Echoes of the Past in Present Day
Mumbo Jumbo, Jes Grew, and Antonism: Echoes of the Past in Present Day
In Ishmael Reeds Mumbo Jumbo, the concept of Jes Grew symbolizes the spirit of rebellion, vibrance, and cultural renewal that sparks criticism from the idea of 'normal' in mainstream society. Reed's depiction of Jes Grew is described as a brand new conscience of life, relating deeply to movements in black culture, jazz, and the persistence of African culture. In present day, the word Jes grew isn't normally thrown around to describe the present, however its spirt can be seen in society including but not limited to, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ rights, expression through fashion and embracement of individuality. Reed pushed for the rejection of the term "Antonism" which was a symbol for conformity. He believed that individuals should have the freedom to express themselves in any way shape or form, influencing younger generations to celebrate the chaotic creativity of Jes Grew. In Mumbo Jumbo the 'anti-plague' of Jes Grew creates the notion that peace can live alongside resistance of oppression and injustice.
In relation to the LGBTQ+ movement that has spiraled its way into society, Jes Grew aimed to teach individuals that the spirit is one that cannot ever be contained. In the same way, LGBTQ+ advocators refuse to be silenced until they are treated like the normal human beings they are. Jes Grew in pride movements is embodied by rebellious protests, hashtags, and 'terribly disruptive' TikTok videos that aim to spread awareness regarding LGBTQ+ inequality, according to older generations that don't agree with this generations 'mumbo jumbo.' It seems to be a trend that the ones dismissing newer generations issues are the same generations that had to fight their own battles during the 'good old days.' Although the term Jes Grew likely won't ever be used to explain movements for LGBTQ+, it is apparent that its ideals are rooted in the spirit of Jes Grew; rebellion, resilience, vibrance, joy, persistence, and the refusal to be silenced.
A more modern expression of Jes Grew is fashion. More and more there are people wearing various clothing styles wherever you go. The rise of streetwear, gender-neutral clothing, Y2K (which seems to have an ever changing definition depending on who you ask), and so on. Older generations get sent into a coma when they seen men wearing pants that barely fit, or women wearing clothes that make themselves feel confident. Inspiration of modern day youth fashion styles comes from a diverse array of vintage finds, thrifting, African prints, and global trends. Jes Grew can also be seen as a spirit that lives on forever, exemplifying that fashion is something that cannot be taken out of someones identity. The spirit of fashion derives from Jes Grew's ability to influence people to embrace creativity, self-expression, freedom, and a forever fight to beat outdated standards.
By looking at present day through the spirit of Jes Grew, we can see that Reed's novel Mumbo Jumbo continues to leave a mark on society. The ideals of Jes Grew; rebellion, resilience, vibrance, joy, persistence, creativity, self-expression, and freedom continue to be visible in todays society. The spirit continues to attract movements, fashion trends, media, and everyday self-expression. Whether it's through a micro-trend that lasts a week, or a rising movement that lasts a decade, the spirit of Jes Grew continues to be the backbone of our society. Forever reminding us that the spirit of rebellion, vibrance, and cultural renewal will always be an echo in the future to come.
Works Cited:
- Reed, Ishmael. Mumbo Jumbo. E-book ed., Scribner, 1996
Hi Zoe!! Great blog! I like how you showed that our society's reluctance to accept new cultural changes has never really changed between the past and the future. I think one idea you can really cite here is how the book ended with the idea that time (or progress) is not linear but circular. A lot of things won't have a beginning or end; rather, they may disappear for a while and return. Your observations on the present-day mumbo jumbo really embody the idea of history circling and repeating.
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe! Alot of people thought about Jes Grew in the culture today, so it is really interesting to see it taken outside of the box and applied to a different movement! The non-conformity of the LGBTQ+ movement and the idea of it as an uncontainable spirit fits really well with Mumbo Jumbo jumbo, and is a connection I did not think about. I also love the antidote on fashion. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHey Zoe! Super cool topic! One thing that really stood out to me was how one of the key elements of Jes Grew is rebellion. I think that is totally accurate. In Mumbo Jumbo, it was going completely against the grain FROM A EUROCENTRIC STANDPOINT with it's roots in Haitian culture, the people in the movement were thriving. It led into this amazing era of dance and jazz, and I believe that Jes Grew is evolving even now. Although it looks a little different, as you said with the LGBTQ+ movement and even in fashion, it's still very active today. But it will always go against the grain of traditional Eurocentrism.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great account of all of the ways we have become accustomed to thinking of culture as something that spreads "virally," which was a pretty original concept when Reed was concocting the Jes Grew epidemic. And I always like to emphasize the implicit meaning of the term itself, as it reflects the ways in which culture is unpredictable and "organic" in its spread--it really does "just grow," usually without a single "leader" or originator that everyone follows. We hear the words and the tune, we want to sing along, but we don't necessarily know the author or originator of those words, to paraphrase James Weldon Johnson.
ReplyDeleteI especially wish we'd gotten into the ways in which the LGBTQ movement in the last decade or two is a good example of Jes Grew emerging and suffering a backlash--there are so many parallels, including the generational conflict and moral panic but also the idea that there is some "agenda" that children need to be "protected by," which carries a whiff of sexual perversion (just as the jazz dancers are denounced by the Atonists in the novel). There's the same pretense of "concern" that is really simply repressive in its intent. And also the idea that this cultural explosion can't be controlled or restrained--a vibrant Pride parade would be a great "social text" to examine through a Jes Grew lens, in particular to illustrate the creativity and joy that attends this "virus." And also, unfortunately, the ways in which that joy is quite upsetting to the Wallflower Order. In both cases we have the familiar dynamic where the forces of moral order want to repress any sign of people feeling themselves and expressing themselves freely.
Zoe, I absolutely loved your blog! I love how you utilized the common themes of rebellion present in a lot of different movements in today's society especially. Self--expression and the confidence that older generations feel the need to repress are a big part of what makes all three movements similar. The comparison here is incredibly strong and really makes you think about the broader picture, considering other movements that might also follow the characteristics Jes Grew represents. Great job!!
ReplyDeleteHey Zoe! I really love the way you connect the past and present to the reluctancy people have to new movements, rebellions, and trends. I think your blog is a pretty comprehensive comparison of past Jes Grew cycles of rebellion and repression that can be seen in history, and more recent with fashion and the LGBTQ+ movements as well. I think this cycle is what pushes us into the future with new movements, but also ties us more and more to our past, constantly mirroring itself with akin movements and events that have already happened. Great Job Zoe!
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