Die Antwoord

Yolandi & Ninja with their co-star Chappie
(Courtesy: 41.media.tumblr.com)

Tuesday's class was profound watching Die Antwoord's Rich Bitch. The music video portrayed a very particular taste in hip hop that only a few can appreciate. Much so, the lyrics and theatrics are unique to their character and background. In my opinion, the music video was of satire as to prove to the upper class that you do not need to follow rules or act in a respectful manner to have money. Based upon watching their other music videos, it is apparent that there are a number of sub-meanings behind the content they provide for viewers.

Ninja and Yolandi are two ostentatious South African rappers who are better known for their social stigma defying lyrics and vocal careers as Die Antwoord. My first exposure to the duo was in Neill Blomkamp's film Chappie. The two vocalists turn stars as they appear as the supporting roles and parents of the protagonist robot Chappie. They do a fine job portraying South African criminals who must teach a state-of-the-art, armor-plated attack robot with newly acquired AI how to adapt and thrive in a society riddled with crime. Personally, this was one of the best sci-fi films I have watched in a while with plenty of action, comical moments, and dramatic twists. I highly recommend seeing this movie for those who have not already seen it.

Only after learning who they actually were, did the music video and personalities of both vocalists make their appearance in the film that much better. It would be amazing to see a sequel to the Chappie film as it would mean the return of Ninja and Yolandi to the big screen. Overall, the two have made a significant rise in their careers since their formation in 2008. On their individual Instagram accounts they are seen hanging out with Cara Delevingne, the upcoming star to portray Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad. Previous to this, Die Antwoord had cameos of her and many other renowned stars in their Ugly Boy music video.

WWE Vs. UFC

WWE Vs. UFC (Courtesy: www.ifcompare.com)

The article "The World of Wrestling" by Roland Barthes brought an interesting topic to light, the difference between spectacle and demonstration of excellence. In regards to wrestling, its roots as a performance based entertainment draws attention to the dramatizations performed by the wrestlers as opposed to boxing, where a match is determined by a battle of skill and passion for the sport. Barthes identified a grave reality when comparing the two in the following quote.

"The logical conclusion of the contest does not interest the wrestling-fan, while on the contrary a boxing-match always implies a science of the future." 

What Barthes does best in stating such, is the outcome of both wrestling and boxing as well as their importance to its spectators. Personally, I grew up watching wrestling but never worried about who won so long as there was sufficient action. With the advent of the UFC and boxing ever more prevalent than in the recent years, boxing has received much more praise for its ability to attract all crowds.  So therefore, I believe there is validity in Barthes viewpoint and statements to back it up. As mentioned in the reading, wrestling draws upon and shares elements of theatre. Suffering, defeat and justice as Barthes claims, can all be witnessed during a wrestling match, all while using the crowd's emotions to fuel the outcome.

Despite being predetermined matches, I would enjoy the Tables, Ladders and Chairs (TLC) matches. These always seemed to portray the more realistic violence than the proverbial punches or stomps. Fans have taken their own approach to the "sport" and have created backyard wrestling, which portrays similar themes, however, involves untrained participants who actually sustain real injuries. Many popular television shows such as Tosh.0 or Ridiculousness have aired home videos that have shown such events. Pop culture has also taken their approach at the modern day perception of the spectacle. South Park and Workaholics have parodied the theatrics of wrestling highlighting the outrageous backstories that the wrestlers direct to the audience and the whimsical gullibility of their audience. Overall, my take on wrestling is a negative perception, however, it is difficult to ignore because it is a multi-million dollar industry.