


   Much like a timeless novel, short films (music videos) can be examined and perceived in many different ways through the composition itself, the visuals presented in the music video, and even the instrumentation. Although some visuals may not be as compelling as a novel or complex at all other music videos provide commentary on social issues, either of the past or today. Janelle Monae’s “Many Moons” contains empowering messages that aren’t always evident with the first spin but when carefully analyzed, can bring discernment and understanding not only to the song but to the world surrounding us. Through historical allusions in the lyrics of her song, “Many Moons”, Janelle Monae evaluation on the oppression of people observed in Western civilizations past history and present advocate ways to vanquish that oppression. 

  The video, which Monae shot as a short film, begins at the Annual Android Auction in the city of Metropolis. You’re introduced to Lady Maestra (the Master of the Show Droids) while in the background Monae is in Robotic form playing on a Big screen. What interesting about this particular scene though, isn’t the mere fact that she is on the screen but only her eyes are showing. As the video continues you’re introduced to more versions of Monae. While each android walks down the catwalk in black and white, they’re being sold to the highest bidder. As all of this is going on, Monae is performing to a crowd that eventually she short circuits, floating into the air, drifting slowly to the ground. As she lies on the ground, a group of brides dressed in all white with glowing green eyes surrounds her and her eyes blacken to what appears to be her end. The video concludes with a quote from Cindi Mayweather, “I imagined many moons in the sky lighting the way to freedom.”

   From the beginning of “Many Moons”, Monae advert to the oppression of African Americans in the United States. In her first verse when Cindi sings, “We dancing free but we’re stuck here underground/And everybody trying to figure they way out…” it is unclear who she is suggesting is the “we” in this context but when you evaluate the lyrics, “we” is a reference to African Americans and the Underground Railroad. She is also using the term “Dancing” for working. While she is singing these lyrics different versions of herself are being sold. When slaves established and began using the Underground Railroad during the 19th century, it appeared as though people of color could finally have an opportunity for freedom but even though they were liberated from their masters, slaves were not mentally or physically free as Monae alludes to because they were still “stuck underground”, they’re still in hiding, they’re still unable to live “normal” lives, and in turn, they were still oppressed. Cindi goes on to sing, “All we ever wanted to say/Was chased, erased, and then thrown away…” which also references the inability of African American slaves to actively voice their own opinions freely. Janelle Monae narrates the song beginning telling the story  of the oppression of African Americans because African American slaves were one of the first groups of oppressed, suppressed, and depressed people in United States history, suggesting that from its creation, the United States has been oppressing people for no honest reason. 

    When the bridge comes in, Cindi sings, “We march all around til’ the sun goes down, night children, night children/ Broken dreams, no sunshine, endless crime, we long for freedom, for freedom/ You’re free but in your mind, your freedom’s in a bind.” The first line of the bridge is another historical reference to the Underground Railroad when slaves would work (“march”) as the scene cuts to a group clones of Monae singing in unison. She also looks directly in the camera as a stylist is man handling her. Showing that slaves worked all day but”Dance” free through the Underground Railroad system in the evening. Monae may also be referencing the 1989 movie, Night Children, where there is an anarchist gang that moves by night and causes chaos. (“Night Children”) Both references, along with the entirety of the bridge, convey urgency for not only physical freedom but mental freedom as well, the freedom to express one’s ideas and opinions, whether it takes confidenality or anarchy to do it. Although Monae is still commenting on past oppressions, she is now starting to present future ways to overcome the oppressions of her master.

  

    The video for “Many Moons” accentuate the traditions of society for disenfranchised groups, and how these expectations veto’s their freedom. She does this with the use of black and white throughout the video. Also with the crowd dancing to the music in unison, they seem as though they are in a trance. Frantically moving but not actually listening or paying attention to what is happening in front of their eyes. At many times, Cindi utilize dance as a medium of expressing her freedom and individuality. What’s interesting however is all of the other androids are also dressed in black and white which unifies them. This dance seems to cause her though to short-circuit in the face of shadow figures which seek to repress her. Cindi’s liberation, it appears, is restrained by others in society. This is expressed by all of the clones being prep for the runway singing and marching very militantly with lifeless stares in their eyes. The glowing-eyed brides dressed in all white who encapsulate her at the conclusion of the video might symbolize the male-driven expectations placed on women to conform to the ideal of cleanliness and union. It could also link to the heterosexist standard in this case, the norm of love also not transcending “race” which Cindi, in more ways than one, battles against. Additionally, since Cindi is frequently seen wearing the traditionally masculine ensemble of a tuxedo, it could also represent the infatuation of society to control this unconventional gender emphasis.

   Monae uses eyes in a way that has to be paid attention to. When the short film begins, she features eyes in the background, throughout the video you see her blinking rapidly, and then towards the end her eyes are black while the brides surrounding her eyes are green. The use of eyes helps with her accentuating the notion the “eyes are the windows to the soul.” Using the android as the new “Other” it seems that she is becoming more human or “Self aware” as the video starts and end. The eyes indicate the burning desire for freedom. The more awake she becomes her eyes become less human until eventually she is liberated from her body. Through Monae’s lyrics and visual she gives us a clear critique on the oppressive nature of society, hoping through these mediums her audience will be able to create a better world then the one she envisions.


