



An emotion Picture is music with lyrical content intended to move the audience from not only hearing the music but vividly seeing the images within their minds that it pierces the soul. Janelle Monae classifies her work as such. Janelle Monae uses messages of empowering and counter voodoo almost unrecognizable on first listen but a couple spins and careful analysis will bring understand to the song and the world surrounding us. Through historical references Monae evaluates a people oppressed, depressed, and suppressed in a futuristic dystopia that effects the past , present, and current future.

The video begins as a action for the Annual Andriod Auction in the City of Metropolis. Lady Maestra is the first person we are introduced to in the short film. As she is speaking there are images of Moane flashing in the background. The entire however it’s Monae eyes and not her entire showed. Which I believe is play on to there is always someone watching “Big Brother. As the video continues on we begin to see more clones of monae which I believe is a play on society and how the individual isn’t respected or appreciated anymore. Society rather see everyone act, dress, and think the same instead of being different. Moane performs to a crowd opposite of her clo9nes walking the run way and eventually dances herself into a frenzy until she short circuits. 

In her first verse she says” we’re dancing free but we’re stuck here underground,” 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. She later 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. 

    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 confidently 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.

  She specifically shows the restraints society place on disenfranchised people, and the expectations place on them and their dreams hopelessly vetoed. 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. Monae visually uses dances as a metaphor for working, and individual expression of freedom. When you take careful look into the color scheme that was used constantly throughout the video you see a unification of the clones all dressed in Black and white. While all of this is happening you see brides surround symbolizing conformity and the male misogynistic ideal of cleanliness entangled in a union between man and women. It may also be that she seeks to point out the gender roles placed on her by society and the battle between transcending one own race, gender, class, and sex. Monae, however chooses dress in a masculine style as oppose to dresses, shorts , or tights. This is intended to overthrow the status quo and go against society obsession with controlling woman’s bodies.

A constant staple in the video are Monae eyes in between shots and even during vivid parts of the video there are subtle flashes of her eyes. I believe that she is accenting that “ BEAUTY IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER” to further drive home the point that even the” Other” is worthy of love, respect, and understanding. The use of her eyes gives you a glimpse into her burning desire for freedom in both the physical sense and spiritual sense. As she uses her lyrics to critique the hypocrisies of our time, she also uses visual to open up our eyes to the world around us hoping that in some way we begin to create a better future then the one she foreshadows in the future. 


