“War on Drugs” Op-Ed by Jay-Z
Why are white men poised to get rich doing the same thing African-Americans have been going to prison for?nyti.ms
To communicate Jay-Z’s message, this video moves from image to image at a pleasing speed. It is visually enticing but slightly grungy and really appeals to a millennial audience. The images are drawn at a sped-up pace and make good use of colors. Many background images are drawn in black and white, while often individuals appear in color such as the inmates with their orange jumpsuits.
When it comes to audio, the sounds used such as the “banging” in the beginning help to give it a modern feel that you can relate to while keeping things interesting. Jay-Z’s voice isn’t smooth and soft spoken, but rather reminiscent of his rapping — just slightly more laid back. It’s urban and it grabs the listener. It definitely gets the point across.
This way of relaying a message makes it more tangible and digestible, especially for me and my peers (at least I think so). It resonates with me more than just reading a normal op-ed or watching a video of someone just sitting and talking. I think it makes the message more relatable and memorable. It also is helpful if you’re having trouble grasping the topic because it’s much more descriptive. I really like this mode of delivering a message.
