# What did Beyonce do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713 "2016-02-10T14:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/41 "2016-02-11T19:59:29Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > Ah. So “rational” people ignore political statements that come from people who make their living from singing. Are there any other methods of making a living that these “rational” people automatically thinks invalidates what people have to say? > > Personally I actually look to artists for interpretations, insights and creative input. I happen to be part of another group of people who actually think that is their job. To mirror, reflect and create our culture. And since “politics” is a very important part of that culture, not only do I think it’s “ok” that Beyonce did this, I think it is EXACTLY what she is supposed to do. The fact that some conservative white guys get all upset about the “uppity negro” is just icing on the cake. I’m not certain that I agree with you (actually, I’m not certain just how I come down on this). But you stated your opinion in a very effective way. IMHO, you made a good post. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/42 "2016-02-11T20:34:14Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I’m not certain that I agree with you (actually, I’m not certain just how I come down on this). But you stated your opinion in a very effective way. IMHO, you made a good post. Thank you.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/43 "2016-02-11T20:46:15Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > Personally I actually look to artists for interpretations, insights and creative input. I happen to be part of another group of people who actually think that is their job. To mirror, reflect and create our culture. And since “politics” is a very important part of that culture, not only do I think it’s “ok” that Beyonce did this, I think it is EXACTLY what she is supposed to do. Agreed. Art isn’t just to “look pretty” (or whatever); it’s to convey a message. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/44 "2016-02-11T21:48:10Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Agreed. Art isn’t just to “look pretty” (or whatever); it’s to convey a message. This is entertainment bought and paid for by Pepsi and other sponsors for the Super Bowl. This ain’t art. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/45 "2016-02-11T21:53:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > This is entertainment bought and paid for by Pepsi and other sponsors for the Super Bowl. This ain’t art. But paintings & architecture bought & paid for by corrupt popes or grand dukes with tertiary syphilis _are_ art! Because Dead White Guys. Feel free to critique any kind of art any way you like. But you don’t get to define what is & isn’t art. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/46 "2016-02-11T21:54:45Z")
Surely you don’t mean that no commissioned art is real art? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/47 "2016-02-11T21:56:51Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > if you’re not whiter than an XBox 360 you have _no voice whatsoever_. Not sure what you’re getting at there… they’ve been pitch-black for a decade now. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/48 "2016-02-11T22:22:02Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > But paintings & architecture bought & paid for by corrupt popes or grand dukes with tertiary syphilis _are_ art! Because Dead White Guys. > > Feel free to critique any kind of art any way you like. But you don’t get to define what is & isn’t art. Thank you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/49 "2016-02-11T22:58:36Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > What I wonder is… why aren’t the people who complain about how whiny and easily offended people are ‘these days’ jumping on this and using it as an example? It’s certainly odd that they’ll criticize black people protesting the confederate flag, but go silent over this. There is criticism both ways, but the correlations are heads over heels. One group supports Confederate flag-waving and is astounded that anyone could take offense against this demonstration of traditional American values. These people generally abhor the insolent and hostile political gestures of Beyoncé, which implicitly support crime, alien religion, anti-police activism, liberal politics and worse. But I and others feel that continued discrimination against blacks, e.g. in police relations, justifies black protests. Confederate flag-waving is also protected free speech, but that culture has a bad track record: Flagwaving groups have fired at peaceful black protestors; and it is a flagwaver, and _not_ a modern-day Black Panther, who gunned down Christians in Calinkey. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/50 "2016-02-12T00:19:28Z")
In Soviet Russia, art critiques YOU! ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/51 "2016-02-12T03:17:35Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > But I and others feel that continued discrimination against blacks, e.g. in police relations, justifies black protests. I’ve never heard someone in this group argue that people are too easily offended today, only the first group you listed. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/52 "2016-02-12T19:48:35Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > Ah. So “rational” people ignore political statements that come from people who make their living from singing. Are there any other methods of making a living that these “rational” people automatically thinks invalidates what people have to say? > > Personally I actually look to artists for interpretations, insights and creative input. I happen to be part of another group of people who actually think that is their job. To mirror, reflect and create our culture. And since “politics” is a very important part of that culture, not only do I think it’s “ok” that Beyonce did this, I think it is EXACTLY what she is supposed to do. The fact that some conservative white guys get all upset about the “uppity negro” is just icing on the cake. All of the professions except politician and pundit. When I was at Home Depot buying some tile in 2004, the salesman casually mentioned that if Bush was reelected the draft would be reinstated and he might be forced to fight in the war. I knew this was insane but still bought the tile from him because it had nothing to do with what I was getting from the transaction. A singer’s job is to make pretty songs, not study politics. So it should not be surprising when a singer has stupid political views. It makes as much sense to go to a singer for political views as it does to go to a juggler, or a circus clown. As long as they are entertaining they are doing their job and that is enough. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/53 "2016-02-12T20:48:08Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > ESPECIALLY when it’s about a gross injustice done to a minority group, which I think the Mario Woods case certainly qualifies as! > > . Well, that case could be a injustice or not, depending on who you listen to. Woods had seriously injured a random bystander with a knife, refused to drop said knife and was cut down by a fusillade of firepower. Altho i can see why the overkill can been seen as a overreaction, the man was a dangerous armed felon, and things dont go well for those when they confront the police., so it hardly qualifies as a _gross injustice._ And how the death of a single armed felon can be “gross injustice done\* to a minority group”\* is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/54 "2016-02-12T21:05:28Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > A singer’s job is to make pretty songs, not study politics. Whole genres of performers and their fans would disagree with you on that. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/55 "2016-02-12T21:24:47Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > A singer’s job is to make pretty songs, not study politics. Totally bizarre statement. Do you think there’s some job description written down somewhere? A politician’s job isn’t to study politics either. At heart, it’s to win elections. There are plenty of elected politicians who have the connections, talent, or luck to do that part of their job effectively and whose political opinions are a good deal less nuanced and thoughtful than Beyonce’s. Some of them have commented on Beyonce recently. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/56 "2016-02-12T22:07:40Z")
I never noticed anything political about the performance/costumes/whatever until I heard people were clucking their tongues about it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/57 "2016-02-13T00:50:12Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > …A singer’s job is to make pretty songs, not study politics. So it should not be surprising when a singer has stupid political views. It makes as much sense to go to a singer for political views as it does to go to a juggler, or a circus clown. As long as they are entertaining they are doing their job and that is enough. Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, John Prine and many, many others might disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/58 "2016-02-13T01:19:24Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, John Prine and many, many others might disagree. Not to mention Woody Guthrie. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/59 "2016-02-13T01:30:04Z")
Or Roger Waters or Jello Biafra or… And no one went to her for political insights. She put on the show she wanted to, people watched it. I’m not into football or Beyonce’s music, but good for her for upsetting the delicate. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713/60 "2016-02-13T02:04:39Z")
Art has always been an important component of social commentary and reform. And the idea that you need to “shut up” unless you have credentials to have a political opinion is so radically disrespectful of one’s fellow citizens and human beings that anyone who says that really deserves to be slapped across the face in turn by everyone in the country. Someone who says that might just be an asshole, but saying it about Beyoncé makes comfortable to presume that such a person is a racist and sexist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-beyonce-do/745713.md?page=4)