The Cycle of the 'Fuck It' Attitude: Both Constructive and Destructive.

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Kimberly Morgan

May 5, 2004

WMST 300

Professor Fuchs

The Cycle of the ‘Fuck It’

Attitude: Both Constructive and Destructive

        In the world today, children are born in many different situations. Everyday a child is born in poverty and surrounded by depression. These children usually do not have the same opportunities as children born in more positive situations. So these children have to find a way to motivate themselves to change their position in society. This motivation usually comes with determination, fight, and heart. They need to have determination and drive to change their way of life, and the fight and heart to keep trying when others try to hold them back. For most young adults today, that determination, fight, and heart comes in the form of a ‘fuck it’ attitude. They feel that it is they against the world, and that they cannot trust anyone. So they have to look out for themselves and do what benefits them regardless of how it affects others. These young adults use this ‘fuck it’ attitude as motivation to prove to the world that they can make it (out of the ghetto) without help from anyone. And for that reason alone, no one can judge them for what they say or do. But this ‘fuck it’ attitude is usually a dangerous cycle. It causes actions that seem productive at first but eventually prove to be disastrous. The life of Tupac, the character Bishop in the movie Juice, and the character Tommy in the movie Belly are all perfect examples of this. In all three examples the person rebels against their current environment and does whatever it takes to change that environment. But once out, the person becomes obsessed with it’s new found power to change their environment and self-destructs.

          In the article “The Politics of ‘Fuck It’ and the Passion to Be a Free Black,” Esther Iverem discusses the concept of the ‘fuck it’ attitude. Iverem writes that the rapper Tupac Shakur lived his life with the ‘fuck it’ attitude. She opens the article with her perception that “If you spent any time at all around Tupac, you saw how easily he let a raised middle finger lead him through the world.” (Iverem, 41) It was apparent that Tupac did what he pleased and if people did not like it he responded with “fuck you too.” This ‘fuck it’ (or fuck you) attitude led to power and power was like a drug for Tupac. The more he felt he could get away with the more he did. Eventually, Tupac began to feel as though he could not be touched. And if he could by some miracle be harmed, he would recover and still be on top of his game.

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        Iverem gives an example of this in a discussion with Tupac: “People say, ‘you got shot and survived.’ And then he (Tupac) says, ‘Yeah I’m bad. I’ll keep doing it!’” (Iverem, 44) It was his belief in his own immortality that caused Tupac’s self-destruction. This attitude, according to Iverem, is what led Tupac to his fatal end. People expect to be treated like human beings. So you cannot expect to go through life telling people to kiss your behind, and not suffer the consequences. Just like Tupac, everyone demands respect and when they do not get that they will retaliate ...

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