As an experimental creative rhetorical piece I decided to play with Classical Rhetoric and incorporate Hip Hop innovator Kanye West. From this idea was birthed the following: The Kanyetic Seminar: A Kidnapping of Morals. Enjoy.
The Kanyetic Seminar: A Kidnapping of Morals
Scene 1
(Aristotle and Socrates storm into Hermes Paris cloaked in black. They rope and bag Kanye West and drag him to the back room.)
KANYE WEST: (Vigorously fighting to become untied, yelling) What the hell is going on? Get me the fuck outta here. Nigga I’m Kanye West when I get through with whoever the hell you are you wont even be worried about how bad my lawyers gonna murder you.
SOCRATES: Mr. West I am sorry to startle you but this is for the greater good of mankind. Now we are going to remove you from the bag but you will remain tied until we have come to a common ground.
ARISTOTLE: Young Kanye I fear you do not understand the power of your words. Socrates and I, despite that we rarely agree on many matters, agree that you are blasphemously leading the people into the wrong direction. Kanye you are misleading the people and using rhetoric to your advantage. Your rants are…
KANYE WEST: How dare you disrespect my genius I am a highly educated Black man and I know my arena. Excuse me but you are more than a thousand years removed from my culture. I move people, who are you reaching?
(Socrates stuffs Kanye’s mouth with a cloth. Kanye’s voice is muffled)
SOCRATES: Aristotle this is the same reason I previously dismissed Gorgias ridiculous concept that rhetoric could actually become a discourse. How could this be a valid school of learning if Kanye West can lead people to actually follow him? This is absurd, further showing why rhetoric is not a discourse.
(Just as Socrates finishes his sentence Gorgias walks in).
GORGIAS: My dear friends, Socrates, I see you still up to your old tricks. Who is this young man here you have decided to "discredit" his craft with your tactic.
ARISTOTLE: This here is Kanye West, he is a musician of this time for what is called Hip Hop music, but he does not play an instrument. Instead his instrument is his words, he is what they call a rapper. Now the issue that has arose is that Kanye is leading the people to believe his ’rants’, he is a 21st century Lord Byron we must fix this before he goes too far.
GORGIAS: I must apologize but I do not see the error of Mr. West ways. I must ask why Mr. West is not involved in our conversation? Why Mr. West what are these rants the speak about?
(Gorgias removes the cloth placed in Kanye’s mouth)
KANYE WEST: I’m telling you once I get a hold of you this aint gon be pretty. Gorgias I dont rant. They classify my motivational speeches as rants - like "Why is he saying that? Why is he doing that?" Well I’ve reached a point in my life where my Truman Show boat has hit the painting. And I’ve got to a point that Michael Jackson did not break down. I have reached the glass ceiling as a creative person, as a celebrity.
GORGIAS: Now Kanye are you ...
(Door swings open and a woman storms into Hermes Paris furious. She barges into the back room.)
Scene 2
JACQUELINE JONES ROYSTER: I can’t believe you two are still up to this. Really Socrates, Aristotle you should be ashamed of yourself. I thought you stopped this after Lord Byron, what is the matter with you two. And Gorgias, I would never expect this from you!
GORGIAS: Now now lady, I simply came into to add some reason to this fiasco that Socrates and Aristotle have created.
SOCRATES: Fiasco? I am trying to save humanity from devilish rhetoric and evil rhetoricians as Kanye.
ARISTOTLE: Socrates this is a matter of morality not a matter of the validity of rhetoric and we have discussed this before.
SOCRATES: Kanye is using his rhetorical rap power at the peoples expense, he is destroying their souls! This alone shows why rhetoric is terribly harmful and not beneficial to the people (Bizzell 83).
ARISTOTLE: Socrates it is already set in stone that rhetoric is a discourse. Rhetoric is a combination of logic and ethics and reasoning (Bizzell 187). In additon to persuasion we use these elements as rheotoricians to our spread our message. The issue at hand Socrates is that we must not make people believe what is wrong (Bizzell 181) and you Kanye are swaying the people to the wrong side of morality.
KANYE WEST: (Sarcastically) And mighty Philosopher King how might I be doing that?
ARISTOTLE: Kanye you exclaimed on global forum that your nations leader does not care about Black people. That is just blasmphemous! A leader must have the people on his side to come into power and if you had this knowledge you would not have imparted such lies onto the people (Bizzell 187).
KANYE WEST: The message I sent during the telethon was far from misinformed and I was leading the public to a good cause. As a rapper I am a role model (Kanye West –Jesus Walks Lyrics) and our country was not performing as they should. African American’s were being exploited by the media. Their desparate attempts just to gain food and shelter, were seen as criminal acts. People trying to get water were seen as looters. This was ridiculous. I also saw the rich white neighborhoods being serviced, yet the poor Black people neglected and ignored. This is why I stated George Bush doesn’t care about Black people, because the sense of urgency that should have prevailed simply was not there (George Bush
Doesn’t Care About Black People).
(Socrates begins to talk but is quickly cut off by Royster)
ROYSTER: This is a prime example of what I have to bring to everyone attention continuously. You are coming into other peoples environments and becoming the "expert" of this time. You do not live in this century, you do not have the context nor knowledge of 21st century America or the disparities faced by African Americans (Villenueava 558). Socrates, our community has very different views on the morality of the payment you receive from young boys as well. However that conversation is for another kidnapping.
KANYE WEST: Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t it you Artistotle who said that all men are persuaded by the considerations of their interest? (Bizzell 196)
ARISTOTLE: Yes
KANYE WEST: And if the people did not believe that my statement held no value to them, and where not experiencing racial disparities when I made this statement, my voice would generally be ignored (Bizzell 196)
ARISTOTLE: Yes
KANYE WEST: More importantly didn’t you Aristotle say that "Things that are true and things that are just have a natural tendency to prevail over their opposites" (Bizzell 180).
ARISTOTLE: Yes
KANYE WEST: So then this statement has lasted 8 years, and people still find truth in this statement. Doesn’t this prove my morality?
ARISTOTLE: But Kanye virtue is providing and preserving good things, or bringing great benefits on all occasion. To be virtuous one must seek justice, be courageous, and have wisdom. Mr. West you have never displayed these attributes.
ROYSTER: Aristotle your outrageous comments say more about you than Kanye. You have come into this man’s realm and disrespected him and his craft repeatedly by stating he is not a moral and virtuous man (Villnueva 557)
KANYE WEST: More so Aristotle, my statement displayed all of the characteristics you were looking for. It took courage to go against my script on the telethon in order to bring justice for my people and I had to have wisdom to know that I needed to take a stand at that moment on the global forum. So again how am I not a virtuous or moral man?
GORGIAS: Now men, and lady, as strong as is the habit of obedience to the law, it is ejected by fear resulting from sight, which coming to a man cause him to be indifferent both to what is judged honorable because of the law and to the advantage to be derived by victory (Bizzell 46). Kanye was simply acting out of the fear for his people and felt that is was necessary to take this platform so he and his people could gain this victory, despite if it were an honorable act or not. Do not blame Kanye for loving his people. If love is a disease of human origin, and a fault of the soul, it should not be blamed as a sin, but regarded as an affliction. For he came, as he did come, caught in a net of Fate not by plans of the mind and by constraints of love not by the devices of art (Bizzell 46).
SOCRATES: Gorgias, you cannot sway me with your rhetoric nonsense, it didn't work with that whore Helen and it diffintely will not work with Kanye. And Kanye West this is only one instance of you using rhetoric as a platform for your own personal gain…
(Enter Longinus who slowly and dramatically walks into the room uncovering himself from his black hooded cloak)
Scene 3
(Longinus steps into the middle of the room and stares down Socrates and Aristotle)
LONGINUS: So I see I have been left out one of your little gathering once again. No worries I decided to parade in anywho. Hello Mr. West I see they are subjecting you to the same nonsense Lord Byron had to deal with, luckily you are a bit more strong willed.
SOCRATES: Once again you have arrived unannounced and uninvited please do share with us the "information" you would like to impart.
LONGINUS: First sir I must now the topic, what is it that you are prosecuting Mr. West on.
ARISTOTLE: Now lets discuss your recent musical project Yeezus, hence the name, Kanye West not only refers to himself as Jesus, but he also has song called "Black Skinhead" and "I Am a God".
SOCRATES: The morality of this man is still in question, if not proven already that he is immoral and using rhetoric for the worst!
ARISTOTLE: How does one who is an African American call himself a skinhead, let alone a God. Kanye you are not a God, you are a mere mortal walking amongst this Earth with many, you a man, a human.
KANYE WEST: Do you know the history of skinheads? Skinheads were European and West Indian men forming a new fashion and listening to music during a time they were going against the norm. This had nothing to do with racism and hating white people. But I will use the pun to my advantage. This doesn't make me immoral, it makes me a genius! I’m literally taking the concept of a white racist skinhead and applying it to my self. Why? Because you treat me like that anyway so why not respond. And what I made was a masterpiece it was innovative it was creative it was dope as fuck!
LONGINUS: Oh how clever Mr. West you sneaky devil you. I love how you have produced a moment that has torn everything up like a whirlwind and exhibits such power in a single blow! It is so subliminal so incredible (Bizzell 347).
ARISTOTLE: No it is not it is a mocked of society and swaying the public to be reckless!
LONGINUS: It is an echo of the noble mind! (Bizzell 350) This must be why you two cannot recognize this, humph.
ARISTOTLE: Kanye is trying to push the people to be wild! This is not good for order and society. There is not good use for his rhetorical claims.
LONGINUS: Aristotle, Kanye is not moving the people to anything, Kanye is not using persuasion. See persuasion is on the whole something we can control. On the other hand amazement and wonder exert invincible power and force and get the better of every hearer (Bizzell 347). Kanye has not persuaded anyone to do anything, and if so what? Push individuals to excellence? To capture the purity of the craft? Please explain what this man has done that is so immoral?
ARISTOTLE: he knows not what he is doing he is not even learned in rhetoric yet he uses it to his advantage! As you said yourself Kanye you are a “college dropout”.
LONGINUS: Augustine I knew I would need you hurry in and join.
(Enter Augustine)
AUGUSTINE: Ahh it was becoming very hard to keep quiet. My friends I heard you say that Kanye should not be using rhetoric because he is not schooled in the discourse. However I must beg to differ. We must remember that a man who has an empty flow of eloquence ought to be the more guarded against as he is the more guarded against as he is the more pleasing to his audience (Bizzell 458).
(Enter Cicero)
KANYE: Where the hell are all these people coming from?
(Socrates tapes puts cloth back in Kanye’s mouth while everyone else is intensely attentive waiting for their turn in the conversation)
CICERO: Augustine I must challenge you. To be a successful orator, there are several criteria: he must have different and multiple knowledges, have a distinctive style based on the choice and arrangements of words, and an understanding of the complex and multitude of mental emotions. He must also have a history of the field, knowledge in law, and proper bodily expressions such as gestures, carriage, intonation and emotion in voice, etc. (Bizzell 291). Mr. West you are not learned in this discourse, you know not what your power is and you must control it. You have been leading the people to their demise. Good men do not say things that can possibly lead people to do the wrong thing.
ROYSTER: This is a prime example of cross-culture misconduct; you men think you are “experts” of this time and you have no idea the great impact that Kanye West has on the youth of our time inspiring them, and moving them to art, fashion, and architecture rather than vices. (Villenueva 558). You will have devastating circumstances and you continue to put Kanye at a disadvantage.
AUGUSTINE: Well now I must disagree, after listening to “Black Skinheads” I do not believe that there is a good message for anyone, you are moving the people to “black out on yo ass”. Kanye, this is not what good leaders do.
ROYSTER: Why don't you get it? You will never understand, because you have not experienced the plight of a Black man. You all have “trespass vision” creating with your intellect and imagination scenarios of Mr. West’s music’s affect on society, yet none of these theories have come into fruition. I have yet to hear anyone who uses Kanye West’s music as an excuse for crime. As may forefather W.E.B. DuBois stated “the sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity” (Villenueva 560). You have not asked our community their input at all. Quite frankly I believe you all are hypocritical and ignore the teaching that you hold onto dearly. Cicero wasn't it you that stated, “Oratory has to do with the common practice, custom, and speech of mankind” (Bizzell 290). Kanye displays the use of common practice when he is on world tour performing; shows customs through his dress, choice of art, and his ties to the black community; he uses language that his community understands. Augustine, you have also said that you know many who are more eloquent without the rules of rhetoric than many who have learned them (Bizzell 457). Doesn't this allow Kanye to spread his message without the formal training you all feel he needs? You all stand here with an exception of few and commit the same fallacy you speak against. Augustine again you have said, “Who would be so bold as to say that against falsehood, truth as regards its own defender ought to stand unarmed” (Bizzell 456). You all have taken a stance that Kanye West is not a man of good character yet you have not looked at his entire career, you have not listened to his catalog, you have judge him on two songs and telethon. You all are wrong and you know it.
SOCRATES: Don't let her pull the veil over her eyes, have we forgotten that Kanye has states that he is a GOD!
AUGUSTINE: Yes what explanation do you have for this Royster since you have become the voice of Kanye West?
ROYSTER: I simply and trying to be someone who can cross boundaries and serve as guide and translator for Kanye. It is obvious you are once again out of touch and do not understand the cultural context of this time. Mr. West is simply being a creative artist and a man of his time, an inspirational voice to the youth, going against the status quo. Kanye West is an asset to society that you cannot see. Kanye West is a hybrid person, a person who has the capacity to move with dexterity across cultural boundaries, to make themselves comfortable, and to make sense amid the chaos of difference (563)”. Hybridity also allows for the development of a peculiar expertise that extends one’s range of abilities well beyond ordinary limits, and it supports the opportunity for the development of new and remarkable creative expression” (562). Genius emerges from hybridity and Kanye West is a genius.
LONGINUS: It is funny you wish to comment on Kanye’s voice when you have taken it away Socrates. (Longinus removes the cloth from Kanye’s mouth). Let the man speak for himself.
ARISTOTLE: How Kanye can you be a moral man if you claim to be God yourself, you commit the sin that God had told us not to. How can you be a good person if you lead the people away from God and to follow you?
KANYE WEST: When someone comes up and says something like "I am a god", everybody says "Who does he think he is?" I just told you who I thought I am, a god! I just told you! That's who I think I am! Would it have been better if I had a song that said, "I am a nigga"? or if I had song that said "I am a gangsta"? or if I had song that said "I am a pimp"? All those color and patinas fit better on a person like me, right? But to say you are a god? Especially, when you got shipped over to the country that you're in, and your last name is a slave owners. How can you say that; how could you have that mentality? I've always felt I can do anything. That's the main thing people are controlled by, thoughts- the perceptions of themselves. They're slowed down by the perception of themselves. If you're taught you can't do anything you won't do anything. I was taught I could do everything and I'm Kanye West at age 36. So just watch the next ten years.
Works Cited
"George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People." YouTube. YouTube, 29 Aug. 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMEn_KgxqSg>.
"Kanye West – Jesus Walks Lyrics." Rap Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://rapgenius.com/Kanye-west-jesus-walks-lyrics>.
"Kanye West’s Full Interview With Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1." Fist In The Air. N.p., 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://fistintheair.com/2013/09/27/kanye-west-full-interview-with-zane-lowe-on-bbc-radio-1/>.
The Kanyetic Seminar: A Kidnapping of Morals
Scene 1
(Aristotle and Socrates storm into Hermes Paris cloaked in black. They rope and bag Kanye West and drag him to the back room.)
KANYE WEST: (Vigorously fighting to become untied, yelling) What the hell is going on? Get me the fuck outta here. Nigga I’m Kanye West when I get through with whoever the hell you are you wont even be worried about how bad my lawyers gonna murder you.
SOCRATES: Mr. West I am sorry to startle you but this is for the greater good of mankind. Now we are going to remove you from the bag but you will remain tied until we have come to a common ground.
ARISTOTLE: Young Kanye I fear you do not understand the power of your words. Socrates and I, despite that we rarely agree on many matters, agree that you are blasphemously leading the people into the wrong direction. Kanye you are misleading the people and using rhetoric to your advantage. Your rants are…
KANYE WEST: How dare you disrespect my genius I am a highly educated Black man and I know my arena. Excuse me but you are more than a thousand years removed from my culture. I move people, who are you reaching?
(Socrates stuffs Kanye’s mouth with a cloth. Kanye’s voice is muffled)
SOCRATES: Aristotle this is the same reason I previously dismissed Gorgias ridiculous concept that rhetoric could actually become a discourse. How could this be a valid school of learning if Kanye West can lead people to actually follow him? This is absurd, further showing why rhetoric is not a discourse.
(Just as Socrates finishes his sentence Gorgias walks in).
GORGIAS: My dear friends, Socrates, I see you still up to your old tricks. Who is this young man here you have decided to "discredit" his craft with your tactic.
ARISTOTLE: This here is Kanye West, he is a musician of this time for what is called Hip Hop music, but he does not play an instrument. Instead his instrument is his words, he is what they call a rapper. Now the issue that has arose is that Kanye is leading the people to believe his ’rants’, he is a 21st century Lord Byron we must fix this before he goes too far.
GORGIAS: I must apologize but I do not see the error of Mr. West ways. I must ask why Mr. West is not involved in our conversation? Why Mr. West what are these rants the speak about?
(Gorgias removes the cloth placed in Kanye’s mouth)
KANYE WEST: I’m telling you once I get a hold of you this aint gon be pretty. Gorgias I dont rant. They classify my motivational speeches as rants - like "Why is he saying that? Why is he doing that?" Well I’ve reached a point in my life where my Truman Show boat has hit the painting. And I’ve got to a point that Michael Jackson did not break down. I have reached the glass ceiling as a creative person, as a celebrity.
GORGIAS: Now Kanye are you ...
(Door swings open and a woman storms into Hermes Paris furious. She barges into the back room.)
Scene 2
JACQUELINE JONES ROYSTER: I can’t believe you two are still up to this. Really Socrates, Aristotle you should be ashamed of yourself. I thought you stopped this after Lord Byron, what is the matter with you two. And Gorgias, I would never expect this from you!
GORGIAS: Now now lady, I simply came into to add some reason to this fiasco that Socrates and Aristotle have created.
SOCRATES: Fiasco? I am trying to save humanity from devilish rhetoric and evil rhetoricians as Kanye.
ARISTOTLE: Socrates this is a matter of morality not a matter of the validity of rhetoric and we have discussed this before.
SOCRATES: Kanye is using his rhetorical rap power at the peoples expense, he is destroying their souls! This alone shows why rhetoric is terribly harmful and not beneficial to the people (Bizzell 83).
ARISTOTLE: Socrates it is already set in stone that rhetoric is a discourse. Rhetoric is a combination of logic and ethics and reasoning (Bizzell 187). In additon to persuasion we use these elements as rheotoricians to our spread our message. The issue at hand Socrates is that we must not make people believe what is wrong (Bizzell 181) and you Kanye are swaying the people to the wrong side of morality.
KANYE WEST: (Sarcastically) And mighty Philosopher King how might I be doing that?
ARISTOTLE: Kanye you exclaimed on global forum that your nations leader does not care about Black people. That is just blasmphemous! A leader must have the people on his side to come into power and if you had this knowledge you would not have imparted such lies onto the people (Bizzell 187).
KANYE WEST: The message I sent during the telethon was far from misinformed and I was leading the public to a good cause. As a rapper I am a role model (Kanye West –Jesus Walks Lyrics) and our country was not performing as they should. African American’s were being exploited by the media. Their desparate attempts just to gain food and shelter, were seen as criminal acts. People trying to get water were seen as looters. This was ridiculous. I also saw the rich white neighborhoods being serviced, yet the poor Black people neglected and ignored. This is why I stated George Bush doesn’t care about Black people, because the sense of urgency that should have prevailed simply was not there (George Bush
Doesn’t Care About Black People).
(Socrates begins to talk but is quickly cut off by Royster)
ROYSTER: This is a prime example of what I have to bring to everyone attention continuously. You are coming into other peoples environments and becoming the "expert" of this time. You do not live in this century, you do not have the context nor knowledge of 21st century America or the disparities faced by African Americans (Villenueava 558). Socrates, our community has very different views on the morality of the payment you receive from young boys as well. However that conversation is for another kidnapping.
KANYE WEST: Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t it you Artistotle who said that all men are persuaded by the considerations of their interest? (Bizzell 196)
ARISTOTLE: Yes
KANYE WEST: And if the people did not believe that my statement held no value to them, and where not experiencing racial disparities when I made this statement, my voice would generally be ignored (Bizzell 196)
ARISTOTLE: Yes
KANYE WEST: More importantly didn’t you Aristotle say that "Things that are true and things that are just have a natural tendency to prevail over their opposites" (Bizzell 180).
ARISTOTLE: Yes
KANYE WEST: So then this statement has lasted 8 years, and people still find truth in this statement. Doesn’t this prove my morality?
ARISTOTLE: But Kanye virtue is providing and preserving good things, or bringing great benefits on all occasion. To be virtuous one must seek justice, be courageous, and have wisdom. Mr. West you have never displayed these attributes.
ROYSTER: Aristotle your outrageous comments say more about you than Kanye. You have come into this man’s realm and disrespected him and his craft repeatedly by stating he is not a moral and virtuous man (Villnueva 557)
KANYE WEST: More so Aristotle, my statement displayed all of the characteristics you were looking for. It took courage to go against my script on the telethon in order to bring justice for my people and I had to have wisdom to know that I needed to take a stand at that moment on the global forum. So again how am I not a virtuous or moral man?
GORGIAS: Now men, and lady, as strong as is the habit of obedience to the law, it is ejected by fear resulting from sight, which coming to a man cause him to be indifferent both to what is judged honorable because of the law and to the advantage to be derived by victory (Bizzell 46). Kanye was simply acting out of the fear for his people and felt that is was necessary to take this platform so he and his people could gain this victory, despite if it were an honorable act or not. Do not blame Kanye for loving his people. If love is a disease of human origin, and a fault of the soul, it should not be blamed as a sin, but regarded as an affliction. For he came, as he did come, caught in a net of Fate not by plans of the mind and by constraints of love not by the devices of art (Bizzell 46).
SOCRATES: Gorgias, you cannot sway me with your rhetoric nonsense, it didn't work with that whore Helen and it diffintely will not work with Kanye. And Kanye West this is only one instance of you using rhetoric as a platform for your own personal gain…
(Enter Longinus who slowly and dramatically walks into the room uncovering himself from his black hooded cloak)
Scene 3
(Longinus steps into the middle of the room and stares down Socrates and Aristotle)
LONGINUS: So I see I have been left out one of your little gathering once again. No worries I decided to parade in anywho. Hello Mr. West I see they are subjecting you to the same nonsense Lord Byron had to deal with, luckily you are a bit more strong willed.
SOCRATES: Once again you have arrived unannounced and uninvited please do share with us the "information" you would like to impart.
LONGINUS: First sir I must now the topic, what is it that you are prosecuting Mr. West on.
ARISTOTLE: Now lets discuss your recent musical project Yeezus, hence the name, Kanye West not only refers to himself as Jesus, but he also has song called "Black Skinhead" and "I Am a God".
SOCRATES: The morality of this man is still in question, if not proven already that he is immoral and using rhetoric for the worst!
ARISTOTLE: How does one who is an African American call himself a skinhead, let alone a God. Kanye you are not a God, you are a mere mortal walking amongst this Earth with many, you a man, a human.
KANYE WEST: Do you know the history of skinheads? Skinheads were European and West Indian men forming a new fashion and listening to music during a time they were going against the norm. This had nothing to do with racism and hating white people. But I will use the pun to my advantage. This doesn't make me immoral, it makes me a genius! I’m literally taking the concept of a white racist skinhead and applying it to my self. Why? Because you treat me like that anyway so why not respond. And what I made was a masterpiece it was innovative it was creative it was dope as fuck!
LONGINUS: Oh how clever Mr. West you sneaky devil you. I love how you have produced a moment that has torn everything up like a whirlwind and exhibits such power in a single blow! It is so subliminal so incredible (Bizzell 347).
ARISTOTLE: No it is not it is a mocked of society and swaying the public to be reckless!
LONGINUS: It is an echo of the noble mind! (Bizzell 350) This must be why you two cannot recognize this, humph.
ARISTOTLE: Kanye is trying to push the people to be wild! This is not good for order and society. There is not good use for his rhetorical claims.
LONGINUS: Aristotle, Kanye is not moving the people to anything, Kanye is not using persuasion. See persuasion is on the whole something we can control. On the other hand amazement and wonder exert invincible power and force and get the better of every hearer (Bizzell 347). Kanye has not persuaded anyone to do anything, and if so what? Push individuals to excellence? To capture the purity of the craft? Please explain what this man has done that is so immoral?
ARISTOTLE: he knows not what he is doing he is not even learned in rhetoric yet he uses it to his advantage! As you said yourself Kanye you are a “college dropout”.
LONGINUS: Augustine I knew I would need you hurry in and join.
(Enter Augustine)
AUGUSTINE: Ahh it was becoming very hard to keep quiet. My friends I heard you say that Kanye should not be using rhetoric because he is not schooled in the discourse. However I must beg to differ. We must remember that a man who has an empty flow of eloquence ought to be the more guarded against as he is the more guarded against as he is the more pleasing to his audience (Bizzell 458).
(Enter Cicero)
KANYE: Where the hell are all these people coming from?
(Socrates tapes puts cloth back in Kanye’s mouth while everyone else is intensely attentive waiting for their turn in the conversation)
CICERO: Augustine I must challenge you. To be a successful orator, there are several criteria: he must have different and multiple knowledges, have a distinctive style based on the choice and arrangements of words, and an understanding of the complex and multitude of mental emotions. He must also have a history of the field, knowledge in law, and proper bodily expressions such as gestures, carriage, intonation and emotion in voice, etc. (Bizzell 291). Mr. West you are not learned in this discourse, you know not what your power is and you must control it. You have been leading the people to their demise. Good men do not say things that can possibly lead people to do the wrong thing.
ROYSTER: This is a prime example of cross-culture misconduct; you men think you are “experts” of this time and you have no idea the great impact that Kanye West has on the youth of our time inspiring them, and moving them to art, fashion, and architecture rather than vices. (Villenueva 558). You will have devastating circumstances and you continue to put Kanye at a disadvantage.
AUGUSTINE: Well now I must disagree, after listening to “Black Skinheads” I do not believe that there is a good message for anyone, you are moving the people to “black out on yo ass”. Kanye, this is not what good leaders do.
ROYSTER: Why don't you get it? You will never understand, because you have not experienced the plight of a Black man. You all have “trespass vision” creating with your intellect and imagination scenarios of Mr. West’s music’s affect on society, yet none of these theories have come into fruition. I have yet to hear anyone who uses Kanye West’s music as an excuse for crime. As may forefather W.E.B. DuBois stated “the sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity” (Villenueva 560). You have not asked our community their input at all. Quite frankly I believe you all are hypocritical and ignore the teaching that you hold onto dearly. Cicero wasn't it you that stated, “Oratory has to do with the common practice, custom, and speech of mankind” (Bizzell 290). Kanye displays the use of common practice when he is on world tour performing; shows customs through his dress, choice of art, and his ties to the black community; he uses language that his community understands. Augustine, you have also said that you know many who are more eloquent without the rules of rhetoric than many who have learned them (Bizzell 457). Doesn't this allow Kanye to spread his message without the formal training you all feel he needs? You all stand here with an exception of few and commit the same fallacy you speak against. Augustine again you have said, “Who would be so bold as to say that against falsehood, truth as regards its own defender ought to stand unarmed” (Bizzell 456). You all have taken a stance that Kanye West is not a man of good character yet you have not looked at his entire career, you have not listened to his catalog, you have judge him on two songs and telethon. You all are wrong and you know it.
SOCRATES: Don't let her pull the veil over her eyes, have we forgotten that Kanye has states that he is a GOD!
AUGUSTINE: Yes what explanation do you have for this Royster since you have become the voice of Kanye West?
ROYSTER: I simply and trying to be someone who can cross boundaries and serve as guide and translator for Kanye. It is obvious you are once again out of touch and do not understand the cultural context of this time. Mr. West is simply being a creative artist and a man of his time, an inspirational voice to the youth, going against the status quo. Kanye West is an asset to society that you cannot see. Kanye West is a hybrid person, a person who has the capacity to move with dexterity across cultural boundaries, to make themselves comfortable, and to make sense amid the chaos of difference (563)”. Hybridity also allows for the development of a peculiar expertise that extends one’s range of abilities well beyond ordinary limits, and it supports the opportunity for the development of new and remarkable creative expression” (562). Genius emerges from hybridity and Kanye West is a genius.
LONGINUS: It is funny you wish to comment on Kanye’s voice when you have taken it away Socrates. (Longinus removes the cloth from Kanye’s mouth). Let the man speak for himself.
ARISTOTLE: How Kanye can you be a moral man if you claim to be God yourself, you commit the sin that God had told us not to. How can you be a good person if you lead the people away from God and to follow you?
KANYE WEST: When someone comes up and says something like "I am a god", everybody says "Who does he think he is?" I just told you who I thought I am, a god! I just told you! That's who I think I am! Would it have been better if I had a song that said, "I am a nigga"? or if I had song that said "I am a gangsta"? or if I had song that said "I am a pimp"? All those color and patinas fit better on a person like me, right? But to say you are a god? Especially, when you got shipped over to the country that you're in, and your last name is a slave owners. How can you say that; how could you have that mentality? I've always felt I can do anything. That's the main thing people are controlled by, thoughts- the perceptions of themselves. They're slowed down by the perception of themselves. If you're taught you can't do anything you won't do anything. I was taught I could do everything and I'm Kanye West at age 36. So just watch the next ten years.
Works Cited
"George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People." YouTube. YouTube, 29 Aug. 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMEn_KgxqSg>.
"Kanye West – Jesus Walks Lyrics." Rap Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://rapgenius.com/Kanye-west-jesus-walks-lyrics>.
"Kanye West’s Full Interview With Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1." Fist In The Air. N.p., 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://fistintheair.com/2013/09/27/kanye-west-full-interview-with-zane-lowe-on-bbc-radio-1/>.