A step away from "Mantan"...

Jul 18, 2006 21:44

How Obvious Is It That I Feel More Intellectually Isolated Than Ever Before In My Life? Also, Some Stuff About Race ( Read more... )

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Comments 36

dannnielle July 19 2006, 02:33:57 UTC
1) I cringe when people say "that's gay". Recently a friend has shamed me for it by pointing out that it's ME pinning a negative connotation on the expression and not the people that use. Right.

2) <3 Lily Allen

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ageofscience July 19 2006, 17:26:30 UTC
I think I would hit that friend!

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10010 July 19 2006, 03:14:43 UTC
It's interesting you should write about this, because last night I was just reading about the use blackface make-up in highly offensive minstral shows around the turn of the century. I can also remember watching a very good documentary featuring the stories of Africville, Viola Desmond and Little Black Sambo. Unfortunately, the name fails me right now. Needless to say, it's disgusting how these racist attitudes still exist.

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ageofscience July 19 2006, 17:29:30 UTC
Oooh, if you think of what it's called, let me know. Even though it's almost totally unrelated to my general field of academic interest, I'm thinking of maybe trying to work it in somehow.

But yeah, disgusting is the word. As far as blackface is concerned, you should really (everyone should really) watch Bamboozled if you haven't already. It's terrifying, but in an important way.

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crossoff July 19 2006, 03:40:45 UTC
Funny that you mention that (use of "gay" and "retarded":
http://media.locals.ca/localsconf/viewtopic.php?t=63871

I am not sure, but isn't there a road in the HRM, near Spryfield, called Old Sambro Road? I might have the spelling wrong. I feel dumb for asking this but what does "sambro" mean?

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ageofscience July 19 2006, 16:40:16 UTC
Grrr. People getting all up in arms about being told not to use offensive language kills me. I just feel like the argument should start and stop at the fact that the "right" to perpetuate someone's exploitation is doesn't trump the right to not be exploited. End of story!

Back in the day, "sambo" was a commonly used racial slur for dark-skinned people of colour (usually African Americans but also sometimes Indians [from India, I mean]). It became largely associated with the kind of "darky" iconography. "Sambo characters" thus have exaggerated red lips, crazy hair, huge white eyes, are usually depicted as lazy and stupid. Sometimes eating watermelon. You get the idea. I'm not sure if Sambro Rd. has any affiliation with that, though.

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thegetupgirl July 19 2006, 04:00:54 UTC
I told you about the Sambo books I found at work right?

It's amazing how many more racist things I've found, and short of a shame that we have them all tucked away as to not provoke arguements.

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ageofscience July 19 2006, 16:31:17 UTC
You did! Didn't you say there was stuff other than books too? And what's ultimately going to happen to the books anyway? Do they just stay in storage forever?

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thegetupgirl July 19 2006, 20:37:41 UTC
There's tons of stuff: postcards, pins, so much Nazi prop.

We have so many books that it'll likely stay in storage forever, unless someone creates a special intrest project around it.

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nickdoro July 19 2006, 06:03:11 UTC
bug bunny cartoons--cultural artefacts submitted for your contemplation:

"Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips"

"All this and Rabbit Stew"I want these cultural artefacts around so we can all collectively agree that we're really happy we aren't at that point in history any more.
have you ever seen "apu" on the simpsons?

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a_clear_job July 19 2006, 17:25:19 UTC
have you ever seen "apu" on the simpsons?

good point. and for that matter, when it comes to contemporary cartoon iconography satirizing cultural differences, the simpsons has got nothing on family guy and drawn together. we haven't changed at all since the days of sambo. we just "cleverly" disguise our contempt as "satire", which for some reason legitimizes it in the eyes of the public-at-large.

i'll admit. i laugh hysterically at family guy. and then sometimes i shake my head in self-loathing, wondering why i thought that was so funny. where has this comical association conditioning come from???

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ageofscience July 19 2006, 17:43:39 UTC
I think part of the reason we laugh at those kinds of things is because do want to be past them. Laughing, and for a minute being able to forget that we aren't past it, in some ways seems like a relief, I guess. Not that that excuses it in any way.

But I do think you're right about this facade of satire when it really isn't that at all. It's just an easy way out so we don't actually have to do any of the hard work about thinking about what's still really fucked up and racist in the world today.

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a_clear_job July 20 2006, 17:03:39 UTC
yeah, i've often felt "embarrassed" by being so heartily amused at comedians who are obviously selling comedy that is based around hate or ignorance. even if their stance is one of obvious irony or sarcasm (i suppose this guilt stems back to the recognition of satire as a potential facade for bigotry). i laugh my ass off at guys like stephen colbert, laugh 'til there are tears rolling out my eyes. but i fear for the world that takes his bill o'riley-esque persona seriously!

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