Democratic urban politics exposed in “8 Mile”

BUCKNELLIAN - Bucknell University -weekly campus newspaper ^ | December 6, 2002 | Tom Elliott - Senior Writer

[LurkedLongEnough]

Yes, Eminem sure is pro-1A. One of my favorite lines of his is: "F# you, Tipper Gore"! The rest of his lyrics provide consistent evidence that he is definitely not a-political.

[Fraulein]

I forgot about the Tipper quote.

Eminem is EXTREMELY pro-first ammendment. Not at all a fan of censorship. And he's definitely not politically correct. Also, Eminem has said in interviews that it is the responsibility of parents to protect their children -- and not the entertainment industry. BTW, he's also for pot legalisation. I imagine he's probably libertarian?

Many democrats hate Eminem for exposing that whites can sometimes be worse off, financially and otherwise, than blacks. Oh, the dems will just never forgive him for that one. Also, Eminem shows in 8 Mile that playing the victim gets you nowhere. Ultimately, he realizes that it is up to him -- and him alone -- to make something of himself, despite the obstacles that he faces. And he is also pro-individual -- refusing to view people simply in terms of groups. And he breaks into a black-dominated field solely on the basis of SKILL and MERIT.

He also laments the broken homes (his own lack of a father) that are prevalent among the poor, and he has made it a point to be a father to his daughter.

[Xenalyte]

Eminem is very hip to parental authority.

Get aware, wake up, get a sense of humor
Quit tryin to censor music, this is for your kid's amusement
But don't blame me when lil' Eric jumps off of the terrace
You shoulda been watchin him - apparently you ain't parents

[goldilucky]

I wouldn't even bother putting a label on Eminem. He's incomparable, saucy, sassy, but most of all a realist that idealists have a problem identifying with. He sees things for what they are and not what they should be. If that makes him to be bad than that makes me to be bad too and I can live with it. I know what it's like to be poor and living in a ghetto. But one has the opportunity to move out of it. Also, you can take a person out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of them for they will always use it to their advantage!

[LurkedLongEnough]

Thanks for your comments. I agree with your observation that Eminem is "...a realist that idealists have a problem identifying with. He sees things for what they are and not what they should be." Idealism doesn't cut it in the ghetto.

The reality is that, as a white man, Eminem has turned out to be one of the most successful (profitable if you don't agree with "talented") rap music artists, and this must annoy and stupify the idealistic urban democRATs, because he shatters the "disadvantaged black loser" stereotypes they want to perpetuate.

In the movie, he plays this role by coming to reject the seduction of the implicit victim characters of his loser peers, regardless of the surrounding destitution. His character finally lets integrity, drive and other positive attributes override despair, and becomes determined to pursue what many would identify as the American dream.

"Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
One moment, Would you capture it or just let it slip?...

"I've got to formulate a plot
fore I end up in jail or shot
success is my only mf option, failure's not...

You can do anything you set your mind to, man."

[goldilucky]

When I first heard Eminem sing, I was busting up laughing. I believe it was the tune, "The New Slim Shady".

He certainly has annoyed and stupified those urbanite Demorats. What do they know about creating something out of nothing? I hope he knocks them hard with another award!

[StriperSniper]

Great post, I'm going to have to see the movie now.

[LurkedLongEnough]

"I forgot about the Tipper quote."

hehe - Thanks for the comments.

"This world is mine for the taking..." He's ~not~ saying that the government should take care of everyone. Everyone should be ~taught~ this kind of drive, courage & optimism, not letting themselves be caught in the democrap victim "who's gonna take care of me" paradigm.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Thanks for your reply.

Unless you're used to Detroit colloquialisms you might have trouble understanding the dialogs, but if you see it, let me know what you think.

You have a poetic screenname. You might like the word play in the movie, too.