Letters

From the March 2001 issue

(Page 2 of 2)

I enjoyed "Bum Rap" -- the prompting of such thoughtful discussions is one of the few salutary effects of Eminem's music that I can discern.

As a staunch defender of free speech, I do not advocate censorship as an approach to Eminem. But as I see it, his music is less significant for its artistic merits (which I thought were somewhat overestimated in "Bum Rap") than as dire reflections of our condition.

From a historical perspective, isn't there a risk of freedom being lost when its exercise takes too many forms that are too objectionable to too many in the society? Such exercises inevitably and directly elicit the kind of proto-fascist, censorial impulses criticized in "Bum Rap." Eventually, enough people become sufficiently perturbed that they elect, by democratic process, someone who promises to do away with this "rot" and clean up Dodge City. When that happens, everybody loses their freedom, not just those who indulged themselves in its excess. This is why I think intelligent people can reasonably be concerned about the moral stimuli presented to a young, impressionable audience by Eminem -- not to mention a host of other offerings which have arisen in our current era.

We shouldn't overlook the fact that Eminem's approach is geared toward profit, not free expression. The latter is something it merely takes advantage of. It reminds me of the saying that we aren't really free at all, unless we're free to abuse our freedom. That position strikes me as intellectually absurd, and ultimately dangerous to the freedom it pretends to support. It bespeaks a demonic impulse to erase any and all boundaries. I quite agree that we have the "modern liberal cant" to thank for the social milieu in which an Eminem rises to prominence.

Doherty rightly characterizes Eminem as annoying, not evil. But something that is not "evil" can still be potentially destructive to the interests of both society and individuals. That said, Eminem is not the disease. He is merely a symptomatic lesion that has broken the surface. Cheney and her ilk may fail to understand this, but I would also caution against the more sanguine view in "Bum Rap." There are two equal and opposite directions in which we can mislead ourselves in the face of phenomena such as Eminem. We might do well to avoid both.

Brian Akers, Ph.D.
Atlanta, GA

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the article on Eminem. As a feminist and someone who is now considered a "grown-up," I have often found myself looking and feeling quite out of place when I defend Eminem as an artist. As is so often the case when you feel like a lone voice, I found it extremely comforting and encouraging to see someone whose work and ideas I admire making many of the same arguments -- and making them so well.

Teresa Brown

Fairfax, VA

I have never been a fan of contemporary rap. I find most of it insulting, both intellectually and musically, with only rare exceptions (for example, Busta Rhymes and Wu Tang Clan when viewed as social commentary; rap will be the Negro spiritual of future anthropologists of black culture). A few weeks ago I heard "Stan" by Slim Shady and I was floored. When I examined the subject matter, I had to go buy Eminem's records. He has a great musical ear and a quicksilver tongue, and he likes to push buttons.

Dale Fitzgerald
Johnson City, TN

Brian Doherty replies: While Lynne Cheney paid the usual lip service to not advocating government action, remember the context of her remarks: a presentation to a committee of Congress, contemplating state action regarding the marketing of disapproved material to children. Cheney did not appear to be making an "artistic judgement" as Mr. Taylor says, but reacting to out-of-context bits of lyrics and ignoring the larger context of Eminem's record -- which, as my article tried to demonstrate, deals with the very issues of artists' (and parents') responsibility toward kids with more insight, wit, and nuance than Cheney exhibited. Referring to "provocation" as his chosen art form was an attempt at wit on my part -- Eminem is clearly very gifted at it.

I strongly disagree with Dr. Akers contention that it is Eminem's, or anyone's, responsibility to restrict their right to say what they please to appease those who would violently quell speech that offends them.