On the Friday before we all left for our Thanksgiving break, the Newhouse Center for Humanities led an insightful discussion with American singer, actress and writer, Janelle Monáe. Known for their boundary-pushing music, boundary-defying gender expression, and undeterred activism, this discussion resonated with students far beyond conventional panelists. At Wellesley, they were able to share their personal journey to activism, through the means of artistry.
Upon entering the stage to speak with Professor Nikki Greene, Monáe received a standing ovation from the attendees. As the journalist sitting in the back corner, the impact of this ovation was not only felt by those around me, but by Monáe themself. Their impact on the world of art and activism, two sectors students at Wellesley specialize in, was so profound that no words were even necessary for us to appreciate what they have accomplished.
Janelle Monáe has emerged as a revolutionary figure not only within the entertainment industry, but also within the wider cultural landscape, redefining how art and activism intersect in ways that force us to confront outdated and oppressive structures.
Monáe referred to themselves as a filmmaker, stating, “I always see the vision. I am curating stories of the future.” As a black, queer person navigating an industry built on heteronormative ideals, Monáe’s work has been a continual confrontation of obsolete limiting structures.
It is through music, filmmaking and, most recently, their writing, that Monáe has carved out a space where all identities are celebrated, explored, and given a transformative platform that has shaken the entertainment industry as we arrive on a new front. This act in itself is one of defiance against the systems that seek to silence the identities that Monáe has so proudly embraced.
In their album Dirty Computer, Monáe seeks to unveil societal issues such as surveillance, gender identity and love, using Afrofuturism to tell the stories that are often erased. This work most strongly challenges listeners to envision a world where marginalized groups are central to a story, rather than simply sidelined.
This type of artistic activism is further solidified by Monáe’s gender nonconformity as a crucial part of their identity. Using their large social media following to challenge gender norms, specifically through their refusal to identify with traditional gender labels, Janelle is able to open the eyes of her audience to the world of fluidity. In their eyes, this is the core of activism that prevails.
The discussion with Professor Greene was more than an out loud congratulations of her achievements in writing and producing, but rather an invitation to the young students here at Wellesley College to take up space in the world, using their voices and intellect as the strongest tools for advocacy. Urging the audience to never settle for the prescribed narratives society expects of them, but rather encourages us to create our own reality regardless of how uncomfortable they may seem – just as she has done with her music and writing.
Such a commitment to activism through her artistry is something that undoubtedly resonates with students here at Wellesley, and we could not be more appreciative of Monáe’s incredible words of inspiration. The intersection of art and activism has always been a source of cultural change, and has been a pillar of the education at Wellesley for 154 years. Monáe’s work continues this tradition, granting us the opportunity to embrace art – whether it’s music, film, literature or visual art – and recognize the power it has to shift paradigms for our future.
As best said by Janelle Monáe themself, “No story is more important than yours. We need writers, artists, and speakers for this reason,” we implore you to continue to pursue the change you desire, and do so in the form of art, which often holds more power than we may have thought.
Contact the editor(s) responsible for this story: Caitlin Donovan
