14 DAY TRIAL // Back in December, Kanye West fans got a taste of what the official video for “Monster” would look like, when an unfinished version of it leaked online. Today, they can see the full official clip – but only if they have the stomach for it.
Before the video opens, a warning comes on screen, meant to tell viewers that, while they’re about to see is as shocking as it gets, it doesn’t aim to offend because it’s “art.”
“The following content is in no way to be interpreted as misogynistic or negative towards any groups of people. It is an art piece and it shall be taken as such,” reads the warning.
From the first seconds of the actual video, it becomes clear that such a warning note was necessary, as viewers see several models hanging by the neck from the ceiling, as Rick Ross enjoys a cigarette – and the view – on a chair right in the middle of the room, surrounded by bodies.
Another, perhaps even more shocking scene, shows Kanye in bed with two women, who appear to be dead, and whose bodies he arranges as he sees fit for “poses.”
In other scenes, Jay Z raps while in the background lies a dead woman on a sofa: her neck has been snapped and her head is now turned backwards.
In between these are interposed scenes of cannibalism, of zombies about to break inside the house where Kanye is, and another one in which Rick Ross slams shut a door, as he readies a chainsaw to get to work on several dead bodies.
Arguably, the strongest point of the video is Nicki Minaj’s bit, where she gets to duet with herself – quite literally, as a matter of fact.
Despite the warning displayed at the beginning of the video, several major media outlets are already criticizing Kanye, saying that he’s just using the “it’s art” excuse to offend women.
“You don’t get a pass just because ‘it’s a work of art.’ You still need to explain why you chose these images, what cultural significance they have, or what they symbolize. Just saying, ‘It’s art,’ and then showing a bunch of dead women is a cheap way to cop out of the claims of misogyny,” Salon.com writes.
It also argues that no artistic license can save Kanye from taking responsibility for the work he put out – so, if he’s really the artist he claims to be, he might as well take a stand on the issue.
EW too believes that Kanye’s video is misogynistic even though it claims to be the contrary.
“Just because something is “an art piece” doesn’t let it off the hook for misogyny. And not allowing people to even enter into a conversation about whether or not it offends women is, in itself, sort of misogynistic,” EW writes in a review of the video.
Then again, perhaps because he made a piece of art, Kanye doesn’t need to explain anything.
See the video for “Monster” and decide for yourself. *Please be advised that it contains imagery that may offend, as well as strong and profane language. The video is here.