Pitchforkers: Like Odd Future? Hate Odd Future? Why not do something about it?
Jimmy Fallon has no problem with Odd Future.
This week over on his WBEZ blog, Jim DeRogatis ran a story about Odd Future’s upcoming performance at the Pitchfork Music Festival. In essence, he said—and asked Pitchfork’s Ryan Schrieber and Chris Kaskie about this—that Odd Future’s lyrics are, without question, pretty objectionable, specifically when talking about women. DeRogatis asked in the blog’s title if the fest is “endorsing rape or showcasing art,” and while that was probably written in a bit of a sensational fashion, it’s a worthwhile question to ask, all the same.
The story’s raised a bit of Internet chatter about the whole issue, with most people just saying, “Well, I don’t know what I think about this,” or “Yes, rape is bad,” while still clicking on every story about OFWGKTA or the de facto group leader, Tyler The Creator. For their parts, Schrieber and Kaskie are conscious of the group’s iffy message, but say, “Well, it’s art and it’s music,” and they think it’s good. Gotta crack a few eggs if you’re going to make an omelete, right?
Well, absolutely. Free speech is a given right for everyone, and listeners can make their own judgments. Pitchfork’s only real responsibility is to balance out the acts. If you’re going to have misogyny fest, then expect no one to come. Throw Ted Leo and Titus Andronicus on the bill, like the festival has done in the past, and Pitchfork can up its gender revolution game to counteract bratty-kid talk. For DeRo and other naysayers’ parts—maybe, if they’re going to talk about Odd Future—it would probably have been pertinent to bring up previous performer Clipse’s questionable lyrics, or something like Wilco’s “She’s A Jar” that has lyrics that talk about hitting a woman. But hey, we digress.
It’s important that people are aware of and talk about the issues. And, sure, there are a lot of sides to this one. Here’s the thing, though: If it matters to you, why not do something more than just saying “This stinks”? A commenter on DeRo’s article noted that, “I haven’t gone to Pitchfork for a few years, but as I recall there are no in/out privileges—if you’re there, you can’t leave to protest one act and then return later.” That’s a valid point. There are, however, ways to protest that go beyond leaving for an hour to go have a glass of wine across the street. Please, allow The A.V. Club to make a few suggestions.
Wear your dissent on your sleeve—or carry it with you.
Make a T-shirt. Write “Rape is not okay” on your face. Heck, if you can bring in a chair or a blanket, you should be able to bring in a piece of poster board, as long as it’s not attached to a big stick. If you’re not into OFWGKTA, then let people know. Don’t just grouse with your friends online about how, like, you’re totally not cool with sexual assault and nasty talk. Tell strangers, and make it count. It might not make you super popular, but at least it could make people think.
If you’ve got the money, rent a booth for charity.
Pitchfork always has booths available at its record fair for crafts and record stores. There are also non-profit booths. If you work for a non-profit, why not work a booth for the weekend? Find out if the Chicago Women’s Health Center or a local RAINN chapter needs volunteers to do something like this. If they’re not into it and you’ve got the coin, rent a booth yourself and sell rape whistles or pro-lady patches. Donate the proceeds to charity.
Talk to strangers.
Okay, so you read DeRo’s story online. You talked to your friends on Twitter about it. But have you talked to strangers about it at Pitchfork? Specifically, have you talked to strangers who are discussing how much they love Goblin, Tyler The Creator’s new record? Don’t judge them, because they can do what they want, but try to have an open discussion about what you believe and why. Be levelheaded, and use examples. Nothing gets accomplished by saying, “That dude hates women. You know that, right?” If you don’t want to talk to people, then make a half-sheet that explains what you think and gives links to resources.
Support more conscious artists.
There are literally dozens of other artists playing Pitchfork who don’t write shitty things about women in their songs. Listen to their music instead. Go see them. Buy their records. Talk about them instead of talking about Odd Future. Buy their T-shirts. Go see them after Pitchfork. Go see other bands that are socially conscious, like Wild Flag who plays at this year’s Wicker Park Fest the week after Pitchfork Music Festival.
Change is made little by little, and it’s made with money and action—not with whimpering to sympathetic ears. Even if you think free speech is free speech and there’s nothing wrong with Odd Future, it’s important to engage in a debate about this whole phenomenon, rather than just letting it blandly wash over apathetic twentysomethings who are interested in “the next big thing.” Important art makes people talk, but so does totally insane shit, after all.
