At Mount Holyoke, we are taught to put everything in context. Rap artist Mickey Avalon’s lyrics could be interpreted as misogynistic if read at face value. However, his official Web site demonstrates his commitment to clearing up misunderstandings about his lyrics and actions, many of which are intended to provide commentary on social issues through irony.
The most recent blog entry on Avalon’s official Web site explains his Halloween costume: “I decided to be Adolf Hitler for Halloween because I wanted to have the scariest costume existing, even scarier than the devil who I was last year. That for me was a man who killed off 86 members of my family simply for being Jewish. … My fans know this about me, and so they know I would never endorse such an evil man, and it offends me as a Jew, that people would even think that.” Avalon uses irony in his art, and he apologizes for the inevitable misunderstanding that arises with the use of irony. “For the people who didn’t know and misunderstood my intentions, my apologies go out to you,” said Avalon.
According to the “Students Against Mickey Avalon Performing” Facebook group description, the organization is a “presence that finds [Mickey Avalon’s message] insulting to the integrity of this college, an all-women’s institution, the oldest in the country, and we believe that promoting rape and violence in his lyrics is wholly unacceptable.” Avalon, however, does not consider his lyrics to promote rape or violence. When asked in an interview with lifelounge.com why his music is so appealing to female fans he said, “Um, I think they get the joke, you know? Whenever I read something about me being misogynistic—that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
It is also important to note where Avalon is coming from as an artist. His life as a former male prostitute is his reality, and it is imperative that his experiences be reflected in his music. The Network took this into consideration when choosing him (given availability and budget constraints) to perform. “While we recognize the explicit nature and subjects of Mickey Avalon’s lyrics, it is critical that his lyrics remain contextualized within his life experiences. To extract his words from his experiences and social positioning would immediately change the intent and meaning so that the interpretation by listeners can be distorted,” said Network Publicity Chair Meredith Nelson ’11.
Avalon’s use of irony in his Halloween costume selection carries over to his lyrics. “It is important to take into account the author’s intent and the abundant use of satire and hyperbole in his writing. When he speaks of the eating disorders and materialism rampant in Hollywood, in songs like ‘So Rich, So Pretty,’ he discusses how he is not glorifying these behaviors but rather mocking them,” said Nelson. While I respect students who have suffered eating disorders or have been victimized in any way, I do not find the Network’s selection of Avalon as a performer to be a compromise of Mount Holyoke’s ideals.
I hope that the Mount Holyoke community can receive Avalon in the spirit of which he is intended, and I look forward to his performance.
Related posts:
- Not right for a women’s college
- Mickey Avalon concert sparks controversy
- Top Five Halloween Costumes to Avoid
- Almost Literally
- No Joke: Northampton-based Appalachian Still bringing bluegrass with a twist to the valley
