Blackness, and Racism-Canceling Headphones

Hear What You Want”: Sonic Politics,
Blackness, and Racism-Canceling Headphones
Alex Blue V
SHOT: A person sits on a couch, book in hand, coffee table at the knees.
We have not yet seen their head—the camera has kept their identity concealed, showing only the shoulders down. As the camera slowly pans, and
the person carefully turns the page in their book, we hear voices being
broadcast from a television. The camera switches gaze, turning to show a
sports commentator speaking on screen
“I think there’s zero threat. My problem is, KG’s a little too ‘over-the-hill’…”
SHOT: The camera returns to the still headless body, slowly panning upward to unmask the secret identity: the body belongs to Kevin Garnett,
also known as KG, a long-tenured, well-known professional basketball
player in the United States. A well-timed pause shows he is reading Sun
Tzu’s The Art of War. His dark skin and sharp features are accentuated by
the lighting; he appears part man, part shadow. As the TV speakers sound
the phrase “over-the-hill,” his eyes shift focus from down at his book up
to the television. The on-screen diatribe continues, his nostrils flare, and
his eyes burn with the determination of a man seeking retribution. As the
verbal attacks continue, their presence fades into the background, being
replaced by the sounds of high-pitched strings, ambient noise, synthesizer,
and a pulsing sub-bass that sounds much like a heartbeat. Garnett rises
from the couch, walks to a small table near the door to his apartment, and
picks up three items: his wallet, his keys, and a pair of headphones. As he
turns and walks away from the camera, exiting his apartment, we see words
emblazoned across the screen.
‘HEAR WHAT YOU WANT’
His television remains on.
SHOT: The inside of a bus, looking out the window. Cityscapes pass quickly through the frame… a distant skyline, a park