Music Video: Common - Letter to the Free
Social and cultural context
1) What other projects has Common been involved in?
He was involved in the production of Selma, and in a way helped promote and endorse the movie through his involvement with his music being in the movie and his music video.
2) What is the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution?
The 13th amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House on January 31, 1865. The 13th amendment basically allowed for slavery as it said that slavery was still allowed as form of punishment for petty crimes.
3) What were the Black Codes?
The 'Black Codes' were a set of laws put in place to limit the freedom of African Americans, and to ensure that they will stay available as a cheap labour force. Under black codes all black people were required to sign a yearly labour contract; which if they refused to sign, they'd risk being fined, arrested, and forced into unpaid labour. The outrage of this helped undermine the the Republican Party and the support for President Andrew Johnson.
4) Why do people suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect to American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment?
Present day generations are still affected by several aspects of slavery, such as the ghetto's still being mostly occupied by the black population and the mass poverty that is incredibly prominent in those areas can all be pinned down to the fact that no many generations ago black people were given freedom, but remained held under.
5) Why was Ava DuVernay inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th?
The mass incarceration of African Americans.
Close-textual analysis and representation
Re-watch the music video several times to complete the following tasks in specific detail:
1) How does the Letter to the Free music video use cinematography to create meanings for the audience? (Camera shots and movement).
The camera movement is slow throughout the entire video, and only uses long shots. This creates meaning as it allows the audience to focus on the lyrics rather than a flashy music video.
2) What is the significance of the constantly moving camera?
it can signify that time never stops no matter what, and times are constantly changing.
3) Why is the video in black and white?
It could be because it's trying to refer back to the olden days where slavery and racism was way more prominent. Could also have been done to enhance the video and it's seriousness.
4) How is mise-en-scene used to construct meaning for the audience - prison setting, costume, props, lighting, actor placement?
The prison setting alongside the lighting creates a very important meaning as the contrast between low-key and high-key lighting can shot the contact between having no hope, and staying hopeful. The costume's where very very casual throughout which is done to signify that all the people in the video are just regular people. Their placement is also significant as they all stay out of the shadows which links to the idea of hop meaning that they're hopeful for what the future holds.
5) Focusing on the track, what are the key lyrics that suggest the political message of the song?
"Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from" - reference to the racism that stays more prominent in the south and how they wanted to keep slavery.
"Slavery's still alive, check amendment 13" - makes reference to that amendment, shows a political battle for equality.
"Shot me with your ray-gun and now you want to trump me" - reference to President Reagan trying to keep African Americans under, and Trump.
6) What is the significance of the floating black square motif?
It's significant as it represents "blackness" and how it cannot be contained.
7) How does the video reference racism, slavery and the oppression of black culture? Make reference to specific shots, scenes or moments in the video.
It makes clear reference to Amendment 13, being hung in the south, both directly linked to slavery. The opening scene mentions being hung from a tree which shows that the main focus is on slavery and it's effects on the black community.
8) How can Gilroy's idea of black diasporic identity be applied to Common's Letter to the Free?
As it can be interpreted that there has been a loss of identity and a confusion of what they really are, and where they belong.
9) What other theories of race and ethnicity can be applied to this video? E.g. Hall, Rose or Dyson.
This song very well subverts Rose's theory of "Black Noise" as the song is very meaningful and overall a goof message.
It links to Dyson's theory the best, about how it give black people a voice to express themselves and their feelings as Common has done here.
10) What current events in America and worldwide are referenced in the song and video?
The most blatant reference in this song is to Trump, Trumping. Also made reference to Jim Crow, and Amendment 13.
1) What other projects has Common been involved in?
He was involved in the production of Selma, and in a way helped promote and endorse the movie through his involvement with his music being in the movie and his music video.
2) What is the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution?
The 13th amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House on January 31, 1865. The 13th amendment basically allowed for slavery as it said that slavery was still allowed as form of punishment for petty crimes.
3) What were the Black Codes?
The 'Black Codes' were a set of laws put in place to limit the freedom of African Americans, and to ensure that they will stay available as a cheap labour force. Under black codes all black people were required to sign a yearly labour contract; which if they refused to sign, they'd risk being fined, arrested, and forced into unpaid labour. The outrage of this helped undermine the the Republican Party and the support for President Andrew Johnson.
4) Why do people suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect to American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment?
Present day generations are still affected by several aspects of slavery, such as the ghetto's still being mostly occupied by the black population and the mass poverty that is incredibly prominent in those areas can all be pinned down to the fact that no many generations ago black people were given freedom, but remained held under.
5) Why was Ava DuVernay inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th?
The mass incarceration of African Americans.
Close-textual analysis and representation
Re-watch the music video several times to complete the following tasks in specific detail:
1) How does the Letter to the Free music video use cinematography to create meanings for the audience? (Camera shots and movement).
The camera movement is slow throughout the entire video, and only uses long shots. This creates meaning as it allows the audience to focus on the lyrics rather than a flashy music video.
2) What is the significance of the constantly moving camera?
it can signify that time never stops no matter what, and times are constantly changing.
3) Why is the video in black and white?
It could be because it's trying to refer back to the olden days where slavery and racism was way more prominent. Could also have been done to enhance the video and it's seriousness.
4) How is mise-en-scene used to construct meaning for the audience - prison setting, costume, props, lighting, actor placement?
The prison setting alongside the lighting creates a very important meaning as the contrast between low-key and high-key lighting can shot the contact between having no hope, and staying hopeful. The costume's where very very casual throughout which is done to signify that all the people in the video are just regular people. Their placement is also significant as they all stay out of the shadows which links to the idea of hop meaning that they're hopeful for what the future holds.
5) Focusing on the track, what are the key lyrics that suggest the political message of the song?
"Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from" - reference to the racism that stays more prominent in the south and how they wanted to keep slavery.
"Slavery's still alive, check amendment 13" - makes reference to that amendment, shows a political battle for equality.
"Shot me with your ray-gun and now you want to trump me" - reference to President Reagan trying to keep African Americans under, and Trump.
6) What is the significance of the floating black square motif?
It's significant as it represents "blackness" and how it cannot be contained.
7) How does the video reference racism, slavery and the oppression of black culture? Make reference to specific shots, scenes or moments in the video.
It makes clear reference to Amendment 13, being hung in the south, both directly linked to slavery. The opening scene mentions being hung from a tree which shows that the main focus is on slavery and it's effects on the black community.
8) How can Gilroy's idea of black diasporic identity be applied to Common's Letter to the Free?
As it can be interpreted that there has been a loss of identity and a confusion of what they really are, and where they belong.
9) What other theories of race and ethnicity can be applied to this video? E.g. Hall, Rose or Dyson.
This song very well subverts Rose's theory of "Black Noise" as the song is very meaningful and overall a goof message.
It links to Dyson's theory the best, about how it give black people a voice to express themselves and their feelings as Common has done here.
10) What current events in America and worldwide are referenced in the song and video?
The most blatant reference in this song is to Trump, Trumping. Also made reference to Jim Crow, and Amendment 13.
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