Comments on: Is Die Antwoord Blackface?

By: jonas

jonas — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:48:21 +0000

as a canadian i find all of this very interesting. immediately upon seeing die antwoord i realized that there was something odd going on but i couldn’t figure out what it was. it’s odd isn’t it? the further that i delve into it the more it appears that i am through the looking glass. it seems like there are many social issues that south africans are still dealing with on a day to day basis that i wouldn’t have considered if i hadn’t stumbled upon DA.

By: Günstige Reisen

Günstige Reisen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:47:43 +0000

Your post seems to be attractive just because of your writing style as Die Antwoord are exotic, furious, and, most importantly, new. But what their lyrics mean etc

By: witblitz

witblitz — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:01:58 +0000

does die antwoord really matter this much!? really? they (well, waddy) worked long and hard to get to where they are. props to them for that. but really, the musics a load of bollocks. come on?. im amazed at how people love them, but whatever. lets see if they’re still going in a year. highly doubt it if waddys involved. stop overthinking shit o’s, seriously…

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:12:30 +0000

To anyone saying just take them for what they are. I agree to an extent, but at the end of the day isn’t this discussion what Waddy/Ninja was trying to achieve. If you look at the Andy/Rustum/Sean debate it turned from a discussion about Die Antwoord to a social commentary on South Africa. Isn’t that what we need. A little dispensing of the bullshit and actually diving into the nitty-gritty. I don’t know! Maybe I’ve fallen prey to the enigma that is Die Antwoord, but I’m still appreciting the hype!

By: johnny99

johnny99 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:47:23 +0000

fuck off and stop theorising all of you…get your heads out of your arses and just take it for what it is….hes having a laugh at himself and all of you…boring cunts

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:50:10 +0000

Yes I see your points, but how can you point out what they represent when in the first part of the article you say that it is unclear what they represent? (assuming you wrote the first para of course)

I’m not implying you are linear, sorry if it seems like that. There could obviously be bad results from the work they’ve done. But I think we SA folk are forgiving enough, I hope.

Anyways, I know that a persona can be compared to a brand. Positioning in the market is crucial. However, that is left to the marketers to analyse and the brief to be given to the creatives to design and create content. Also, there are some highly skilled producers involved in launching this project, so it’s not all Die Antwoord who took over the Interwebs alone.

I can only guess what Zeff, Rave Rap, Mullets, Prison like Tattoos, Cheesy Gear, Funky Lyrics etc etc are going to do to our culture or what Die Antwoord’s intent is overall.

One thing I do know is that it’s unethical to speculate about someone’s inent in thier absence. Why not ask the creators to explain themselves?

By: Sean

Sean — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:20:24 +0000

@Greg: I am not trying to ban then, merely trying to point out what they represent.

I don’t know what you mean by “linear” or “analytical” thought that you seem to associate with me or whoever points out the problematic aspects of Die Antwoord’s work as opposed to what you characterize as “imaginative thought.” Anyway, Waddy Jones is hardly only about the sounds, images and content, as he has a history of creating musical personas which requires some “anthropology”.

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:10:41 +0000

Well, as someone who works in a creative field, I know that linear, critical thought can go contrary to imaginative thought and the creative process.

The point I’m trying to make is that I really don’t think creative individuals like Die Antwoord think so analytically about the social ramifications of thier work. I reckon, they just want to get the sounds, images and content etc 100%.

I really feel that overall they deserve a little creative leyway (spelling) and so should other creatives.

What would you suggest they do in order to NOT appear to be Blackface? Just curious…

By: Sean

Sean — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:22:31 +0000

You did not even read the post it seems. Instead you did more marketing. Next you going to tell us they bring out a shoe and that it is great.

By: Sean

Sean — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:21:26 +0000

@Greg: Is this a spam comment? What is meant by “considerations” and “red tape”?