Mathangi Arulpragasam a.k.a M.I.A (Missing in Action) belongs to the new breed of political elites or as she is considered in the music world, a political artiste. Her music does not have inhibitions, is strong and new age with an eclectic mix of cultures and styles. Magnetic.
The daughter of a founding member of EROS, Arulpragasam she came into the limelight after her debut single ‘Galang’ and has since had two albums, ‘Arular’ and recently ‘Kala’. Her style is distinguishable from the usual underground hip hop scene ‘most notably genre-jumping, entertaining baselines, and lyrical simplicity. No question about it though, M.I.A.’s social consciousness content and her defiant musical “freedom fighting” call for revolution would make any underground lover proud’ (http://kymlee.newsvine.com/_news/2007/12/06/1144802-mia-album-review-kala). But what is the real politics behind her ‘social consciousness’ and her ‘freedom fighting’. M.I.A has continued to be wrapped up in a very ambiguous political shroud which has contributed towards her spiraling fame. This ambiguity is quite clear even in her lyrics. In the single titled Boyz she sings “How many no money boyz are crazy?/How many boyz are raw?/How many no money boyz are rowdy?/How many start a war?”. Despite it being radical and fresh, how does one interpret it? Furthermore, the usage of war symbols is noticeable. From the titles of her songs for example ‘paper planes’, ‘boyz’ (LTTE cadres are fondly referred to ‘boys’ by Tamil sympathisers) and the usage of a tiger (the LTTE’s symbol) and female LTTE cadre look-a-likes in her videos, one cannot but consider the subtle messages that seem to emanate from her. In the review ‘Totally Unradical’ (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=2431) Burton states that ‘Kala’s opener, “Bamboo Banger,” is another example of sturdy pop music masquerading as radicalism. The song, which borrows from the Modern Lovers and a Bollywood soundtrack, is marked by a number of tantalizing lines that never become more than impressionistic. So what if she’s knocking on the door of a “Hummer-Hummer”? She never tells us why such an act is important or what its consequences are’. It is very difficult for one to consider these symbols and messages as based on a neutral perspective on poverty, survival, violence and prejudice with accents on political and social commentary.
She talks about giving a voice to the voiceless and has had artists from developed and developing countries in her music. She questions "Why don't we ever get to, like, actually hear people talk on TV? Why don't we ever get to hear the starving African kids say something or do something or sing something or express something? We show them but they don't have a voice.” She talks of America and its ‘War on Terror’ which she says has sucked in independence struggles, revolutions and extremism into its vortex. Why? Is it because Africa, the War on Terrorism and being Sri Lankan Tamil, sell?
As a political elite, as one of the many Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora who can play a major part in the political dynamics of the Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict, M.I.A is right on top. With her popularity, her magnetism and by being the daughter of a rebel leader she has the power to make or break the mindsets of the youth that follow her, especially the Tamil youth. By singing “All I want to do is”—bang! bang! bang! bang!—“and, uh”—ka-ching!—“take your money” is she glorifying violence or accentuating the sanguinary violence, in a negative sense?
M.I.A is considered as ‘the rare artist who can turn her third-world politics into a party’. Is this what she is really up to? Turning the struggles of the peoples of Sri Lanka into a psychedelic, spray painted, sequin strewn party?
View her video Sunshowers :
4 comments:
Isn’t she made in to Time magazine top 100 most influential people of the year?
I quite doubt she have power to make or break the mindset of the youth. She had successful singles, and they are extremely catchy music. But other than that, she is not Bono or Angelina Jolie. But not that she can’t be.
Even if she wanted to talk about the conflict in Sri Lanka now, all she may able to do is repeat what LTTE may ask her to say. Otherwise, she may get an opportunity to have a tea party with respectable Tamil gentleman like Kadiragaman or Thamilchelvam. I don’t think she like that sort of things and because of that, she don’t have an option to make or break the mindset of the youth, at least not now. But one way or another, after war is finish (been an optimistic here), people like M.I.A can do lot reconcile the youth.
Yes her success is on the rise. Her sell out shows are evidence of this popularity. Music is an addictive force which binds many youth to the messages that emanate from them. She has a powerful media in her control and the adulation of an impressionable section of the diaspora at her feet and guns, drugs and sex sell like nothing on earth. Furthermore, she owes it to her fans to be clear about her politics. She does not have to speak against the LTTE to talk about the atrocities of war and the loss of human dignity. I hope your optimism of an end to the war becomes a reality and definitely people like M.I.A can do a lot in terms of reconciliation.
MIA is on the edge right now, but it seems that a bunch of controversial information about her has been omitted.
Wanna share a video that i found with you guyz and know your opnion:
http://srilankantube.com/item/72YJRHBK94YN1B8C
Thanks Jonny for your comment and video link. The video is very graphic and even though we have all seen this terrible stuff before, mixed with DeLon's effective lyrics to MIA's very catchy song it does make you feel breathless. Not in a good way but in a terribly helpless manner. As you may have read in our post about MIA her lyrics are rather vague making you feel very confused. But the pro-LTTE symbols juxtaposed with the lyrics definitely make you think twice. I know some young people who say that they try to ignore reading too much into the 'messages' she sends and try to just enjoy her style and music but unfortunately not all of the youth can be that committed to progressive ideals. Unfortunately many will succumb to the intoxication that is MIA but DeLon's version of Paper Planes would hopefully stimulate a worthwhile discussion regarding MIA and her politics.
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