We all watched the halftime show, but did everyone break it down? There was far more meaning to the performance then what meets the eye.
Many critics did not reach the rhetorical viewpoint that several other viewers caught on to: the split American Flag visual, the video game-like setup of the stage, the Uncle Sam references done by Samuel L. Jackson, the Serena Williams appearance, and more symbols all fall under the same category of civil disobedience and personal expression against a larger political force. This performance is not the only political act Lamar has engaged in, but it is currently the most prominent.
Let’s break it down.
The show opened with a video game-type setting. This was the first piece of symbolism in the show, which was packed with underlying meaning and digs at political figures. English teacher, Meghan Geary, who is also well informed on current events and politics, spoke on the heavy symbolism in the show.
“He was telling people to stop being played and stop being used like a pawn,” mentioned Geary, referring to the video game setting of the show. “The concept of the Squid Games was in there, the government forcing the citizens to play a game for survival.”
And the hits at the government didn’t stop there. There were several references to the unfair nature of modern politics and how it often aims criticism at black citizens.
The appearance of Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam was a huge move by Lamar and the NFL. His part in the halftime show was basically criticizing Lamar, telling him that his performance was “loud, reckless, and ghetto”. His words mirrored those of people that criticize Lamar’s music and what he stands for.
“As soon as Samuel L. Jackson came on as Uncle Sam. I knew that we were watching something more then music,” mentioned Geary. “A black Uncle Sam is poignant enough, but also because he was telling Kendrick to follow the rules and act more professional.”
Samuel L. Jackson’s part in the show pointed a finger at the people who hate on Lamar, giving them a taste of what it’s like to constantly be looked down on for creating art that appears as violent and unsettling to others.
Lamar has been receiving criticism like this since he started making moves in music. He left audiences stunned when he won the Pulitzer prize in 2018 for his album “DAMN.”. This album explored the modern African American lifestyle. His recognition in the world of activism drew the attention of people outside of the music industry. This is what made him a very unique candidate for the halftime show. People who had not listened to his music, may have been aware that he won the Pulitzer prize, which hopefully kept their eyes on him even when they were not familiar with his music.
“I will say I was silent while watching because I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I’m not a listener of Kendrick Lamar so I wasn’t familiar with the music,” said Geary. “What I did know the most about him is that he won the Pulitzer prize, which you need to earn for writing something meaningful.”
Plenty of viewers complained that they could not understand the music or the words Lamar was saying. This piece of criticism was extremely ironic because the show was made to talk back to people who told Lamar he was too difficult to understand. What many don’t realize is that the only reason they cannot understand what he is saying is because they are too close-minded on any viewpoints different then their own.
“The idea of entertainment and society being intertwined was ironic because people criticized the show for the same reason he created it,” mentioned Geary. “Worse things unfold because we aren’t paying attention to the deeper meaning of things as society.”
By looking past the deeper meaning of the show, several people spoke out on social media saying that the show was awful and difficult to comprehend. Luckily, others on social media were able to clap back and explain the aspects of the show that held deeper, layered meaning.
“This was one of those times where I am grateful for social media because the people who do understand his music were able to tell others the meaning behind some of the things Kendrick was doing,” mentioned Geary.
Although there were plenty of people saying hateful things about the show, there were also a large number of people willing to thoroughly explain the show. Some were willing to listen, others were not. And that’s what we as a society are struggling with. The ability to understand, without the willingness to.
“We don’t have to understand every piece of the show but we also don’t have to come back and hate it,” said Geary.
The whole point of the show is that it would be hard to digest, but also that it would hopefully change people’s mindsets and leave them more open minded to change. This show came at a pivotal moment in politics. President Donald Trump has recently been reelected, which will be causing a major change to America and society as a whole.
“We have elected an entertainer to the White House again. No one really thought he would become president; I didn’t think he even thought he would,” mentioned Geary. “ People would say he was funny and entertaining and that was a good enough reason to elect him.”
President Trump himself being in the audience was huge. He was watching from his own suite, a huge symbol of his wealth and hierarchy. His glaring look down at Lamar’s performance resembled a challenge of power. Lamar’s bravery to perform a show like that in front of the largest political figure in the country was groundbreaking. It has encouraged people to become more comfortable in speaking their mind even if it is against what modern politicians want them to believe.
There is so much to look at in this show, it’s easy to let it slip by us. But, as individual’s with the ability to consume knowledge and speak freely, it is increasingly important to understand the “why” behind demonstrations like these, even if the style of it is unappealing to some.
“It is important as human beings to recognize that we don’t have to like everything and not everything is made for our entertainment,” mentioned Geary. “If more hip hop fans liked it and more 60 year old white folks didn’t, that’s okay. Because there have been plenty of halftime shows that haven’t been popular.”
People like Geary are now working on bringing symbolism like this into the classroom. Woodland teacher Ms. Bernier even used the analysis of the halftime show in an in-class lesson in her Black and Latino studies class. Geary is looking to bring it into her AP Language and Composition class. What makes the lesson appealing to her is that students are already familiar with the show and Lamar’s music, which will make a lesson on the deeper meaning of the show interesting to the younger generation.
The show was not made only to be entertaining, it was made to bring people back to reality. Events like the halftime show have been well known to be filled with lights, music, and electric performances, only geared towards capturing the attention of people for a short time. This show was different, it made waves in society, just as it was intended too.
“This isn’t just about entertainment, we have to stop letting that be our focus,” mentioned Geary.
So, as you go about listening to music like Lamar’s, stop and listen to the lyrics. Hone in on the message of the music, what the artist is trying to say. In this day and age, most of us know that music isn’t just music, it’s an artist like Lamar telling a story and challenging higher powers.
“40 acres and a mule, this is bigger than the music.”
