And now, the brand new video for Janelle Monae‘s new single, “Tightrope,” featuring Big Boi.
Not only does the clip contain ample amounts of toe-tipping and hallway grooving, but it also pays tribute to one of Hollywood’s first independent, avant garde filmmakers, Maya Deren.
See the mirror men? They’re from her 1943 short film, “Meshes of the Afternoon,” which was the first video I ever saw in my Independent Cinema class. Look Mommy–my college education paid off!
If you asked me a year ago if a pop artist would ever reference Maya Deren in her work, I would have burst out laughing. Lady Gaga, eat your obscure cultural reference loving heart out.