What Exactly is Jes Grew?
The main focus of the novel Mumbo Jumbo is what is known as Jes Grew, a metaphysical phenomenon of black culture. We can see the obvious manifestations of Jes Grew in art and culture the prime example being jazz. New developments in culture, especially dancing and music, come from Jes Grew, however these developments are specifically rebellious or problematic in the eyes of older generations and white elitists. Its important to note that Jes Grew isn't the actual dancing, music, or culture, but instead the spread and creation of the culture itself. It is like a virus that spreads from person to person. However, unlike a virus, if everyone gets it, it seems to fade away.
Jes Grew which sounds very much like the phrase "Just Grew" is something that is inherently connected to younger generations and new ideas. Jazz was just becoming popular in the 1920's, and was extremely controversial for its free form style and causing people to dance and move. However, now jazz has been completely integrated into culture and is even considered to be "high class". Most jazz performances now are considerded concerts. Jazz music is even taught in schools now. In a way its lost its value because of this. It is no longer widely recognized as a specifically black phenomenon and does not cause the same positive and negative uproar as it once did.
Jes Grew needs resistance, in the novel's case, the atonists. We can see many modern and historical equivalents to these secret societies influencing society, especially in the media as we have talked about in class with Fox News. Jazz at the time was very controversial, and in the 70's around the time that the novel was written it was the start of the funk era, which was also very controversial, and was very similar in the way that it caused people to dance. On top of that, funk also originated in New Orleans just like jazz. There are many ways the era in which this novel was written has parallels to the era the novel is about. For example, the war in Haiti, can be paralleled by the war on drugs. The war on drugs not only specifically targeted people of color, but the music at the time was heavily influenced by drugs, especially psychedelics, the influences of which are easy to see in many funk songs. There are many more ways I could compare these two eras, but that would be a blog post on its own.
This book also focuses on cultures keeping their culture, especially with the Mu'tafikah and the museum robberies. Western society, mainly being white society, has stolen so many artifacts from different cultures across the globe. This is an important idea that parellels the cheapening of the manifestations of Jes Grew. Just like how physical art and artifacts can be stolen, so can culture. When jazz, or any aspect of black culture gets too integrated into all of western society, its almost as if its lost. Of course this does not mean other people should not be allowed to enjoy other cultures, and what sets Jes Grew apart from any art or artifact is that it can remerge on its own. There is not anything inherently wrong with this cycle of sudden emergence and disappearance of Jes Grew.
Great job! I think your take on Jes Grew is very interesting and eye-opening. I really like how you analyze jazz's developments and origins and relate it to its meaning for Jes Grew. Good work!
ReplyDeleteI think all your analysis makes sense and it helped me better understand what Jes Grew really is. In particular, I liked how you related aspects of the novel to events that happened afterwards.
ReplyDeleteWhat sticks out to me in your blog that I agree with is your mention of when black culture is integrated into white culture, it becomes lost. To add to this, I would say that black culture is considered 'Mumbo Jumbo' until it is accepted by mainstream society and becomes validated. Ironically, when things from black culture are 'accepted', they become high-class and not as affiliated with black people as they once were.
ReplyDelete1970s funk is a great context in which to consider Jes Grew in the postmodern era. (See Clara's recent post about Ishmael Reed and Afrofuturism for a related context). Also I read recently (no surprise) that George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic was big into _Mumbo Jumbo_ and even secured the film rights to adapt it as a movie. Unfortunately for all of us, that movie was never made: can you imagine a film of _Mumbo Jumbo_ made by George Clinton and co. in the 1970s?? I WISH that thing had been made. The mind reels at the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteNice post! Great job of an in depth dive of Jes Gew that has a different approach. You did a good job of explaining the background and the historical context of Jes Grew and using it to explain the Jes grew cycle.
ReplyDeleteI like how you went in depth with Jes Grew and its characteristics. It's great that you noted that Jes Grew is not the actual culture itself but rather the spread of such culture. In that way, we can be certain that although the culture may be assimilated into western society, that actual element of creation never dies (just fades and reemerges). It's also interesting how you mentioned that this integration into society devalues the culture in its uniqueness and expression. Great job on the blog, Charlie!
ReplyDeleteI think that something so special about Jes Grew is that it comes and goes, spawning new "controversial" movements and then disappearing, only for those movements to become mainstream (like your example of jazz). Jes Grew kind of symbolizes the origins and spread of these things, but not the things themselves. Like you say, it can be seen in physical art as well (before it is perverted by colonialist museums). It is what causes the creation of such beautiful art. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHello Charles. I really appreciated your unique symbolism of Jes Grew during the 1970's, especially because it was another genre of music, and the concept holds up completely. Its especially eye-opening how music is constantly changing as a representation of cultures; this parallel is timeless.
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