What classifies as “art”? Why Damn by Kendrick Lamar should have won a Pulitzer, or why it maybe shouldn’t have
Genre: Controversial debate post
In 2017, Kendrick Lamar released his 7th album, titled DAMN. The album was met with a large amount of both public and critical acclaim, and to many, the album even went as far as to be considered as a brilliant “work of art” to some. This includes the Pulitzer Prize committee, who in 2018 awarded the album a Pulitzer Prize. For some, this marked an important accomplishment for the African American community and showed a changing of opinions and commonplaces. For others, this singular decision impacted the very nature of the Pulitzer Prize and represented nothing more than a “token” decision to push a narrative. So what do you think? Let’s hear what both sides have to say
The Pulitzer Prize should have been awarded for DAMN.
DAMN. is an incredible album which has so much effort and cultural significance needs to be recognized
The album and story Kendrick tells is nothing short of brilliant, and to consider it “art” is a fair designation
The Pulitzer Prize is attempting to change their ways and show their growth as a group, and that should at the very least, be accepted as valid.
The Pulitzer Prize should not have been awarded for DAMN.
The Pulitzer Prize section for music is often historically reserved for classical music, an underrepresented and under appreciated section in this modern era, so changing this tradition targets a specific group.
The Pulitzer Prize had been out of the limelight for a long time, so it is possible the committee attempted to put themselves back into the limelight by following popular trends
The award in some ways feels more like a recognition that the Pulitzer Prize committee is trying to commit some fan service, but in a way a middle age dad would. (hey guys, I’m cool, I heard that new Kendrick “joint” (ew dad don’t say joint, please)).
All in all, there are plenty of reasons on both sides why people argue so strongly for or against DAMN.‘s recognition, but while the past can change you, you cannot change the past. Regardless of whether or not you believe Kendrick Lamar deserved the Pulitzer Prize, I hope you have either already checked out the lyrical masterpiece of DAMN., or plan to in the future, because it truly is a masterpiece.
Sources:
https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/kendrick-lamar
https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/comments/8cql8k/kendrick_lamar_wins_pulitzer_prize_for_damn/ (to gather a varied number of opinions (I know reddit is not a strong source))
This album is definitely a masterpiece! I think it would have been good to explain a bit about the album so those who haven’t listened could comment their opinion. Anyhow, I think its cultural significance is so important and I have always revered Kendrick Lamar as an artist. There is definitely something interesting to be said about this event changing the nature of where the Pulitzer Prize is placed though.
I can’t think of any songs from this album off the top of my head, but I’m sure I’ve heard some. Saying that, this blog post is definitely going to make me listen to it again. I wish you had gone a bit more into why this album is so great and why it was awarded a Pulitzer rather than just the fact that it was, but overall great work!
I think the album definitely deserved to win the prize. Two songs, Humble and DNA, both went extremely viral. I think the line(s), “Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin’ life, While I grew up without a father and died in a gun fight” by itself deserves the Pultzer prize, and adding in songs like PRIDE and XXX, the album truly is a masterpiece that deserves recognition.
I can definitely see the argument for both sides. However, when I think Pulitzer Prize, I think of writing mastery. While I understand why people could be upset that the prize didn’t go to classical music, the Pulitzer Prize for music isn’t called the prize for classical music, and so it feels wrong to limit it to such a category. I might not listen to his music, but one thing that I know is that Kendrick Lamar is a masterful lyricist, and I’m glad that he got that recognition.
Being a die-hard Kendrick fan I have plenty of opinions on this. I personally think that the Pulitzer Prize being awarded to the DAMN album is more of a recognition of Kendrick’s talent in general rather than the album itself (the album is of course fantastic). I personally think the album right before DAMN, To Pimp A Butterfly, was the most deserving of awards such as the Pulitzer. TPAB is one of the most beautifully crafted and complex album of all time (IMO) and has every artistic aspect that would justify it for winning the Pulitzer. Even though DAMN is incredible, it doesn’t have as much complexity in its storytelling as some of Kendrick’s other albums that may justify criticism for its winning of the Pulitzer. I’m very glad you chose to analyze Kendrick a bit and hope you analyze more of him in the future.