Back, and to the left- Dallas native engages in political theater

Erykah Badu has been charged with disorderly conduct by the Dallas Police for shooting the video below, where she walks into Dealey Plaza, takes off all her clothes, and pretends to get shot in front of the grassy knoll.  She said it was a commentary on group-think, and the boundaries it throws up around individual imagination.  I think I can follow: the artist in society strives to be more honest and open, bares his-or-herself before a seemingly uncaring crowd; delves into the rawly personal in the hopes of exposing the universal only to be castigated for their endeavors, shot down for showing us that which we don’t necessarily want to see.  Or something like that.

Whether guerilla acts of political theater are your cup of tea or not, more famous people should be willing to get naked in public places to make esoteric political statements.  Isn’t that the job of an artist- to engage and perhaps challenge our assumptions?  Whether you find it ridiculous or offensive or right-on or can’t get past the prurient interest in naked celebrities, it’s a conversation starter, and I’m sure Ms. Badu hopes that once that conversation gets started there will be some recognition of the point she was trying to make- that hopefully something will stick.  Or maybe not, maybe nothing can trump “naked r&b singer” in people’s imagination.  But you’ll never know by doing nothing, and at least she’s trying.  I especially like the dude running behind her picking up her clothes.  Here’s the video (sorry about the ad).