This month Girls Inc. has been preparing for our Media Literacy program for girls ages 12-14, called “Girls Take Another Look.” As a staff, we’ve had many interesting discussions about the influence of lyrics and music on teenagers and girls. Some topics we agreed upon, some we didn’t, and some I didn’t completely know how I felt.

One topic we discussed was Kanye’s latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the best album of 2010 according to staff at Pitchfork, an online music publication. Though I watched Kanye’s year from a distance during the many incidents that gained him national media coverage, when Pitchfork announced their top choice in 2010, I decided it was time to give the album, and Kanye, a shot. 

Most reviews and fans speak to the brilliance and uniqueness of the sound - and they are right, the album’s sound is unique. It would be difficult to deny his talent. Yet, as with all of music I listen to, I pay attention to the lyrics. And herein lies my media critique of the album, as I also hear what are sexist and blatantly disrespectful comments toward women in my mind.

As we ask our girls in one activity of Media Literacy, I took this example and deconstructed it by answering the following questions: What is the message? Who made this message? What is the purpose of the message? Who is the intended audience for the message? How effective is the message?

Call me naïve, but as I critiqued this media example I was caught by surprise. During many interviews, Kanye speaks about how close he was to his mother and shares that his entire goal is to promote “love and truth!” But after using the above questions to deconstruct Kanye’s album, I don’t feel the “love and truth.” Frankly, I don’t feel confident about myself or feel comfortable as a woman when listening to his lyrics. Yet millions of people love the album.

But I worry about young girls loving this album or similar ones. Despite the parental advisory warning on the label, ironically next to the explicit cover album, no amount of naiveté could believe children will not hear, internalize and be affected by his lyrics.

All in all, I find it difficult to navigate the gray zone of media ethics, especially something as personal as music. I don’t know how I stand on Kanye’s album beyond two things: 1) I wish women weren’t disrespected in nearly every track on the supposed best album of 2010, and 2) I hope when girls hear it, they’ll take the time to deconstruct the messages.

What do you think about Kanye’s album? Should the music industry give an artist “album of the year” if it poorly reflects on a group of people? Do lyrics of songs really matter when judging the “success” of the song? Should we judge an individual based on their art or work compared to how they live their life?