I believe in monsters.
I believe there are two types; human and spiritual. There are people who abuse, molest, and murder others. They wreck carnage wherever they go and break human souls. There are also spiritual forces at work which, “prowl around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
My concern is our current culture is losing it’s ability to define monsters. More and more we are being constantly bombarded with the idea that characters and qualities which have been historically and culturally dangerous and evil are now being considered in a light of “understanding.” I should clarify this statement by saying I believe in God’s redemptive power and His ability to save the worst of mankind; however, if the definitions of right or wrong, good or evil, righteous or unrighteous continue to be blurred; how will we know who needs God’s redemption?
I would submit to you this trend in “good monsters” or even the glorification of monsters is part of a lie Satan has woven to keep humanity ignorant of their need for God. Satan has asked us to be understanding of monsters, maybe one day we will not believe in monsters any more. Since there can only be monsters if there are consequences of action; consequences no longer exist. Consequences of action can only exist if truth exists, so we may as well get rid of truth as well. Truth can only exist if God exists, so then it would be logical to assume God no longer exists either. Since God created Lucifer, who later became Satan, Satan can only exists if God does. This is the lynch pin because Satan can work most effectively when we do not believe he exists. I hope you are beginning to see the danger of not believing in monsters; it opens your life to attacks from a force which you do not believe in.
The prompt for this post was a petition against a new Kanye West video for his song “Monsters.” The petition was initiated because the video contains some disturbing images of victims of violence; most of these victims are scantily clad women. I have included a link to the video, but be warned it is graphic:
http://www.wat.tv/video/kanye-west-monster-feat-jay-39mq7_2zicp_.html
The video contains some nuances of the traditional monster types: the classic vampire motif, there are a few lingerie wearing werewolves, and of course a cannibalistic zombie. There are also images of dead women in bed, lying on a dinner table, or hanging from chains. Almost all of them are nude or nearly nude. There is also a bondage scene with two women; the one who is bound is dressed in a white ball gown most often associated with a wedding or as a sign of innocence. Everything has an explicitly sexual overtone.
However, the song is not inherently about sex. It is about economic exploitation and dominance. The lyrics convey a message about the significance of the players ability to make or break another career. This is evidenced in the chorus,
“Gossip gossip
N-ggas just stop it
Everybody know (I’m a muthaf-cking monster)
I’ma need to see your f-cking hands at the concert
I’ma need to see your f-cking hands at the concert
Profit profit, n-gga I got it
Everybody know I’m a muthaf-cking monster
I’ma need to see your f-cking hands at the concert
I’ma need to see your f-cking hands at the concert”
This song is clearly about economic dominance and yet is expressed visually in sexual dominance, a connection which is often played out in the real world. It is currently estimated over 25 million people are currently been economically exploited through slavery and indentured servitude. Many are women and children who are forced in prostitution and sexually exploited everyday. It is my fear that the lines between reality and entertainment are getting blurred; the monsters are losing definition and becoming more and more a part of our every day cultural existence.
I would not dare to accuse Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, or Nicki Minaj of being human traffickers. Rather, I would challenge the culture which finds this type of entertainment acceptable that our own depravity and enjoyment of the “fantasy” is what makes the reality possible. When we begin to blur the lines, we create an area of grey where Monsters rule.
Continuing the adventure,
Jessica
Resources on Human Trafficking:
http://www.humantrafficking.org/
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010/
Jess Boctor 
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