By Tiana Clark, a poet and creative writing teacher at Smith College
Kendrick Lamar’s 13-minute performance during the Super Bowl halftime show drew in 133.5 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched events of the year. While many focused on the rapper’s music, his performance was also rich with cultural and political symbolism.
The opening aerial shot featured four symbols: a square, circle, triangle, and X. These symbols have been interpreted by fans as representing balance, unity, revolution, and abolition – all potent themes that resonated throughout the performance.
Lamar’s use of propulsive rap and music brought these symbols to life, crafting a powerful protest art piece that sparked a lively response from the audience. Despite its complexity, the performance was undeniably brilliant, with multifaceted meanings waiting to be uncovered by those willing to look closer.
Clark is a poet who teaches creative writing at Smith College.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/opinion/kendrick-lamar-halftime-art.html