This is Eric Mortensen's blog. He works @ Blip and lives in Brooklyn.
The Brilliant Weirdness of Die Antwoord
It was the [South African] black majority that achieved political liberation in 1994. But whites experienced their own form of liberation. Their liberation was in the arts.
Under white rule, Afrikaans art was heavily sponsored by the government and presented a rigid image of Afrikaners as upstanding Christians — a natural ruling class. After apartheid fell, white artists were free to explore a wider range of personas. The comic artist Anton Kannemeyer depicted Afrikaners having nasty sex and mangling their Afrikaans. In “District 9,” the filmmaker Neill Blomkamp portrayed an Afrikaner transforming into something else completely — an alien — and emerging with improved moral character. “People react to ‘District 9’ and Die Antwoord on the same level,” Ninja suggested. They’re drawn to the burst of creative energy released by transformation.
“I feel sorry for people who need to ask us: Is it real?” Ninja told me. Changing identities is the point — the more total, the better.
Die Antwoord’s Latest: I Fink U Freeky
Was Die Antwoord the best thing about 2010?
DIE
ANTWOORD
IN
AMOEBA
I mean, I woulnd’t have posted this if it weren’t enjoyable. Clips include UFC, David Lynch, Braindead (the movie) and so much more.
Die Antwoord Is “Fake,” And So What? - Backlashes - Videogum
I am just saying: let us not turn our backs on Die Antwoord. Not now. I’m sure for some reason everyone would have liked it better if they were actually borderline mentally-retarded Poor Children from Ghettos covered in Generic Cheetoes Dust and Meth Crumbs or whatever, but none of these new revelations makes what they are doing any less great.
There were certainly signs that they were “fake”, but I chose to ignore them. Who cares? I’m actually even more intrigued now.
Die Antwoord is unstoppable. Just try to stop them from giving a full performance just because they’re stuck in a van.
Still obsessed with Die Antwoord.
Die Antwoord - ‘Zef Side [Beat Boy]’ (teaser promo) (via Sophisticated Funk)
Afrikaans ‘rap-rave.’ Camera operated by my friend Natasja.
See also: Die Antwoord - ‘Enter The Ninja’ featuring a hype-man/DJ with progeria syndrome.
Also also: Look In The Mirror, You Can See It’s You / You Got Two Nice Boobs And A Penis Too
Remarkable. There’s a fine line between stupid and clever and I’m not quite sure which side Die Antwoord is on. I don’t want to be sure. I just know that I’ve spent the last 30 minutes devouring everything I can find about them and I want more.
UPDATE: I’ve decided that they’re clever. I’m so going to buy this record.