It is truly a Party

Have you ever been to a concert of one of your favorite bands or singers and have gotten chills while watching them perform live? Well in Dave Chapelle’s Block Party, you can experience that feeling with out even leaving the comfort of your own home. The film Dave Chapelle’s block Party has raised a lot f praise and controversy. From being such an outstanding array of performers coming together to perform. To Dave Chapelle’s unconventional humor seen.

Robert Ebert says “I’ve seen better comedy films and better concert films. It noodles around too much and gets distracted from the music.” I must disagree with Robert Ebert. This film not once I believe ever gets distracted from the music. The most obvious is that this film is made to bring all the many different artist together such as Kanye West, Luaryn Hill, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu to perform in an amazing concert. The whole film was documenting the process of which Dave Chapelle organizing this concert and the concert it self. Yeah the whole film isn’t the concert but that wasn’t the purpose of the film. So I find it hard to believe that this film “noodles around to much and gets distracted from the music.”

Owen Gleiberman says “Dave Chapelle’s Block Party is perhaps the first concert movie since Stop Making Sense to give you a blissful buzz. The buzz comes from the music, which has a loose, burning joy rare to behold in a live rap performance, and also from Chapelle’s wicked prankster’s glee, which spreads through the movie like a happy virus. I agree that there is a buzz that comes from the music and from Dave’s prankster glee. Throughout the film no matter who is performing either if its Lauryn Hill or Kanye West or any of the other artist, there is this over whelming buzz that comes from their performances. Not only the performances by the featured artist but also the performances by other artists. For instance The Central State University marching band. When they perform Jesus Walks for Kanye West there was more than a buzz, there was an overwhelming sense of comradery that not only the band and Kanye shared but all of the artist shared during the film.

Dave Chapelle said “I was doing sketches that were funny but socially irresponsible.” regarding his show The Dave Chapelle Show. But even after the show ended, he was still doing comedy that was funny but socially irresponsible. For example, during the concert portion of Block party Chapelle said “[playing bongos in front of a crowd] 5,000 black people chillin' in the rain. 19 white people peppered in the crowd. Trying to find a Mexican.” After Chapelle made that statement you would think that he would be more aware of what he is saying especially in a public setting. But as this film shows, he was still being socially irresponsible with his humor.

Dyson said “all forms of black music been attacked both within and beyond black culture. Blues jazz, rhythm and blues and soul have all been viewed as indecent, immoral, and corrupting of black youth.” This is shown many times during the film through the the people being interviewed throughout the film.

Not only is Dave Chapelle’s Block is praised by many but also stirs up some controversy.

High School Musical

While growing up, musicals were always a part of my life. At that time in my life, not a lot of my peers knew many musicals let alone knew what a musical was. One of the main reasons why I was so interested in musicals was because my mother always played show tunes around the house. That eventually led me while growing up to want to become an actor on Broadway. So movie titles like by By By Birdie, South Pacific and Annie were commonly used in my household.

Unlike back when I was growing up, musicals have become more main stream. You can’t go any were with out hearing such words as “Wicked” or “Rent” What is making musicals so mainstream to younger audiences is a movie with a simple title “High School Musical” These three words say it all. A very simple and basic plot for a movie: a high school putting on a musical. A simple idea for a Disney movie and yet has been a phenomena ever since its debut in 2006. Not only did it strike it big because of teen heartthrobs Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens staring it but it introduces tweens to musicals in a mainstream way.

Being produced by Disney, like many of Disney’s productions, High School Musical’s target audience is tweens. It is quite obvious that it is directed towards tweens in few ways. For instance, take the setting for example. The movie takes place in a high school. Growing up, teenage years are considered the most difficult. So when there is a chance when teens can escape during those rough years they can do so, even sometimes through media. So when it comes to a movie set in a high school, it is perfect for tweens to watch especially when the plot deals with character’s life that are so far from what real teens life’s are like. Plus another obvious way High School musical is directed for tweens is that is produced by Disney. Disney has a great reputation for targeting tweens with shows like Hannah Montana and bands like the Jonas Brothers. And high School musical is one of them. While Disney directs High School musical to tweens it assume what tweens will like and dislike. Such include tweens will like romantic love story tied in into a musical. In High School Musical that is taken care of by Zack and Vanessa’s character. Two high school students that dramatically fall in love with each other during their high school career. Some dislikes that Disney assumes that tweens will like modern day musicals. With assumptions like these, Disney makes their audience look like a stereo typical teen growing up in the fifties. A perfect clean cut happy go lucky teen with no problems in the world. Just like all of their characters that are portrayed in High School Musical.

I believe any tween that likes any kind of Disney movie or show would love this movie by the assumptions of Disney. Anyone that is tired and sick of hearing anything that deals with any teen Disney star would dislike even hate High School Movie with a passion. While growing up, I always enjoyed musicals. Although this musical isn’t directed towards me, I must confuse I am kind of fond of it.