Janelle Monáe is our new Fantasy Ambassador. Everything about her checks out: 1) As a black American, she knows that Fantasies (whether Oz wizardry or white supremacy) have Real consequences. 2) She scribbles over the walls of our world – of our black-and-white world – and tailors tuxedos out of the many striped prison uniforms she’s inherited. (That is, she can express herself within limits imposed.) 3) She raised her Square-Enix Thundercat cities strategically outside Detroit, Chicago, New York – places that could use an Egyptian monument or two. 4) Her anthem is “Smile,” by Charlie Chaplin via Michael Jackson, because you cannot “smile though your heart is breaking” without fantasy. She feather-penned us this letter while brooding atop her car-metal tower, and signed it “Jane” for a motherly edge. A condescending letter, set to mercenary music: The New Fantasy must hatch from its dream! like the zygotic French horn cracking its beak through eggshell, inside-out.
Still trying to get my jaw off the floor from seeing a friend pictured with this goddess this morning!! 19 days till "The Electric Lady" hits (Suites 4 & 5 - woot!)!!