runaway

welcome to class ladies and gents. i see a few people weighing in on kanye's film "runaway" on twitter but none that i've seen have really talked about the depth of metaphorical expression conveyed throughout the whole thing. at face value it seems to be about a failed love-life between a man and a phoenix. but what about everything else in the film? here's my opinion.

part 1:
first we see kanye in his fast car driving in fast flashy car until he reaches the phoenix that crash landed in front of him. he takes her home and shows her around.

my take on part 1:
listening to kanye's past albums, we know that he has expressed that his road to fame has always been lonely. the fast car represents his life in the fast lane as a celebrity. along the way, i couldn't help but notice that he passed up a lot of female deer; a peaceful animal at best that could easily represent "the good girls". then suddenly he meets a phoenix that "sets his world on fire" and he can't help but take her home.

"first rule in this world baby, don't pay attention to anything you see in the news." (runaway)

this line struck me on the level as if he was preparing her for what the media may say about him; the rumors and lies. from there we cut to a scene where kanye is creating the "power" instrumental as the phoenix is seen dancing to the beat of his drum, so to speak. their vibe becomes one and she openly accepts him. the parade to me represents everything that makes kanye tick. he shows the kid side of him, tells of his inspirations (michael jackson), his guardian angels (grandmother and mother) and his past that he knows he can't run away from but openly accepts. the fireworks brings out the kid in him causing him the smile for the first time in the film. all the while, the phoenix is sharing these moments with him.

part 2:
the dinner party.

my take on part 2:
just before the dinner, kanye takes the time to prep the phoenix so she can "fit in" with the crowd; showing her how things are done in his world. at dinner, the phoenix gets a lot of looks. it's apparent she doesn't belong but kanye doesn't seem to care.

"'your girlfriend is really beautiful.'
'thank you.'
'do you know she's a bird?'" (runaway)

more correctly a phoenix but on the street, a bird is a bird is a bird. i noticed that after that quote, kanye paused for a bit and then performed "runaway" where it seems he was explaining that on some level he's doing some things that she really wouldn't approve of. furthermore, i think he realizes that at some degree he's just like the other people there. another thing i noticed was the ballerinas dressed in black and yet everyone at the party was dressed in white. the significance of that to me is, those at the party dressed in white (and the phoenix) are people living in the present and the ballerinas are simply a picture that kanye is painting about the women in his past (thus they are dressed in black). the interpretive dancing by the ballerinas as opposed to the traditional ballet confirmed to me that this was the case. the movements were more vibrant, sensual, and sexual at times. some of the featured dancers with solos seemed to be "on-again-off-again" girlfriends; pulling him back. the dinner guests seemed to be oblivious to the fact that kanye was taking a shot at them in the song. the turkey scene where the phoenix screamed to me was a realization that relatively being a bird was not fitting for his lifestyle. she would end up with a raw deal.



part 3:
the breakup.

my take on part 3:
life with kanye becomes seemingly unrealistic and unattractive for the phoenix. she slowly retracts from him emotionally and confirms it with what equates to the dreaded talk.

"all of the statues that we see...are phoenix turned to stone...do you know what i hate most about your world? anything that is different, you try to change. you try to tear it down. you rip the wings off the phoenix and they turn to stone. and if i don't burn, i will turn to stone." (runaway)

simply put and explained, anything that doesn't fit, he tries to make fit. the key phrase to me and theme of this whole video is "your world". the center of his world being his career, it seems that everything takes a backseat; competing for second place. thus, forcing things to fit his lifestyle without sacrifice ends up being the reason for the breakup. he tries to keep them together and she obliges him for a moment yet she eventually gains the strength to leave him. note that she has a chest plate at the end of the film (something she had not worn initially) as she tries to protect her heart from kanye.

watch the film here

overall, i loved it. it was a genius way to bring attention to his album. i can't help but notice that a few of the songs make references to hell, demons, and the devil himself but he did say that this album was meant to be dark so in that sense they seem appropriate.
the moral behind the film? simply put, you can't turn a "bird" into a housewife...i'm just saying.

Dom
if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me?
be easy coz life is hard...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5