Anthem (film)
.jpg)
Anthem is a nine-minute music video released in 1991. The film was produced and directed by Marlon T. Riggs. The film displays mixes images of mainstream African-American pride, such as traditional African tribal dances, alongside images representing gay pride, such as ACT UP's "Silence=Death." The film uses powerful imagery and poetry to explore, celebrate, and revolutionize black gay culture.
Synopsis
The film features six black gay artists, and five writers reading verses of their poems: Essex Hemphill "American Wedding", Reginald Jackson "Initiation", Steve Langley "Confection", Colin Robinson "Epiphany", "For CJ", "Horizontal Stripes Are In", "To Sir, c Love" and "Unfinished Work" and Donald Woods "What Do I Do About You?"; and Blackberri singing "America the Beautiful". It opens with Robinson repeating: "Parade it proudly like a man; flaunt it like a man." The Pan-African Flag, with black, red, and green stripes, is flashed across the screen throughout the short film. He continues: "Rearrange syllables, Revolution" as the words are flashed on the screen in white on time with the hip hop music. The call for revolution occurs as images of an African-American dancing, the pink hue triangle used to symbolize ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), and ACT UP's slogan "Silence=Death" is displayed on the screen.
Robinson's voice continues repeatedly with the music: "Pervert the language." Then, as two naked African-American males kiss each other, Woods says: "Every time we kiss," and Robinson "Thrust worn, gritty fingers in my mouth."
Then, images of roses and a holy cross give way to memorial candles. Robinson's voice says: "Immunity in this holy procession of dying." In response to the memorial candles, the words "Are you scared? Are you safe?" are displayed in white text. Hemphill's voice repeat the statement "In America" as the American Flag is shown in the background. Jackson's voice repeats: "Gender Blender Blur."
The image of the ACT UP triangle is shown again, but this time it has the African continent, with the Pan-African horizontal stripes in it. Jackson's voice says: "Initiate Me". Robinson's badly painted lips voice the words on the screen: "Griots shaping language into power, food, and substitute for sex, into tools like weapons of survival, rage and passion, with the clarity of spit.
The film concludes as Essex Hemphill reappears reading "American Wedding" in front of a background of an American Flag. as Blackberri sings. As the flag in the background fades, a voice says: "I too sing America."
Wikipedia article: Anthem (film) ↗
External links
- "American Wedding"
- Review Anthem at the Internet Movie Database
Chat rooms • What links here • Copyright info • Contact information • Category:Root