him and challenges the Elephant, who promptly sends him back to the Monkey. The nuances hidden behind the signifiers describing the significance instead of analyzing the significance of the signified causes this misunderstanding between the two parties. Beyonce and Shakira experience similar misunderstandings when they confront each other as the secret “mistress” their lover is seeing behind their backs. Both have been signified as the only one for our beautiful liar, and after realizing the signifier of the deception came from him, both Beyonce and Shakira understood the significance of his betrayal.  

(He) kissed me, his one and only (yes), beautiful liar

Initially, this line was used to vindicate the hostility between Beyonce and Shakira, as the man is in a committed relationship to one of them. They, individually, were his one and only, and the “beautiful liar”, was the other woman for suggesting that her man would be unfaithful. However, after learning the truth, this line’s meaning is revealed to us, signifying the lie of him being faithful and the “beautiful liar” referring to himself for deceiving the women. Understanding the situation, the two women reconcile with each other and leave the man to suffer the consequences of his tricks.

“I Am Not My Hair” by India Arie ft Akon

“I Am Not My Hair” was written by India Arie, a Neo-Soul and R&B artist, and was released on November 15, 2005.  Often recognized as one of the most influential female artists of the 21st century, Arie’s work often blurs the line between song and poetry, utilizing her work to promote the beauty of one’s soul. This song reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2007. Arie was originally inspired to write this song for female cancer patients who lost their hair due to treatment, but during its development process, her message began morphing into one that challenged society’s idealistic view and standard of female beauty. Symbolized through her hair, the expectations of her as a woman are never enough; your hair is too curly, too straight, too nappy, too braided. These beauty expectations have prevented women from controlling the expression of themselves, denying them the ability to express their souls. Arie cut off her own air in a bold declaration of her worth as a person, demonstrating her own identity, individuality, and self love. Her message of self acceptance and empowerment inspired discriminated and marginalized communities to take pride in their appearance, rebelling against the norm being imposed on them and sticking to their cultures. India Arie’s song paved the way for social change and empowerment to strengthen one’s soul.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

In analyzing the history of the Black popular culture, Stuart Hall discusses the challenges brought to marginalized communities because of cultural hegemony. He echoes the grievances made by American culture critics that the hegemony always shifting and changing also changes the power dynamics between cultures, meaning that it is always an issue of power. “Nothing ever changes, the system always wins,”. Hall condemns this attitude towards the situation, declaring that it prevents them from developing strategies that can make a difference in these climates. India Arie adapts this oppositional mindset to empower the loss of self females experienced because of the Western beauty standard. Arie is tired of the male gaze defining the representation of who she is as a black woman and the women around her. She reclaims her identity and power by cutting her hair, defying the beauty standards that were imposed on her by the dominant culture. Her bold actions against the hypocritical beauty standards encouraged other women to stand up for themselves and seek the beauty of themselves.

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no (hey)

I am the soul that lives within

No longer shackled by the chains of societal expectations of beauty and race, she does not let the color of her skin, the style of her hair, and the thoughts of others detract from her self worth. She accepts the way that she is, and works towards the dismantlement of the beauty standard and empowerment of women.  

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

When trying to identify how the Black community is represented, Henry Louis Gates analyzed other pieces of media that demonstrated the idea of the Signifying Monkey. Their Eyes Were Watching God was one of those films, and it revealed the confusing relationship between the literal and figurative meaning of the signifying. “The apparent significance of the message differs from its real significance. India Arie utilizes this relationship to convey her message through her song. Hair in the song literally refers to the way the Black community had to maintain their hair in order to be accepted in the cultural hegemony. Akon reminisces about the treatment he received with his different hairstyles; nappy hair failed to land him the ladies and dreadlocks failed to land him jobs. It was only when he cut off all his hair, one of the aspects that made him “Black”, that he started seeing success. Following this note, hair refers to Akon’s Black identity figuratively. The unique, distinct style of the Black community’s hair is one of the traits from the Black popular cultures, which easily distinguishes members of the community. It ties them to the other stereotypes that follow the Black community that prevent them from obtaining jobs and turning towards crime to support themselves. Exploring both the literal and figurative meanings of what “hair” allows Arie to tackle the various grievances the Black community experiences.

Discussion Questions

In the analysis of Beyoncé's music video, “Beautiful Liar”, Beyonce and Shakira are able to reconcile their grievances because of their shared experiences interacting with the “beautiful liar”, even though they come from different cultures. How are the various communities that an individual identifies with allow them to be more empathetic towards cultures that completely differ from their own? How can these perspectives be utilized to insight social change like Arie?

Stuart Hall explains the differences between cultures are dependent on their values. “The important point is the ordering of different aesthetic morals, social aesthetics, the orderings of culture that open up culture to the play of power, not an inventory of what is high versus what is low at any particular moment.” How has this discrepancy between the values of different cultures incited conflicts or misunderstandings? Can these discrepancies be used positively? Could you reconcile these discrepancies without compromising the cultural hegemony power dynamic?

India Arie originally wrote her song in order to support female cancer patients as they battle to maintain a positive self image through the loss of their hair. However, the message has evolved to encompass the general empowerment of women and self acceptance. Does the broadened message of Arie’s song dampen the effectiveness of its reception? How does the concept of “signifying” play into the spreading of her message?

[strongmalakai]

tumblr.com/blog/oxyvisualanalysis-fa23

Discussion Presentation: Race and Representation

“Beautiful Liar” by Beyoncé ft. Shakira

“Beautiful Liar”, sung by Beyoncé and Shakira, was released in 2007, but has been in development since 2006. Mikkel S. Eriksen, one of the people behind the songwriting and song production process of the Stargate music company, wrote the instrumentals to this song a year before its release. Eriksen was especially proud of its simplicity and ability to carry such strong emotions. When played in front of Tyran Smith, a manager of the company, Smith became the driving force behind the song’s production. He enlisted the work of several other artists to help complete the song; Amanada Ghost and Ian Dench wrote the lyrics and Beyoncé added slight modifications to fit her style of singing. After releasing the song and breaking the Billboard Hot 100’s record of biggest leap in April 7th, 2007, jumping from 94th to 3rd biggest hit, Beyoncé shared her interpretation of the lyrics as a symbol of female empowerment. The women discover that the man they are seeing is courting both of them at the same time, and rather than fight each other for that man, they decide to drop him and ignore his request for a relationship. The subversion from an expected “cat-fight” to a comradery refusal of the male’s acceptance aids the song in shifting the gaze from men to women. “Beautiful Liar” and its powerful message easily allowed it to top the charts internationally, which included the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand, and win the MTV Video Music Award for Most Earth Shattering Collaboration in 2007.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall discusses his analysis of the Black community and how their race is constructed and represented. He explains how popular culture, specifically Black popular culture, is identified by their local hopes, aspirations, tragedies, and everyday activities. Beyoncé, a Black woman, and Shakira, a Latina woman, come from two different ethnic cultures that uphold different beliefs on these values, but they are united over their shared experiences as women. They are familiar with how the male gaze views them as sexual objects to be obtained and the tragedies that come from its subjugation. Through their understanding how men treat their community, they are able to place the fault in the man deceiving them. 

Can’t we laugh about it? (oh)

It’s not worth our time (oh)

We can live without him

Just a beautiful lie

Each woman believed that she was his “one and only”, cherishing the hopes and aspirations of having a future with him, until the other woman was made known to them, revealing his deception. Instead of fighting with each other for the gaze of a “beautiful liar”, they decide to not dwell on their individual relationship with him and completely abandon pursuing a future with him. They take in the truth of their experience to work through the tragedy of his betrayal and continue living without him in their lives. 

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

In his quest to understand the identity of the Black community and the origins of their representation, Henry Louis Gates unravels the mystery of an African mythology, the Signifying Monkey. The Signifying Monkey is described as the trickster character in many of their stories. In the Monkey, Lion, and Elephant myth, the Lion misinterprets what the Monkey says to him and challenges the Elephant, who promptly sends him back to the Monkey. The nuances hidden behind the signifiers describing the significance instead of analyzing the significance of the signified causes this misunderstanding between the two parties. Beyonce and Shakira experience similar misunderstandings when they confront each other as the secret “mistress” their lover is seeing behind their backs. Both have been signified as the only one for our beautiful liar, and after realizing the signifier of the deception came from him, both Beyonce and Shakira understood the significance of his betrayal.  

(He) kissed me, his one and only (yes), beautiful liar

Initially, this line was used to vindicate the hostility between Beyonce and Shakira, as the man is in a committed relationship to one of them. They, individually, were his one and only, and the “beautiful liar”, was the other woman for suggesting that her man would be unfaithful. However, after learning the truth, this line’s meaning is revealed to us, signifying the lie of him being faithful and the “beautiful liar” referring to himself for deceiving the women. Understanding the situation, the two women reconcile with each other and leave the man to suffer the consequences of his tricks.

“I Am Not My Hair” by India Arie ft Akon

“I Am Not My Hair” was written by India Arie, a Neo-Soul and R&B artist, and was released on November 15, 2005.  Often recognized as one of the most influential female artists of the 21st century, Arie’s work often blurs the line between song and poetry, utilizing her work to promote the beauty of one’s soul. This song reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2007. Arie was originally inspired to write this song for female cancer patients who lost their hair due to treatment, but during its development process, her message began morphing into one that challenged society’s idealistic view and standard of female beauty. Symbolized through her hair, the expectations of her as a woman are never enough; your hair is too curly, too straight, too nappy, too braided. These beauty expectations have prevented women from controlling the expression of themselves, denying them the ability to express their souls. Arie cut off her own air in a bold declaration of her worth as a person, demonstrating her own identity, individuality, and self love. Her message of self acceptance and empowerment inspired discriminated and marginalized communities to take pride in their appearance, rebelling against the norm being imposed on them and sticking to their cultures. India Arie’s song paved the way for social change and empowerment to strengthen one’s soul.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

In analyzing the history of the Black popular culture, Stuart Hall discusses the challenges brought to marginalized communities because of cultural hegemony. He echoes the grievances made by American culture critics that the hegemony always shifting and changing also changes the power dynamics between cultures, meaning that it is always an issue of power. “Nothing ever changes, the system always wins,”. Hall condemns this attitude towards the situation, declaring that it prevents them from developing strategies that can make a difference in these climates. India Arie adapts this oppositional mindset to empower the loss of self females experienced because of the Western beauty standard. Arie is tired of the male gaze defining the representation of who she is as a black woman and the women around her. She reclaims her identity and power by cutting her hair, defying the beauty standards that were imposed on her by the dominant culture. Her bold actions against the hypocritical beauty standards encouraged other women to stand up for themselves and seek the beauty of themselves.

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no (hey)

I am the soul that lives within

No longer shackled by the chains of societal expectations of beauty and race, she does not let the color of her skin, the style of her hair, and the thoughts of others detract from her self worth. She accepts the way that she is, and works towards the dismantlement of the beauty standard and empowerment of women.  

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

When trying to identify how the Black community is represented, Henry Louis Gates analyzed other pieces of media that demonstrated the idea of the Signifying Monkey. Their Eyes Were Watching God was one of those films, and it revealed the confusing relationship between the literal and figurative meaning of the signifying. “The apparent significance of the message differs from its real significance. India Arie utilizes this relationship to convey her message through her song. Hair in the song literally refers to the way the Black community had to maintain their hair in order to be accepted in the cultural hegemony. Akon reminisces about the treatment he received with his different hairstyles; nappy hair failed to land him the ladies and dreadlocks failed to land him jobs. It was only when he cut off all his hair, one of the aspects that made him “Black”, that he started seeing success. Following this note, hair refers to Akon’s Black identity figuratively. The unique, distinct style of the Black community’s hair is one of the traits from the Black popular cultures, which easily distinguishes members of the community. It ties them to the other stereotypes that follow the Black community that prevent them from obtaining jobs and turning towards crime to support themselves. Exploring both the literal and figurative meanings of what “hair” allows Arie to tackle the various grievances the Black community experiences.

Discussion Questions

In the analysis of Beyoncé's music video, “Beautiful Liar”, Beyonce and Shakira are able to reconcile their grievances because of their shared experiences interacting with the “beautiful liar”, even though they come from different cultures. How are the various communities that an individual identifies with allow them to be more empathetic towards cultures that completely differ from their own? How can these perspectives be utilized to insight social change like Arie?

Stuart Hall explains the differences between cultures are dependent on their values. “The important point is the ordering of different aesthetic morals, social aesthetics, the orderings of culture that open up culture to the play of power, not an inventory of what is high versus what is low at any particular moment.” How has this discrepancy between the values of different cultures incited conflicts or misunderstandings? Can these discrepancies be used positively? Could you reconcile these discrepancies without compromising the cultural hegemony power dynamic?

India Arie originally wrote her song in order to support female cancer patients as they battle to maintain a positive self image through the loss of their hair. However, the message has evolved to encompass the general empowerment of women and self acceptance. Does the broadened message of Arie’s song dampen the effectiveness of its reception? How does the concept of “signifying” play into the spreading of her message?

[strongmalakai]

Discussion Presentation: Race and Representation

“Beautiful Liar” by Beyoncé ft. Shakira

“Beautiful Liar”, sung by Beyoncé and Shakira, was released in 2007, but has been in development since 2006. Mikkel S. Eriksen, one of the people behind the songwriting and song production process of the Stargate music company, wrote the instrumentals to this song a year before its release. Eriksen was especially proud of its simplicity and ability to carry such strong emotions. When played in front of Tyran Smith, a manager of the company, Smith became the driving force behind the song’s production. He enlisted the work of several other artists to help complete the song; Amanada Ghost and Ian Dench wrote the lyrics and Beyoncé added slight modifications to fit her style of singing. After releasing the song and breaking the Billboard Hot 100’s record of biggest leap in April 7th, 2007, jumping from 94th to 3rd biggest hit, Beyoncé shared her interpretation of the lyrics as a symbol of female empowerment. The women discover that the man they are seeing is courting both of them at the same time, and rather than fight each other for that man, they decide to drop him and ignore his request for a relationship. The subversion from an expected “cat-fight” to a comradery refusal of the male’s acceptance aids the song in shifting the gaze from men to women. “Beautiful Liar” and its powerful message easily allowed it to top the charts internationally, which included the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand, and win the MTV Video Music Award for Most Earth Shattering Collaboration in 2007.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall discusses his analysis of the Black community and how their race is constructed and represented. He explains how popular culture, specifically Black popular culture, is identified by their local hopes, aspirations, tragedies, and everyday activities. Beyoncé, a Black woman, and Shakira, a Latina woman, come from two different ethnic cultures that uphold different beliefs on these values, but they are united over their shared experiences as women. They are familiar with how the male gaze views them as sexual objects to be obtained and the tragedies that come from its subjugation. Through their understanding how men treat their community, they are able to place the fault in the man deceiving them. 

Can’t we laugh about it? (oh)

It’s not worth our time (oh)

We can live without him

Just a beautiful lie

Each woman believed that she was his “one and only”, cherishing the hopes and aspirations of having a future with him, until the other woman was made known to them, revealing his deception. Instead of fighting with each other for the gaze of a “beautiful liar”, they decide to not dwell on their individual relationship with him and completely abandon pursuing a future with him. They take in the truth of their experience to work through the tragedy of his betrayal and continue living without him in their lives. 

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

In his quest to understand the identity of the Black community and the origins of their representation, Henry Louis Gates unravels the mystery of an African mythology, the Signifying Monkey. The Signifying Monkey is described as the trickster character in many of their stories. In the Monkey, Lion, and Elephant myth, the Lion misinterprets what the Monkey says to him and challenges the Elephant, who promptly sends him back to the Monkey. The nuances hidden behind the signifiers describing the significance instead of analyzing the significance of the signified causes this misunderstanding between the two parties. Beyonce and Shakira experience similar misunderstandings when they confront each other as the secret “mistress” their lover is seeing behind their backs. Both have been signified as the only one for our beautiful liar, and after realizing the signifier of the deception came from him, both Beyonce and Shakira understood the significance of his betrayal.  

(He) kissed me, his one and only (yes), beautiful liar

Initially, this line was used to vindicate the hostility between Beyonce and Shakira, as the man is in a committed relationship to one of them. They, individually, were his one and only, and the “beautiful liar”, was the other woman for suggesting that her man would be unfaithful. However, after learning the truth, this line’s meaning is revealed to us, signifying the lie of him being faithful and the “beautiful liar” referring to himself for deceiving the women. Understanding the situation, the two women reconcile with each other and leave the man to suffer the consequences of his tricks.

“I Am Not My Hair” by India Arie ft Akon

“I Am Not My Hair” was written by India Arie, a Neo-Soul and R&B artist, and was released on November 15, 2005.  Often recognized as one of the most influential female artists of the 21st century, Arie’s work often blurs the line between song and poetry, utilizing her work to promote the beauty of one’s soul. This song reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2007. Arie was originally inspired to write this song for female cancer patients who lost their hair due to treatment, but during its development process, her message began morphing into one that challenged society’s idealistic view and standard of female beauty. Symbolized through her hair, the expectations of her as a woman are never enough; your hair is too curly, too straight, too nappy, too braided. These beauty expectations have prevented women from controlling the expression of themselves, denying them the ability to express their souls. Arie cut off her own air in a bold declaration of her worth as a person, demonstrating her own identity, individuality, and self love. Her message of self acceptance and empowerment inspired discriminated and marginalized communities to take pride in their appearance, rebelling against the norm being imposed on them and sticking to their cultures. India Arie’s song paved the way for social change and empowerment to strengthen one’s soul.

“What is the “Black” Black Popular Culture?” by Stuart Hall

In analyzing the history of the Black popular culture, Stuart Hall discusses the challenges brought to marginalized communities because of cultural hegemony. He echoes the grievances made by American culture critics that the hegemony always shifting and changing also changes the power dynamics between cultures, meaning that it is always an issue of power. “Nothing ever changes, the system always wins,”. Hall condemns this attitude towards the situation, declaring that it prevents them from developing strategies that can make a difference in these climates. India Arie adapts this oppositional mindset to empower the loss of self females experienced because of the Western beauty standard. Arie is tired of the male gaze defining the representation of who she is as a black woman and the women around her. She reclaims her identity and power by cutting her hair, defying the beauty standards that were imposed on her by the dominant culture. Her bold actions against the hypocritical beauty standards encouraged other women to stand up for themselves and seek the beauty of themselves.

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no (hey)

I am the soul that lives within

No longer shackled by the chains of societal expectations of beauty and race, she does not let the color of her skin, the style of her hair, and the thoughts of others detract from her self worth. She accepts the way that she is, and works towards the dismantlement of the beauty standard and empowerment of women.  

“The Blackness of Blackness: A Critique of the Sign and the Signifying Monkey” by Henry Louis Gates

When trying to identify how the Black community is represented, Henry Louis Gates analyzed other pieces of media that demonstrated the idea of the Signifying Monkey. Their Eyes Were Watching God was one of those films, and it revealed the confusing relationship between the literal and figurative meaning of the signifying. “The apparent significance of the message differs from its real significance. India Arie utilizes this relationship to convey her message through her song. Hair in the song literally refers to the way the Black community had to maintain their hair in order to be accepted in the cultural hegemony. Akon reminisces about the treatment he received with his different hairstyles; nappy hair failed to land him the ladies and dreadlocks failed to land him jobs. It was only when he cut off all his hair, one of the aspects that made him “Black”, that he started seeing success. Following this note, hair refers to Akon’s Black identity figuratively. The unique, distinct style of the Black community’s hair is one of the traits from the Black popular cultures, which easily distinguishes members of the community. It ties them to the other stereotypes that follow the Black community that prevent them from obtaining jobs and turning towards crime to support themselves. Exploring both the literal and figurative meanings of what “hair” allows Arie to tackle the various grievances the Black community experiences.

Discussion Questions

In the analysis of Beyoncé's music video, “Beautiful Liar”, Beyonce and Shakira are able to reconcile their grievances because of their shared experiences interacting with the “beautiful liar”, even though they come from different cultures. How are the various communities that an individual identifies with allow them to be more empathetic towards cultures that completely differ from their own? How can these perspectives be utilized to insight social change like Arie?

Stuart Hall explains the differences between cultures are dependent on their values. “The important point is the ordering of different aesthetic morals, social aesthetics, the orderings of culture that open up culture to the play of power, not an inventory of what is high versus what is low at any particular moment.” How has this discrepancy between the values of different cultures incited conflicts or misunderstandings? Can these discrepancies be used positively? Could you reconcile these discrepancies without compromising the cultural hegemony power dynamic?

India Arie originally wrote her song in order to support female cancer patients as they battle to maintain a positive self image through the loss of their hair. However, the message has evolved to encompass the general empowerment of women and self acceptance. Does the broadened message of Arie’s song dampen the effectiveness of its reception? How does the concept of “signifying” play into the spreading of her message?