Disappointing Halftime Show or a New Point of View?

Adam Bachert | Writer

 “The revolution is about to be televised; you picked the right time but the wrong guy.” This line opened Kendrick Lamar’s controversial Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 9.

When the mixed reviews were shared on social media just moments after the performance, many began to call it one of the worst performances of the modern era. For some, it was misunderstood due to the lack of celebrity and musical appearances and only featuring actor Samuel L. Jackson, tennis player Serena Williams, and Musician SZA.

Jenna Duke, Professor of Social Sciences and advisor for the LCCC Political Society, explained that the message on institutional racism was well made for his vision, and he used his performance to bring awareness of how Black Americans grew up.

Chad Hussein, Adjunct Instructor of History, agreed.

“Kendrick Lamar is the voice of the voiceless in many unspoken communities, which are difficult to escape or climb out of with social and economic issues,” he said. 

Scott Tice, Assistant Professor of Digital Arts, weighed in on the musical side of the performance. 

“There was more of a message from other shows, and the performance was very simple and minimalistic, which worked for a poetic message of the performance, from Kendrick’s view,” he said.

Tice also noted that the music paired with excellent visuals and choreography, especially regarding the drama with Kendrick and Drake during “Not Like Us.”

“The drama had an impact on the performance and was very well done,” he said.

Lamar expressed his view about the United States being divided due to social, economic, and political differences. The cultural impact of the performance was heavily shown with the use of a video game-shaped controller, the gangs, Samuel L. Jackson as “Uncle Sam,” the Palestinian flag, and finally, his dancers dressed in red, white, and blue.

With a scaled-down production and minimal visuals, Lamar created a powerful show for viewers willing to deeply think about the performance.