Simplicity in "Where is the Love?"

By Rosie Van Vliet

The music video for “Where is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas was released in 2003. Shot in East Los Angeles, the video features the members of the band along with many other people, most of which are children. The overarching theme of placing question marks all over the city, along with one sub-story of a man getting arrested, best serve the purpose of this video and its song: to illuminate the hate in the world to everyday citizens and ask them, “where is the love?”

The symbol that stretches through the entire music video is a question mark. This symbol has a lot of characteristics that create a theme in this music video. The question mark literally represents the most vivid symbol, being a very distinct shade of red in the otherwise washed out film. This fact makes the viewer think about the meaning behind the symbol itself. The video is obviously posing a question for the viewers with the use of this symbol which can be found in the title of the song: “Where is the Love?” The enhancement of the question mark itself causes the reader to think about the question more thoroughly, and ask themselves, “where is the love?”

One other characteristic of the question mark is its sporadic placement throughout the video. The symbol pops up everywhere: on buses, skyscrapers, even interrupting children playing video games. By literally shoving the question mark in people’s faces, the band - acting as “freedom fighters” - is forcing the characters, and subsequently the viewers, to think about its meaning in society. By the end of the video, the characters look up in wonderment at all of the question marks floating around, sharing the feeling of togetherness that the band has said is missing throughout the whole song.

I really enjoy the use of this symbol throughout the music video. It keeps everything cohesive and really makes it clear that the message of this song is to wonder about where is the love in today’s broken society. The two characteristics mentioned above are the characteristics that make the message the clearest. Viewers are not confused about the meaning behind the symbol, which is something that I value as a critic.

Secondly, the sub-story of a man, played by band member apl.de.ap, who is arrested for vandalism after placing a sticker with the question mark symbol on the back of a city bus is also very

meaningful. Apl.de.ap sits on a step after being arrested, talking to the cops by singing his verse of the song directly to them. This image is probably the most powerful one in the whole music video. He is explaining to policemen, which are universal symbols of “the man” and “society”, exactly what is wrong with “the man” and “society”. The storyline of him being arrested while trying to promote peace resonates with the viewer so deeply that they find themselves on his side, which is the whole point of the video itself - to get people to understand the necessity of peace, unity, and equality.

This video is very successful. It is cohesive, symbolic, and powerful. The use of the question mark as a symbol for the title of the song (“Where is the Love?”) and the storyline of a man being arrested and singing to the police are two of the most meaningful images in the video.

A Critical Analysis of "Where is the Love?"

The message behind The Black eyed Pea’s 2009 smash hit “Where is the love?” isn’t exactly groundbreaking, and it certainly isn’t subtle. That is not to say, however, that it isn’t poignant. In a world characterized by ever-increasing consumerism, violence, and resulting existential angst, it is easy to forget that in many ways all people are the same. As such we should have nothing to fear from one another, but the fact remains that we do; we are our own most dangerous enemy. With this in mind, the question posed by the Black Eyed Peas is simple; why? Where is the love?

The music video opens with a shot of a red question mark poster, which slowly pans out to reveal more similar posters, held by several young African American men who frantically run and post them around their city—“Where is the love?” is a relevant question both at home and abroad. In this same vein, the first lyrics are “What’s wrong with the World?” Again, the message here is no mystery, but this makes it no less powerful. As a whole, the video offers a string of powerful, often off-putting imagery: a gas station with a “?” posted over the price, brainwashed-looking children playing a violent video-game, close-up shots of people of all races and creeds looking forlornly into the camera—their eyes seemingly asking “why?”, a street-preacher screaming frantically and being ignored by those around him, an aerial shot of a wheat crop with a “?” plowed into it, and a black man being chased and abused by white policemen are just a few.

Indeed, from these portions of the video alone, the song’s message seems rather bleak. Whatever and wherever this “love” is, our chances of finding it, and more importantly the prospects for the future of our species, don’t look good. One has to look significantly harder to find the positive, hopeful message hidden within the video, but it is there, and it resides with the young. About halfway through the video, the aforementioned bleakness is interrupted by a snippet of hope: tens of smiling, jubilant children of all races are shown chasing after a vehicle with the question mark posted on its backdoors.

This could be interpreted in many different ways. Perhaps the message is still fatalistic—after all there is no way a mob of children could ever hope to catch up to a moving vehicle. This interpretation is certainly tempting, but I would suggest a more light-hearted one. Yes, the children may never catch the vehicle, and yes world peace will probably never truly be achieved. Still, it will, and is being striven for by the youth, and perhaps that is all we can expect. Any step in the right direction is a good one—a sentiment that the Black Eyed Peas would certainly echo.

Where is the Message?

By Katy Freeman

“Where is the Love” is a music video produced by UMG Records, Inc., and performed by the Black Eyed Peas in 2003. The music video for “Where is the Love” is fast-paced, bold, and visually iconic. Many of the video’s brief shots match the beat of its fast-paced song. As a mainstream music group, it was bold of the Black Eyed Peas to challenge problems with the media so directly. And the video attempts to be visually iconic by frequently placing the spotlight on a graphic question mark logo. These three characteristics of the video—fast-paced, bold, and iconic—exemplify what the video for “Where is the Love” is attempting to achieve: a commentary that challenges what journalists choose to show their audiences in the United States. But while the song preaches universal peace and love, its attempt to convey a powerful critique about American journalism is softened because neither the lyrics nor the video’s shots distinguish a clear target for criticism.

Since the lyrics of “Where is the Love” do not clearly target one social problem, the audience loses
sight of what the song’s main message is. “Where is the Love” contains lyrics that prompt audience members to question why journalists selectively show their audience sensationalized violence, crime, and suffering. The Black Eyed Peas are quite explicit in their criticism when they sing, “Wrong information shown by the media.” This message aims to challenge American journalism. But once other messages are introduced in the lyrics, the song’s critique of journalism grows weaker
For example, during one shot, the band’s lead singer, Will.i.am, stands in front of a mural signed, “We are not a minority,” next to a portrait of Fidel Castro. The mural brings up racial discrimination, while the image of Fidel Castro could have political undertones or just be a sign of rebellious graffiti. As seen in this scene, there are so many visual symbols that they end up confusing the viewer as to what the song is actually trying to say. The lyrics may have conveyed a stronger, clear message had they not attempted to tackle a handful of other social problems also.

The fast rhythm and short duration of shots in “Where is the Love” quicken the pace of the music video and slightly disorient viewers. Short shots in music videos sometimes excite and engage its viewers in the song’s messages. However, in the video “Where is the Love,” viewers are rapidly pulled along from scene to scene with little time to piece together the main message of the video. Viewers are uncertain about what the exact message of the video is and what all of the shots will lead to in the plot. The video concludes with characters staring at an unknown thing in the sky, which does not answer certain questions that the video introduces, such as what the undercover messengers (dressed in all black) were trying to accomplish. Much like the people wondering at the sky at the end of the video, viewers of “Where is the Love” are left wondering what specifically the Black Eyed Peas are preaching.

"Where is the Love?"

Where Is the Love? by The Black Eyed Peas was written by the band itself with the assistance of Justin Timberlake as well as produced by one of their very own band members, Will.i.am. Released on the 26th of June, the song addresses the lack of unity and love in the world with a heavy emphasis on the effects that it has on children. Through uncensored lyrics discussing issues on the inaccuracy and negativity within the media, global warfare and human indifference which are then further emphasized by the thought provoking use of semiotics and intertextuality within the music video, it is no wonder the song became the highest selling single of 2003 in the United Kingdom. 

The song’s central point is that today’s society is easily influenced by the negativity and drama within the media but extremely detached from global issues like warfare and racism because it doesn’t affect them personally. The use of semiotics and intertextuality are incorporated throughout the video making it more relatable. The music video does a great job of making it relatable which is effective in emphasizing their point that people only care about things that are personal and relatable to them. If the video had been shot in an otherworldly setting, the message would not have been as easily received.

A perfect example of intertextuality within the music video is the depiction of kids playing the video

game Postal 2. The inclusion of this video game is significant because after its release in 2003 there was a huge controversy over the graphic violence and stereotypes being portrayed in the game. This goes along with the lyrics “wrong information always shown by the media, negative images is the main criteria, infecting the young minds faster than bacteria, kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema”. The image of young kids playing a video game well known for its violent content and laughing over it proves the point in the lyrics that negative images like this have become normal and accepted in society. Even worse, the song warns that children see these graphic images and want to replicate them because they look cool and exciting. The song basically states that by glorifying violence and other explicit content, it desensitizes children to it causing them to be undisturbed by it in real life.

An example of the semiotics used would be the question mark that the band members plastered throughout the city of LA. The question mark is a universal symbol with the sole purpose of asking a question and making a person think. It appears immediately after the video game is shown, making the viewer think about what they just watched.

Children play an important role throughout the music video by making people care. There is a natural instinct to protect children and by using children in the music video about all these serious issues it motivates people to want to do something to prevent anything bad happening to the kids.

“Where is the Love?”

By Maia Ogembo

Black Eyed Peas’ 2003 song “Where is the Love?” which was produced by Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records which is a Division of UMG Recordings Inc. It is a music video that did a good job of relating to the viewers through the location about a serious issue, which is the lack of love and unity of our country. Which is important because “we only have one world” and we should take care of it for the next generation.

The video was shot in different locations in New York City and included people biking down the streets, at a gas station and inside of a portable radio truck. This was a really good job way of engaging the audience by making the video seem realistic and relatable to the viewers because it is their everyday scenery being shown in the music video. It also included “normal” people of all ages and races singing the chorus of the song to showcase the unity that our country should have. There were people biking around the city and posting the question marks, tattoos of it and it appearing on television, that causes it to seem like a big issue as the #BlackLivesMatter campaign in our current society. #BlackLivesMatter is popular on social media, as this seemed popular in general. They both shared the common denominator of race as their main issue and the “Where is Love?” lyrics explain it well in that “... love for your own race… leave[s] space to discriminate… [which] only generates hate.”

This loss of compassion is important because “instead in spreading love we're spreading animosity,” “most of us only care about money makin'/ [so] selfishness got us followin' the wrong direction” and “not respectin' each other, [by] deny[ing] thy brother” and these types of behavior are being observed by children. They will be passed on to the next generation and create a colder country because there is a lack of love compassion for each other. To show examples of the things children are viewing, the video showed them playing a violent video game. And because “kids want to act like what they see in the [videos],” it is teaching children negative scenarios to reenact. We should not let our children play violent video games and let them view the wrong role model because it “infect[s] the young minds faster than bacteria” and will lead to a new generation of hateful people.

“Where is the Love” music video was well performed because it related to the audience with the people included as well as the location and it relayed the message of protecting the love and compassion for one another for the next generation to come because hate will lead our country away from unity.

What the media shows us?

Isaac Villalobos

The title of this song is “Where is the love by the Black Eyed Peas.” This is a video offers a very interesting introspective look at ourselves. It does this by displaying the negativity that is so prevalent in the media within our society today. This is shown through specific scenes in the video, lyrics as well.

The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip hop group. They released this music video in 2003 and the song premiered on their third album. A major tool that was used in this video was juxtaposing different themes together. We would have a connotation about what is happening but we would be mistaken in different examples in the video. This was in part accomplished by the question mark we see a throughout the video. This acts literally as a sign of questioning as we find out in the video.

The sign here works together with the lyrics “where is the love” to ask that question. This straightforward method allows us to easily tell when the artists want us to see how negative the media can portray things in our society. We can see this negativity by the juxtaposition of the question mark to what is seemingly happening in the video. In one of the most evident examples there are multiple people running through the city in black hoodies looking back as if they were being chased or doing something wrong. However, when we see what is going on they are simply spreading the question of “where is the love”. This in turn also points out the negativity of what we are shown, which may give the idea of crime and delinquency. However, we may not be seeing the whole picture like in the video. This is the most used method in the video and accompanies the lyrics very well.

Another example that occurs happens when one of the men who has been spreading the “question mark” is being chased down by the police. He is eventually captured and this represents what the media shows us. However, we see beforehand that all he was doing was asking “where is the love?” This relates strongly to the lyrics “wrong information always shown by the media negative images is their criteria.” This really encompasses everything that is being said in this video. We only see the negative images in the media, but just because that information is what we see doesn’t mean it is the truth. Even partial images of the truth can be “wrong information” if the whole context isn’t analyzed.

Where is the Love?

By Sarah Mullens

The music video ‘Where is the Love?’ by The Black Eyed Peas was released in 2003. Both the video and the song are about racial and societal conflict in America today. The music touches upon the issues of terrorism, bombing, and discrimination. It also acts as a call for change in the way we are bringing up our youth. Overall, I think the video does a good job of bringing to life the issues discussed in the song and providing a visual for the unseen (and often ignored) strife that occurs daily all over the world.

A sign that is seen throughout the video is a question mark. This popular and even universal sign is representative of the theme of the music video and also the title of the song: where is the love? Although a question mark at first seems to be a very vague symbol, as the music video continues it becomes the representation for various questions. It’s seen being placed on a TV screen, covering up a violent video game being played by children. It’s seen being tattooed on people’s arms and in surveillance videos. A black man places it on the back of a bus and is then chased down by the cops. All of these situations that occur were chosen very deliberately and hint at the corruption, discrimination, and terrorism that is occurring today. By placing the fliers/stickers that have question marks in these situations, the band is forcing the viewers to ask themselves why these things are occurring.

Another interesting thing about this video is the way in which the band is presented. They are pictured throughout the video running as if they are being chased, sitting in the back of a black van with a question mark on the side of it, and putting fliers with question marks on them all over a city. The Black Eyed Peas are essentially depicted as fugitives for the duration of this music video, which plays directly into the lyrics: “But if you only have love for your own race/ Then you only leave space to discriminate/ And to discriminate only generates hate”. These lyrics are significant because the Black Eyed Peas themselves are a racially diverse group, and so they understand what discrimination is like from all different perspectives. 

Despite their racial backgrounds they all can agree that there is something wrong with the United States today, and they come together to create a very powerful song regarding these issues. This song begs for love. It questions the morals taught to the youth of today.

Even the way in which the video was filmed seems to be hurried and even spontaneous: The band is seen rapping and performing their song in the back of a van, while they drive around the city and place the question mark fliers everywhere.  Sometimes they are seen running from place to place as if they are being chased. This implies that even while the band tries to speak this message of peace and love, they are still vulnerable to the corruption of America today. The whole video is very candid, just like the message the Black Eyed Peas are trying to convey. There was no editing or special lighting involved in the production of this video. Between shots of the band singing, there are close up shots of children singing along with the lyrics. This creates an emotional aspect of the video that invites one to sympathize with today’s youth. The lighting of the video is also very dull and morbid. There are no bright colors, which makes the tone seem hopeless and pleading.

In the end of the video, it alternates between shots of people of all different races looking up into a light and the band singing, “We only got one world, one world.” These people stop what they are doing and look up at this light, and the colors in the video get brighter. Overall, this video was very effective in conveying the theme of the song (a plea for change) and motivating the public to make a change in their own lives.

Where is the love - Critique #2

By: Alex Cotner

The music video, “Where is the Love” by The Black Eyed Peas is centered on the lack of unison and sense of togetherness that we have as a society. The theme throughout the video is represented by the question marks on the paper that allude to how our country is today, such as the ignorance in society, racism, selfishness, and materialism.  The music video, released in 2003, topping the charts at an astounding 134 million views on youtube, was based off the tragedy of 9/11 which created a hunt for social equality. 

The overall sign of the video was the question marks on the papers. Although vague, the question mark represents the overarching theme of “where is the love?” The crumpled papers with the question marks are planted everywhere in the city such as on the television, cars, signs, and on the windows. Even at a young age we are exposed to violence whether it is walking home from school in an unprivileged area or what is online and available for kids. As it is displayed in the music video, the children are playing a video game that resolves in killing, blood, and death. This music video depicts what we are struggling with as a culture full of poverty and racial discrimination. For example, the African American man places a question mark on the back of the bus and gets chased down by the cops and arrested. I found it captivating that The Black Eyed Peas are a diverse group themselves, but yet can all come together and recognize the issues going on no matter the race or where they came from. Together, they search for someone to make a change, especially from the younger generation. In one scene, the children run together to chase after the black bus that is speeding away. This shows that the kids are the future and that if anyone has a better opportunity to make a change it’s them because they have all the power.       

 The video gives off a very dark grey and depressing tone, like a documentary vintage theme film. The visuals of the shots were edited in very harsh lighting to create a mysterious and darker theme to make the city look lifeless. When the children are mouthing the words on the screen it evokes sympathy for them because they are questioning where the love is as well. The only time that it brightens up is at the end when everyone in the video steps out side and looks up at the light almost as if they are challenging god as to where the love is and praying for a change. Overall, I think that the exposure throughout the video really set the scene. 

Interscope Productions and The Black Eyed Peas created a successful music video that blends the lyrics and visuals together to create a powerful memorable video.

The Black Eyed Peas Challenge Society

By: Kathleen Gillis

 
I was eight years old when my older brother introduced me to the song, “Where is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas. Almost immediately, the song impacted my peers and me. The cultural anthem became an instant hit when it was released in 2003. Currently sitting with over 134 million views on YouTube, “Where is the Love?” continues to remain relevant in the younger generation today. Climbing all the way to number eight the U.S. Billboard Top 100 in 2003, “Where is the Love?” has been a catalyst in the discussions about social and cultural issues in the modern world.

The images combined with the influential lyrics create a persuasive argument that captured the attention of a significant amount of the younger audience. The video portrays a strong message and cultural phenomenon with the question mark sign that is the prominent focus throughout the video. In addition, the use of a documentary style and lighting add to the overall feeling and theme the Black Eyed Peas and producer Will.I.Am. were portraying in their video.

The opening shot is a crumpled, question mark poster that is being held by a social activist as he runs through the streets. The question mark then shows up in every shot. They are being thrown on cars, put on windows, stuck on street signs, tattooed, and hung from billboards. The video quickly develops this punctuation into a sign. This sign is put onto everyday objects, serving as a constant reminder. Anyone who sees the question mark is going to likely think, “Where is the love in our society?” The crumpled poster mentioned in the first shot serves as a symbol that love and social equality must prevail even if it is broken down.

It is also important to note how the posters of the question marks are being put up. Social activists are shown sprinting through the streets throwing them up on anything within reach as if it is illegal to be seen putting them up. This is a symbol that it is frowned upon to speak up for change. Often change is resisted in a society, and it can be dangerous to draw attention to the need for it. This is also solidified when Black Eyed Peas member Apl.De.Ap is arrested for putting a flyer on a bus. He then raps about how fairness and equality have given way to animosity. He also urges society to open their eyes, because biased, mainstream media is influencing young minds in a dangerous way. This is an effective way to influence mainstream media by drawing attention to its flaws.

The music video is shot in a documentary style, which adds to the overall tone. The camera is shaky, as if it was by pure chance that the social activists are caught on video. The video also has a blue-gray tone to it. This lighting makes the city of Los Angeles look lifeless. By using this dark lighting, the producers were successful in sending the message that the world will be die without compassion. Society needs to open up their eyes to the pain they are causing. Once the younger generation depicted in the video opened their eyes to the change, the lighting became brighter and warmer.

“Where is the Love?” by the Black Eyed Peas started a cultural movement through their video. They urged the younger generation to stand up for equality and compassion. Many critics have used this sign in different ways to draw attention to a need for change. Bill Scott mentioned in his critique how the video creates a spiritual message. This video successfully used a punctuation mark as a catalyst for change.

Do You Have The Love?

By Hester Lee

Produced by Interscope Records, The Black Eyed Peas' song and video "Where Is The Love?" has garnered much attention for the messages that it portrays. The music video starts out with a prevalent theme of a question mark being posted all over the city. At first, it is hard to tell why the people are posting question marks all around. But as the video progresses, you see images of violence on the television, which would then cut to a picture of the same question mark that shows up throughout the video. There is also an incident where a member of the group posting the tags is arrested, and is explaining his actions (through rap) to the officer. At the end of the video, people from varying ages come outside to stand on the sidewalk while looking up at the sky, as the words "We only got/one world, one world/That's all we got/One world, one world".

This music video portrays many themes that have the audience think about their own selves and the how people are in the world. The first thing that the audience should notice is the setting. The video takes place during the day, where people are all about, driving, walking, and playing outside. Without trying to, the group is running around posting signs of question marks all over the place, showing that though vandalism is illegal, they disregard the rules in order to preach what they believe. Their message: where is the love. Throughout the video, violence is a reoccurring motif that seems to affect everyone in the video, regardless of age. For example, children are playing a game called Postal 2 that caused as much controversy as the first Postal did, as the Postal games are known for the unsolicited violence that the player can inflict on anything the player wants to. The appearance of the game makes as statement against violence when it cuts to a question mark, making the audience question games like Postal, especially when children are playing. The produces invoke a sort of emotion that makes you think of how people like children and adults alike are exposed to the senseless violence, from games to war, and how it becomes a normalized concept of society as we are constantly exposed to it. In a way, not only does the producers point out the senseless violence, but also comments on the lack of action to stop the violence.

A second theme of the music video is the arrest of one of the protesters. He was caught, and taken down very violently, yet is still adamant of spreading his message to even the police that have detained him. His facial expressions show the passion of his message, as he is also raps/tells the officer his angst and reason of why he did what he did. In reading the lyrics, you see that he is concerned with children as "Negative images [are] the main criteria/Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria/Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema.../whatever happened to the values of humanity" and so-on. The commentary is also reflected by the images of various children from all ethnic backgrounds, making you feel a sense of sadness with the words "where is the love" in the background.

The whole music video is very well put together in the sense that it invokes a strong emotion that makes the audience really question the morality and unity of issues like the broadcasting/invention of violence that people are exposed to everyday. Rather than showing the audience explicit violence, it shows us a way to fix it by not going along with the violence, but protesting it by coming together and supporting each other.

Moral of the video: make love, not war.

One Love - Greg Labbé

           Many artists and bands around the world write successful love songs about relationships. The Black Eyed Peas released, Where is the Love, their own version of a “love song” in 2003. The Peas’ song was different from the normal love song, but it reached the top ten charts in the U.S. regardless of its unique lyrics and video. The music video is also popular with over 100 million views on YouTube. The video is well known because it makes people question normal, everyday aspects of life, advertising shown in the media.

The most prominent symbol in the music video is a “?” mark. The question mark is supposed to ask the question “Where is the Love”, which is asked many times in the chorus and sung by children in the video. The video uses children to sing the chorus because children are the victims of the reason why the question is being asked in the first place. The Black Eyed Peas wrote the song to point out all of the negative things in today’s society, including racism, negative media, death, war, and even lies generated by our own government. The video shows that all of these negative things in the world are affecting our children, the next generation.

You might wonder why the children in the video don’t post the question marks like the adult do in the video. The reason is because the children are not responsible for posting the question marks because they are innocent. The children are not the reason for the lack of love in today’s society. The question mark in the video is advertising. The video uses the question mark as positive publicity as opposed to societies negative publicity. It shows that to change our adults in society we must depict a more positive view on life and implement love as that positivity. It is up to the adults to understand how their actions are influencing their own children.

            A change in publicity will ultimately influence children and will change our society. This is the message the video attempts to leave us with.  The lyrics might leave you thinking that that terrorism and racism are bad but in order to fully grasp the Black Eyed Peas’ message it is most necessary to watch the music video while you listen to the song. The music video is very powerful and shows deep meaning without lyrics. The imagery of the video leaves the viewer pondering negative media and without the lyrics, questioning what the children have to do with any of what the Black Eyed Peas are trying to tell us. The lyrics aid in their message and fully allow listeners to understand why the children are asking, “where is the love”? The problems in society are the reason why the children ask the question. The adults posting the question marks around the city are the activists hoping their children never have to ask the sad question, “where is the love”?

           

Where is the Love? MVC 2

by Cameron Hayes

“Where is the Love” by the Black Eyed Peas is an indictment of American Society today. The music video is a fast paced portrayal of many things that happen in society, with people posting question marks all over the city, and very dramatic camera cuts that make it feel very fast paced. This is contrasted during the chorus when they show people's faces looking at the camera singing, giving it a slow paced feel. The indictment of American Society is seen while listening to the song, but becomes even more evident after watching the music video. After watching this music video, it really does make me ask the question, Where is the Love? This video exposes the irony that in a nation seen as such a Christian nation, we have kids starving and discrimination all around.

In the music video, there are many examples of all of the bad things going on in this nation. In the lyrics there are such things as “Nations droppin bombs, Chemical gasses fillin lungs of little ones. With ongoin sufferin as the youth die young” and “People killin, people dyin, Children hurt and you hear them cryin”. From the video there are many examples of this as well. From a black man running from the cops, (Which represents racism and inequality in America) to a drug deal going on (Which represents the moral decay of America), this video is full of examples of how bad America has gotten. This is brought into perspective when you understand America in context today. America today is thought of as a very Christian nation. This really exposes the dichotomy between us being a

Christian nation, and all of the bad things that are happening in our country. If you look at the bible, many of the things shown in the video are against what it says. For example, the bible does not condone the drug deal going on in the video. The answer? The Black Eyed Peas want people to start “Practicing what they preach” as they say in the song. In the lyrics, this is shown in lyrics such

as “Father, Father, Father help us, Send some guidance from above” and “Gotta keep my faith alive til love is found, Now ask yourself, Where is the love?”. This is evidenced in the music video when the preacher is holding the bible up to the sky. This bible is special because it has a question mark on it. Which in this music video, really represents the question, “where is the love?”. He is screaming at the sky holding it, and the music video is saying that, he is asking God where the love is, asking the question about how such a Christian Nation could be so messed up.

The Black Eyed Peas did a very good job exposing the irony that America is a Christian nation, but does not follow traditional Christian values. The way that they used the music video to support their lyrics really makes the music video impactful. However, the most important part was that, even though they exposed the bad parts about American society, they also gave the answer to fix it: Love.

Searching For the Love

By Tristan Ashton

In 2003, the American hip-hop group known as the Black Eyed Peas released the single “Where Is The Love?” to instant, widespread, and persistent critical acclaim. Debuting at number 9 on the Hot 100, it catapulted the Peas to commercial and cultural success and reestablished their struggling career. Members will.i.am, Taboo, and apl.de.ap, along with Justin Timberlake, Ron Fair, Printz Board, George Pajon, Jr., and others all co-wrote and produced the song, and are also credited with producing its infamous music video.

The music video in question features the members of the Black Eyed Peas moving around the streets of Los Angeles asking various people “where is the love?” Taboo and will.i.am are shown singing the song inside a van, throwing their voices through speakers mounted on the roof out at people passing by. Fergie, the lone female, delivers the message on foot by placing question marks throughout the city: on top of a Statue of Liberty replica; on road signs and cars; and even handing out flyers of the ubiquitous question mark. Finally, apl.de.ap gets arrested for spreading the same message, and thus becomes a central part of the video. He places a question mark on the back of a bus, but a police officer chases and arrests him, leading him to complain that “instead of spreading love we’re spreading animosity/Lack of understanding leading lives away from unity”.

apl.de.ap appealing to the police

Interestingly, the significance of this part of the video becomes most relevant, not in 2003, but a decade later. In light of the recent rash of police violence over the past few years, apl.de.ap’s arrest for asking the hard questions becomes ever more poignant. Where does the line between peacekeeping and persecution fall? Does apl.de.ap’s nonviolent but illegal protest warrant police action?

It is important also to address a brief clip near the middle, where some kids are shown playing a war game while Taboo laments about “nations droppin’ bombs/Chemical gasses fillin’ lungs of little ones/With ongoing sufferin’, as the youth die young”. Clearly, the lyrical overlay is intended to highlight a depressingly ironic situation: while some children play at packaged war, other children experience the genuine article. Both groups will grow up with war, but with entirely different

War games

perspectives. This dichotomy points to the trivialization of the struggles of others in the minds of the privileged, and is exactly the point of asking, “where is the love?”

The Peas hit on major commercial success with the release of “Where Is The Love?” The culturally aware and thought-provoking lyrics highlight many of the prevalent issues in modern society, such as racism, gang violence, war, and general intolerance. The Peas then complemented their song with an equally thought-provoking music video, featuring the distribution of a red question mark all around Los Angeles. “Where is the love?” they ask us. Well, that answer is up to you.

"Where is the Love" MV Critique

By Jonathan Motes

“Where is the love?” is a music video for the song of the same name performed by The Black Eyed Peas and produced by Interscope Records. The music video depicts the lead performers partaking in an awareness campaign to draw attention to the excessive amount of prejudice and hate throughout the world. The video employs the use of repeated symbolism and imagery tightly combined with poignant lyrics to convey a valuable message of love and hate, all of which come together to form a very solid music video.

As the music video starts, we’re introduced to what quickly becomes a recurring symbol throughout the video: the image of a boxed question mark. Throughout the video, we see the performers, as well as others, spread the symbol throughout the city, posting it on walls, signs, and even on other people. It eventually becomes so pervasive that the symbol appears in crop fields. 

The message the symbol is trying to send is clear; the question mark is meant to symbolize the question “where is the love?” More specifically, as the lyrics elaborate, it raises the question of where the love for others has gone, especially the love for those different from yourself: “But if you only have love for your own race Then you only leave space to discriminate And to discriminate only generates hate And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah.” As the lyrics bring to bear, even within our supposedly peaceful society, we suffer from large amounts of discrimination. By having only “love for your own race,” people continue to promote discrimination and generate hate and discord throughout the world.

As the video continues and moves into the song’s chorus, we are presented with numerous images of poor children singing along with the lyrics: “People killin', people dyin' Children hurt can you hear them cryin'? Can you practice what you preach? And would you turn the other cheek? Father, Father, Father help us Send us some guidance from above 'Cause people got me, got me questionin' Where is the love?” 

The combination of lyrics with imagery works especially well here, as the innocent, saddened looks of the children strongly conveys the troubled message of the lyrics associated with them. Seeing these poor children singing of “questionin’ where is the love?” evokes a genuine feeling of sympathy from the viewer for how much these people are suffering.

The last scene in the video before the final reprise of the chorus depicts an African American man being chased down and apprehended by the police, which is strongly implied to be an act of discriminate. Throughout this, we see the man vent to the police officers of the unfair treatment and questioning what happened to equality in the world, once again tying back to the original question of “where is the love?” The video ends on the powerful note that we only have “one world” to share, and that we have to get along in order to survive. The message is clear and conveyed well through the strong blend of images and lyrics, and as such, this music video finds success.