Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Ethic Studies and Post-Colonial Analysis

While Langston Hughes’ argument in his essay, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain” is interesting and holds some valid points; I would disagree with a portion of it. Although what Hughes is asking of all artists is important, his argument is flawed. His interpretation of one “Negro Poet’s’” statement, “I want to be a poet –not a Negro poet” is equal to “I would like to be white” (1192) is quite a stretch. First of all, it is never appropriate to assume what someone means when saying something else. Furthermore, I believe it to be possible that the poet would like to be seen as an artist without his ethnicity modifying his title. Perhaps, he wants to be seen for his work, and not as Hughes is evaluating him, as how his work defines him as a black man. I also found Hughes’ very detailed description and interpretation of the Negro middle class (1193) to be very matter of fact, when in reality is it very difficult to so plainly articulate the daily lives and desires of a large group of people.

Hughes goes on to argue that is the poet he mentioned would only embrace his ethnic roots, he would find “a great field of unused material ready for his art” Hughes’ main concern with the Negro poet seems to be his responsibility to use his art in order to identify the “innumerable overtones and undertones” between blacks and whites, to which “there is an inexhaustible supply of themes at hand” (1194). Although Hughes is asking of the poet to infuse his art with the utmost honesty of his identity as an artist and a creator, he is also placing a very political buren upon all black artists. This “inexhaustible supply of themes” should certainly not be left unexplored by any means, but it is up to no particular black person, or person of any race whom desires to examine the racial politics of America, to dedicate their art form to such an issue. If anything, I believe this constraint to be demeaning to the artist. An artist should be able to be identified by the integrity of their work alone, without having to directly incorporate the color of their skin.

However, this does not mean there is not a need for what Hughes is asking. Representation of the lower class African Americans should be highly encouraged, as should art and representation of all ethnic backgrounds. Taking KanyeWest for example, his identity as a recording artist is largely affiliated with his personal life as a black man. His lyrics incorporate such ideas as war against racisisms and issues facing minorities of America. Not only does West have a large fan base for his authentic concerns, but it is also what defines him as a true artist, writing song lyrics that people care about, can relate to, or can be seen as instructional for those outside the American black experience. On top of all that, it has brought him great financial success, which is always a plus.

Hughes, Langston. “The Negro Artists and the Racial Mountain.” The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed,Vincent B. Leitch. 2nd ed. W.W. Norton & Company Inc.: New York, 2001. 1192-96. Print.


No comments:

Post a Comment