Janelle Monáe's "Dirty Computer": A Stunning Musical Masterpiece

By Ellie Drabnis on May 29, 2018

“Dirty Computer” is Janelle Monáe’s third studio album. The songs on the album itself each stand out with showing Monáe’s creativity and musical range. Each track has a music video which brings visuals to the songs.

The music videos are all brought further tied together in an accompanying movie or, ‘an emotion picture’.

Janelle Monáe’s “Dirty Computer” is a stunning musical masterpiece is truly one of a kind.

*MILD SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT*

Music Video Movies

While the music videos do not play one after the other, one of the few other music video movies I was aware of before “Dirty Computer” was Daft Punk’s “Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem” which accompanied their album, “Discovery” in the year 2001.

Whereas, rock band Pink Floyd had a film that was both live-action and animated called “The Wall” based on their 1979 album.

All of Daft Punk’s movie was animated with no dialogue at all while Monáe’s “Dirty Computer” is live action and features additional dialogue and scenes in order to transition to events.

Having a love for album-inspired movies as well as any music Janelle Monáe puts out, I was already excited about “Dirty Computer.”

My favorite track from “Dirty Computer”
(screenshot from my iTunes, take on my iPhone)

“Dirty Computer”: Background

The ‘emotion picture’ of “Dirty Computer” weaves together a tale of a futuristic dystopia where individuality is frowned upon. Those in power consider anything outside of what they deem passable thoughts to be ‘dirty’.

Monáe plays the main character, Jane, who is doing everything in her power to cling to the person she has always been. She does not want to give into the pressure of following the orders of society.

Right away, I was reminded of the forced sameness of the society in the novel, “1984″ by George Orwell. While the protagonist in that novel, Winston Smith, eventually does rebel after having lived the way society told him to, Jane has never complied.

She ends up in the custody of “Dirty Computer’s” equivalent of Thought Police.

Each music video is played as if it were found footage and eventually connects the story as a whole and explains why Jane is in her current predicament.

“Dirty Computer’s” story plays out as if it were found footage…
(https://www.pexels.com/photo/coding-computer-data-depth-of-field-577585/)

Sure, Jane is the protagonist and while many stories force us a protagonist on us that we may not want to root for, “Dirty Computer” doesn’t.

As the story unfolds before our eyes, we see Jane’s humanity and how she could very well be one of us.

Her refusal to give up her uniqueness and thus be chewed up and spit out as what is deemed ‘acceptable’ in “Dirty Computer’s” society is more than relatable and, very much makes one appreciate the traits that set them apart from others.

Ideal or Individual?

Think about it: Would you really let someone take your individuality if only to fit into a society you didn’t help construct and thus, never be your true self again?

I can’t speak for everyone but, giving up every little piece of myself that makes me unique would not be worth being turned into something I’m not.

At that point, I was very much reminded of how in Pink Floyd’s “The Wall “during the part where the song, “Another Brick in The Wall” plays, sameness is forced upon children the in that story.

That film may have already been on my mind but, the fight to remain who we are is good and noble one. “Dirty Computer” really made me think and brought other pieces of art to mind and sent the message of holding to my true self and doing everything in my power not to become an empty vessel that is deemed acceptable by society.

Why blend in with the crowd?
(https://www.pexels.com/photo/sliced-of-citrus-lemons-997725/)

Sure, the message might sound corny yet, the way “Dirty Computer” delivers it is anything but.

Dirty Computer” can be viewed on YouTube for free on Monáe’s YouTube channel.

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