Why I’m Boycotting Kanye’s “Runaway” Movie

Posted by Jacques "Jooks" Morel on 10/26/10 | Filed under Top Stories, Features, Jacques "Jooks" Morels

The other day I changed up all of my plans. You ever get an email, and you just know you have to go? Well I was FWD’d the Kanye "Runaway" Premiere. Of course I was planning on using someone else’s name, but it happened. I waited on line for almost two hours…and I was not allowed in.

But that is not why I have not seen it yet. The moment it hit MTV, I did not want to watch it anymore. It is not because I felt that I was wronged by not being able to attend the premier; I just felt different to wanting to watch it. I feel that life is better when it is lived unplugged…from The Matrix.

This is a little trippy, but bare with me.

I feel that the world can be separated into two categories: “Architects”…and “Consumers”. Which make up The Matrix; the people who construct our world and the people who live it. In order to be unplugged from The Matrix, one has to experience the “behind the scenes” of the finished product…consistently. However since our world has so many different facets of popular media and culture, people can vary in how unplugged they really are.

Basically, the majority of us are fans. We do not see the process, only the finished product thus allowing our tastes to be cultivated by the creator. Someone once told me that Kanye West will not release a song until he is a 100% SURE that it is perfect. See “See Me Now”. What we have to judge the song is by it finished version – not at all stages of it – behind the scenes.

For instance, Lil Wayne is unplugged from The Matrix. He is a creator: therefore meaning his BRAND allows him the perks of other creators. He makes the music which adds its own color to our created world which in return allows him the money and fame. He creates his dream daily in living his life and we BUY into it.

I wanted to watch Kanye’s video as a creator – being invited to a screening or listening party is only with other creators - on a smaller basis. We create the opinions and word of mouth that makes Twitterers tweet, Facebook kids “Like” and Bing! Say Boop. Since I was not able to enjoy it that way, I decided to not watch it – until the hype dies down. Yes, I have taken in a lot of other opinions, however I’d still rather wait.

I feel like everyone should learn to be a Architect. Eventually creating the world that everyone else lives in. Mark Zuckerberg is one of history’s greatest Architects - right next to Alexander the Great and Napoleon [Seriously…]) – for his 500 Million member service. He creates the world that you and millions of other people you know log into EVERYDAY. Facebook has become YOU plugging into The Matrix. This is then catered to allow you to consume in some way – whether it’d be Artist ads, movie ads, or penis enlargement sites.

Try and unplug from The Matrix. Participate and create. Eventually you might be able to become an Architect…but I think that is what we are all shooting for…

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Set_Gecko

This feeling that you get Marx called "allienation". Here is a small quote from wikipedia (since I dont feel like translating any marx from russian into english right now):

According to Karl Marx, alienation is a systemic result of Capitalism. Marx's theory of alienation is founded upon his observation that, within the Capitalist Mode of Production, workers invariably lose determination of their lives and destinies by being deprived of the right to conceive of themselves as the director of their actions, to determine the character of their actions, to define their relationship to other actors, to use or own the value of what is produced by their actions. Workers never become autonomous, self-realized human beings, but are directed and diverted into goals and activities dictated by the bourgeoisie, who own the means of production in order to extract from workers the maximal amount of surplus value possible within the current state of competition between industrialists. By working, each contributes to the common wealth. Alienation in Capitalist societies occurs because the worker can only express this fundamentally social aspect of individuality through a production system that is not collectively, but privately owned, a privatized asset for which each individual functions not as a social being, but as an instrument

Posted on Oct 26, 2010

Kennedy

With all due respect, this is dumb. First of all, your entire premise for your position on not seeing Kanye's movie is based upon "The Matrix," which is yet another film created by somebody else, that was actually RIPPED OFF from a woman named Sophia who has been in court with the brothers who produced The Matrix and is close to a settlement. So u're using one aspect of popular culture to rationalize your avoidance of aother, and u feel that u're in a position to tell somebody else about unplugging from The Matrix? This is weed smoker logic at it's best, and literally the first fundamentally dumb article that I have ever read on this site. It sounds like u're just pissed that u didn't get into the premiere. Guess what? By the time the premiere was made public to media, it was no longer "behind the scenes." It was a finished work. So that point is invalid as well. I suppose u writing an article on a reputable hip hop blog decrying Kanye's movie SEEMED like a good idea when u chose to do it. But it makes u look vapid and bitter, liked a spoiled priveldged child who's resentful that he wasn't given another pony for his birthday. One day bloggers will get their heads out of their asses and take their job as tastemakers seriously, but until u do decide to be a legitimate journalist, please do us all a favor and read a few books so u can stop using movie plots to make your point and start using facts.

Posted on Oct 27, 2010

undadog4eva	lol @ kennedy..chill bro... but yea i agree with the points of they made...lol...
	Posted on Oct 27, 2010

Jacques "Jooks" Morel

@Kennedy

The title is a tad wary. I am going to watch the video, just not now. You obviously did not get the point at all - because it makes A LOT of sense. Everything you do and participate in is created for you - you are a consumer. A prime example is Politics. You see the side of politics presented to you by the media - however this is completely different than the other side - people actually VOTING and MAKING the decisions.

Same thing with Music. I work at a label allowing me to see how calculated the process is - you only see the finished product.

And honestly...YOU sound "vapid and bitter, liked a spoiled privileged child who's resentful that he wasn't given another pony for his birthday"

No animosity here - thanks for the read.

Posted on Oct 27, 2010

Originality

I believe that you have a valid point with the architect/consumer theory, but I don't know how much I see it connecting with Ye's video. I don't see why you would boycott his video. Clearly I am not connecting with the main point. I don't see the architectural qualities of Weezy that you stated. Lastly, I don't see how the Matrix has anything to do with mainstream music and music videos. Primarily, I see the mentality that something isn't as appealing when it is no longer exclusive. What am I missing?

(By the way, I don't mean to hate on the article, I hope the responses won't be too bitter. I understand the two points you made I just don't see how they connect.)

Posted on Oct 27, 2010

SmokinAces	I with most everyone else. Didn't really connect to what you were getting at.
	Posted on Oct 27, 2010

MalMoe	I'm just enjoying the comments about the article and I'm looking forward to the response from the writer. Come on man. Jump on this with a comment back. For the record, I'd rather be unplugged because once your plugged in you start acting like the smiths and I'd rather be Morpheus, lol.
	Posted on Oct 27, 2010

Kennedy

I don't think the point that you made was very complex, insightful, or thoughtful. And while it is very retro of u to use The Matrix to communicate your point, the only thing u accomplished for me after reading this article was making me wonder whether u were high off of weed or rolling on E when u wrote it. So... which was it? Further, I work in the entertainment industry as well, which is why I read Refined Hype, because it is culturally relevant. I see the creation as well as the finished product of projects as well. Just like most consumers who have a Ustream account, but whatever. So, at Kanye's premiere that your label connections couldn't get you into (I'm sure your label job is super duper) were there little note pads passed out for people to make comments about the movie, with the understanding that afterward changes would be made based upon the audiences commentary? NO? NOT AT ALL? That simple fact is what invalidates your point. So it is difficult for me to consider your blog about boycotting Ye's movie as anything more than venting. On a popular blog. Unapologetically, even. Hence, the comment about u behaving like a vapid spoiled whiny pedantic entitled brat. No animosity here, just come better than that.

Posted on Oct 29, 2010