Monday, January 12, 2015

Elastic Heart - Sia Part II


Yeehaw! I got inspired by something! Here I am with part two of my Sia posts. I didn’t expect to do this, but she struck again with another meaty, “controversial” video that I just can’t resist writing about. If you haven’t read my post on Chandelier here it is:

The Other Video Art - Sia's "Chandelier"


I’ve watched the video for Elastic Heart several times, just like I did with Chandelier, to really take it all in. If people just look at the surface all they’re going to see is what they want to see or that their brains trigger them to see. But I personally don’t see this supposed “sexuality” or “pedophilia" everyone is crying about. Chiefly because Sia would have to be a complete moron in order to actually put that in one of her videos, and considering she has a good career that makes her a considerable amount of money and additionally the enjoyment of doing what she loves, it would be completely nonsensical to do something so abhorrent as to disrupt all of that.

The culture of the Western World has completely over-sexualized everything. On the one hand, I don’t blame people who felt triggered, creeped out, or weirded out by this video because our entire culture has been absorbed in the Showtime, HBO version of life where the carnality of man is exaggerated and even exalted. We’ve become so numb we need the most extreme and despicable things to entertain, excite us, or even make us FEEL anything. I believe we’ve gone back to Roman gladiator days in more ways than one, but that’s a topic for another post.

We’re constantly looking out for the violence, sexuality, and tangible pleasures to meet our needs. We’re always looking for the latest gadget or the next big thing. We get bored and distracted so easily. That’s why porn addiction is at an all-time high and people’s level of addiction depends greatly on more and more perverse acts of sexuality to satisfy their boredom and emptiness. We have too much of everything and it's never enough.

With that kind of mindset in a large populous, it’s no wonder why people constantly have sexuality on the brain, our entertainment world doesn’t leave them with much of a choice, the same way it doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

Sia gave context for this video herself on Twitter for everyone to read. She said the two characters were two sides of herself at war and that even though she knew there would be some backlash, Shia LeBeouf and Maddie Ziegler were the only two people she felt could do justice to the symbolism of the video. As an artist, I know how annoying it is when people interfere with your vision and say “well why couldn’t you just do it THIS way or THAT way.” It’s my work, shove off and make your own art if you want it done that way. Sia, I applaud you for having the bravery to make something like this knowing some people wouldn’t get it and accuse of crimes you clearly haven’t committed.

On that note, let’s talk about the symbolism of the video. If you watch it knowing Sia’s context that will help, but when I first saw it I didn’t have that context. What I really love about it is that it’s a continuation of her Chandelier video. Using Maddie to play herself again gives a lovely continuity to the story of her album. Also lending to the continuity is the use of interpretive dance, sparse setting, and costuming of dirty, skin-toned leotards to show that vulnerability and the unsettling feeling of being exposed. Her heart is laid bare and open.

As I mentioned Sia said the two characters represent two sides of herself that seem ever at war. My interpretation is that Maddie obviously represents her childlike spirit, but also the wildness of a child too. She has no order or higher understanding, she’s hard to control and acts out. Shia represents something older and wiser. He’s strong and almost afraid of that crazy wild child getting loose. Someone mentioned something about him having a beard showing age and wisdom in comparison to little Maddie. He’s the “thick skin” strong, brawny, older, wiser, and she’s the “elastic heart” younger, flexible, wild, not to be tamed.

Some people watched their interactions and saw it as seduction, like the grown man trying to seduce a little girl, but that’s not it at all. It’s not seduction, but persuasion. Trying to calm her, control her, persuade her to be sensible. You can see it in the way that Shia moves… very deliberately and calmly at first… it isn’t until later that he really starts to fight back in any way and loses his patience with the other self.


I love the part where she freaks him out so much that he climbs up the cage in order to evade her, but then he waits for her to “fall asleep” before attempting to try and persuade her again. This time he comes to her gently, waking her up with a touch and holding out his hands to her when she wakes up, using a different approach, but in the end it’s futile because this wild side inevitably wins.

It’s actually quite sad as we watch moments where it seems the two sides are getting along harmoniously but in the end the wild child breaks free and leaves her wiser self caged up. I love the way this is acted out with Shia crying and reaching for her, desperate to make her understand but her will too strong. Some people would say that’s a good thing, but to me this video does not have a happy ending. The happy ending would be the two sides letting each other be themselves and working together creatively but sensibly.

I’ll post the lyrics and the video at the bottom of this post. In her lyrics she addresses her lack of trust, her bad decisions in relationships and in life, and what sounds like an inability to achieve stability. Once I really thought about this video, it hit me hard. Though I still like the video for Chandelier a little bit more artistically, this video I related to more personally. I’ve never been a party girl, like in Chandelier, but sometimes the two sides of myself war with each other too. I have that childlike spirit, but also an old soul. Though I’ve found peace for both sides of myself in many areas, there are sometimes when one defeats the other, and it’s sad for me.


Sia’s work is interesting to say the least, but for me it’s just refreshing to see someone do something outside the box. Most music videos (in the mainstream domain) are just the same recycled junk over and over again. Her work is strange and controversial, but it’s also intentional and deeply thought. With simple sets and costuming she is able to tell a not-so-simple story. I wish more people would value their own art the way she does and have the daring gall to do something that might shake people up. Isn’t that what art is supposed to do?

To conclude, get your mind out of the gutter, people, and open your eyes!

Elastic Heart
By, Sia

And another one bites the dust
Oh why can I not conquer love?
And I might have thought that we were one
Wanted to fight this war without weapons

And I wanted it, I wanted it bad
But there were so many red flags
Now another one bites the dust
Yeah let's be clear, I'll trust no one

You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace

I've got thick skin and an elastic heart
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubberband until you pull too hard
I may snap and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cos I've got an elastic heart

And I will stay up through the night
Let's be clear, won't close my eyes
And I know that I can survive
I'll walk through fire to save my life

And I want it, I want my life so bad
I'm doing everything I can
Then another one bites the dust
It's hard to lose a chosen one

You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace

I've got thick skin and an elastic heart
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubberband until you pull too hard
I may snap and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cos I've got an elastic heart


8 comments:

  1. Okay, firstly, wow! While watching this video, I did not at all think they were interacting in a seductive way. There was nothing sensual about it. People are so ignorant that they can't even watch this video with objective eyes. haha! To me, It was fascinating to watch this video and see how it all progresses. I can't say I really like Sia's music or her videos, but this one and the one you posted about last year really stand out to me. Also, one thing that really struck me was Shia's eyes and expression throughout the video. He looks so sad and I think that really does reflect what you wrote about the video and even what Sia said about being two sides of herself.

    On a random note, Shia LeBeouf looks pretty darn hot with a beard. haha! ;) I am impressed at how his acting skills have grown.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha! Erika I am dying because my first thought was DANG, when did Shia grow up?! He looks really good with this mature look. I want to see "Fury" just to see his performance in that movie. He's really underrated. Someone commented he looks like king Leonidas (from 300) in this video haha. But yeah even with no dialogue at all he gives an incredible performance.

      I actually like some her music, because I have that weird side of me. I finally decided to come out of the closet with some of my musical tastes haha. But like you said it's a progression and it's fascinating to watch. Her stuff isn't for everyone, but I enjoy writing about it because it's heavy on symbolism and her approach to production is so unique. :-)

      Delete
    2. haha! Oooh yeah, he does look like King Leonidas. Hot. Hot. Hot. Why do guys look hot when they have beards and look sad? haha!! Yeah, I am seriously amazed at watching him and the girl in this video. I think I watched it like 10 times today. lol
      Yeah, I know what you mean...I am coming out of the closet with music that I like, too. I do like this song by her and Chandelier, but you will have to show me some of her other good ones. I listened to a few others, but they were too off-the-wall to me and didn't resonate with me the way that these two have. On a random note, I watched her song Chandeliers performed live with this dancer girl and another older dancer. It was neat to watch it done on a live stage.

      Delete
    3. I'll send you a mix of some random songs and throw some in for sure. I'm planning on a Bday package for you next month. :-) And I saw that live video too it was cool, that must have been hard to do live for sure!
      P.S. Beards and look sad (lol)

      Delete
  2. Haha! I was laughing at your guys' comments! So hilarious! But make it me three for Shia! ;-) Haha! I was like, what the...?? Shia LeBeouf got ... buff! hehe! When did he grow up? And yes, he does like King Leonidas! I hope he is able to get bigger and better roles and really let himself develop as an actor. Use his sad hotness for good not for evil!

    But anyway, back to this video, haha. I would say Chandelier is my favorite artistically too. This one was a little bit more bizarre for my taste. However, I thought the same for Chandelier at first! Hehe. The performances are very compelling, though. I've watched it twice. My favorite part was the end when the music stops and Maddie is trying to pull Shia free and/or break free, but he collapses. That was so sad! I was rather moved by that performance, even though I had no real idea what was going on. There was just something about it, but now reading your interpretation of the video, it makes sense! I definitely agree with you about it not being a good thing at all. I think it is really awesome how she has chosen to show these two sides of herself, using the visual representations of Maddie and Shia's appearances/ages/body types. I love that you can't get what is going on in this video at one viewing, but you have to watch it multiple times and pick up on the visual symbolism in connection with the song. But, I was going to say, at the end, you were saying that she breaks free, leaving her wiser self behind, Shia imploring, but unable to contain her. At first viewing, though, I saw it as Maddie trying to set Shia free, but being unable to. She is desperate and wild, but she is unable to bring Shia out where she is. Then after I read your blog, I watched it again, and I also saw how Shia was trying to grab at her and pull her back in, but being unable to. So, I think that is interesting that there are these two aspects of the end, which make sense to what you are saying! About Sia's two sides and how her "wild" side ends up having no grounding or stability. That's a really powerful theme.

    I love this Maddie girl, btw. Her face is so dynamic and of course she can move her body in amazing ways. I hope Sia continues these themes of herself and we might get to see more performances! Hehe.

    Oh! And I just have to say PREACH to your beginning part about sexuality in our culture. I too did not get any seduction/sexuality/pedophilia from this performance! I couldn't have said it better myself. :-)

    Love these posts that you've done on Sia's work! They are really well written and expressed, and vulnerable (in a good way). They also show a different avenue in art that doesn't get talked about a lot. Keep writing stuff like this! :-)

    Also, bring on the controversy! Wooooo!

    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Danielle! :-) ANd you are right about the ending part, I think they are both trying to bring the other to where they are instead of finding a place in the middle together, which is often what happens when you have an inner war. And thanks for the writing encouragement. I watched the video late last night and I was like I have to write! haha. I hope she does a third video and kind of makes it like a trilogy, that would be so cool. Bring on the controversy! haha ;-)

      Delete
  3. I like this video better than Chandelier, though they're both equally thought-provoking and abstract. This is also one of my favorite songs by her.

    Knowing the context helps A LOT. Thank you. Cause frankly, I was a little confused and concerned by a video of a little girl and grown man running around a cage in flesh-colored tights. But that's probably just my S coming out. And my own personal history...

    On a side note, I have had a secret crush on Shia since we were in like 8th grade. Ahem. And now...after seeing this performance, I want to ask him to marry me. That's all. Carry on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! Elena I just now am seeing this comment. Yes I love Shia too, I loved him ever since Holes and Even Stevens on the Disney Channel lol, but he's grown into an amazing actor. And yeah, he got super handsome! ;-)

      I think your S side kicked in because of your experiences but I think Sia knew how sensitive it can be and how people would react so she wanted to make things abundantly clear to her audience. It worked for most people, but some still couldn't get passed their narrow mindedness. :-/

      Delete