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.