RSS Feed

Kanye West’s “Graduation” Album Cover Analysis

September 13, 2013 by Kenny Sukitch   

kanye-west-graduation

 

 

Kanye West, a controversial pop-culture icon, has been known to create music that is able to intertwine itself with different visual pieces. In Kanye’s second album, “Graduation”, the album artwork stands, not only for the music, but for itself as well.

The image above, upon first glance, depicts a cartoon world in which a bear is being shot out of a cannon. On top of said cannon are characters celebrating their graduation from the university (depicted as the smiling building on top of the cannon). In addition, the picture becomes very stimulating due to the use of bright colors.

With further analysis, however, the album depicts a moment in life when you are finally, for good or bad, on your own upon graduating college. The cartoon theme, though, allows the art to exaggerate the transition by literally showing the main bear character being “shot” in to a new life and out of his comfort zone. In fact, the cannon is shown as a symbol for the reality check that so many experience when they realize that they must enter the work force and be done with school. Furthermore, the time of day depicted in the album artwork gives us more hints towards the bears future turmoil in the “real world” by displaying a sun set. This seems to depict the bears’ future downfall by showing the happiness and bliss of college disappearing into a cold, dark night.

Obviously, West is trying to provoke certain emotions not only through his music, but through artwork as well. Due to his controversial status, the images that he conveys may sometimes be taken for granted, when, in reality his artwork is just as much of an experience as the music itself.


»

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Skip to toolbar