jeen-yuhs: A Parent's Legacy Recognized

In the college creative writing course I teach, I've been discussing the role and power of memory with students. Most recently, we talked about the implicit bias of memory, and the theory that each time a memory is recalled, our present day thoughts and experiences change the memory permanently. How often are we presented with the truth of memory? To see first-hand events of our life from another perspective, true and undeniable?

In jeen-yuhs, a three-part documentary about mega-pop-superstar Ye (fka Kanye West), memory is a weapon both at Ye's disposal and one to be used against him. J. Ivy Coodie, the director of the film and longtime friend of Kanye is a truly remarkable filmmaker. Presented with hundreds of hours of interpersonal, behind-the-scenes looks into West's life pre-fame and modern-tyranny, he turns a chaotic narrative into a graceful discussion of parental love paralleled by his own family history from the past twenty years.

And this reflection on memory couldn't come at a better time, where Kanye is having a moment again, reminding not only viewers but supporters of Kanye in recent months how much has truly changed in two decades.

Coodie is a true friend -- most online chatter praised his ability to put down the camera when Kanye entered into disturbing, alcohol-fueled rants about his statements on abortion during his 2020 presidential campaign, his treatment post-VMAs debacle, and admiration of one Tucker Carlson. And it happens not once, but three separate times in the last episode of the docu-series. It is heart-breaking and sweat-inducing television for all the wrong reasons.

The truth is, after a parent leaves this plane of existence, all preparation and all life-lessons brought upon a child are left to memory. Those wishes for a better world and better life than one they lived are simply that at death -- wishes. And after Kanye lost his mother Donda West, he lost a constantly motivating and crucial factor in his moral/life compass. The movie makes it clear that Kanye ran from growing out of his mother's shadow, and being pushed from the nest so abruptly saw him coping with change in the worst ways.

Until this documentary, everyone but those close to Kanye could only theorize why there had been such a dramatic change in his demeanor following 808s and Heartbreaks, much of them centering around the loss of Donda. With Coodie's vision, ours is now crystal clear and the theories confirmed. 

The documentary of course leaves us before we can understand Kanye's journey through divorce and an all-too-public hate for Pete Davidson. Instead, the final shot is of Coodie attending the second of Kanye's initial Donda listening parties, which would be more poetic of a conclusion if the album more-wholly discussed the absence of its title figure.

It's hard to imagine how Ye felt watching back this footage when Coodie and Netflix premiered the series at a private screening, or even how much was shown. His initial reaction was one of delight, was there ever a moment of clarity and critical perception in his actions?

It's unsure if we'll ever truly become more than spectators of a truly creative genius without another documentary.

As for the actual content of the documentary, this private look into a star the size of Kanye is unprecedented and truly magical for those filled with nostalgia each time "All Falls Down" graces their speakers. It has sent The College Dropout to the top of iTunes and Billboard charts alike and Twitter users into a frenzy over the absolute indifference to the afore-mentioned song in the clip above.

In the end, jeen-yuhs highlights what West does and continues to do best: create passionate art coupled with passionate controversy, and all the while passionately standing firm in his convictions. The new current Kanye is the same as the old Kanye, but without the foundation and wisdom that helped mold his legacy.

________________________________________________

What did you think of jeen-yuhs? Do you miss the College Dropout Kanye as much as I do? Let us know in the comments below!


- Ritter


Comments