what do we do with the artist posed as bully?
“I hate this song and Eminem. His music is filled with misogyny.” she wrote in a comment.
Each of us makes something of what happens in our lives. We are each assholes putting our excretions into the world - this is Sufi philosophy.
Eminem argues with himself, his experience, his hatred in public. To answer hate with hate is to dance with him on his terms. That’s a big part of 8 mile, actually - he learns how to control his own behavior and choose to define the terms of the dance in the world, instead of reacting to the other’s provocation. He seems to struggle with his own illusions of control, his addiction, and issues of relational dominance. He makes from that struggle. He sorts through his own shit.
The rapper voices violence against women in relationship to him. If we as women can’t face that down, can’t learn to redefine that dance as we face people like Eminem what strength do we have in this world? I’m not saying to distract ourselves by arguing with asshats, I’m speaking to something larger …
I like the fight he has, his commitment to making his way.
There are many tricks in his lyrics. He may be tricking himself too. Don’t confuse the entertainer with the mask they are wearing … There are entertainers I know who preach peace but walk in the world with an incredible amount of violence/social dominance. You never know till you meet the person.
