The things that come to mind at five am

[conspiratorsb]

I know this journal is entitled The Things that Come to Mind at Two AM but today, you get one that comes to mind at five am. Courtesy of the dogs who woke me up at 4:30 am to be let out. So I was lying here in bed trying not to think of anything and my mind began to wander, as it often does

Comments

[indykat001]

*nods* I've often thought that the people who write up characters like that don't actually have or interact with children/teens and are too old to remember how it felt to be talked down to - and so they think these characters are the only ones kids will relate to, since they aren't as sophisticated as they are. Or that they figure that the studio producers are like that, and the only way to get their shows out is to include these characters, for salability (hope its more this than the former

[conspiratorsb]

I find myself nodding an awful lot at your response. I think you have valid points. I loved TMNT because it was fun action and I was a tomboy who did NOT watch shows like My Little Pony on general principle. I also respected Splinter's wisdom and adored Donatello's science-geekiness

[plumapen]

Surprise, I'm going to agree with e film studies academics from the article! I took a class on pop culture and education so this is why I'm agreeing, btw. Overt racism is easy to spot, but subtle racism isn't because it comes in small bits and, well, isn't overt. It comes in subtle things, like cars that are supposed to be 'wannabe gangster'--well, what does that mean exactly? And if you slip it in, albeit perhaps unconsciously on the part of the movie ppl, you perpetuate the idea that a stereotype is ok b/c it's subtle--it's just a car, or just an animated character, or just a [....]. It's that "just a" that rationalizes it and continues the complex history of racial stereotypes in the media. If we were to plunk the Transformers cars next to some of the African-American "slapstick" characters from the 30s, 40s, or 50s, I think a lot of ppl would be surprised at how little has changed "to achieve comic effect or relief" by using some pretty degrading material. That the actors don't find anything wrong with it speaks to the

[conspiratorsb]

More nodding. I do understand and agree with what you are saying and I agree with the film study academics about the subtle and insipid nature of racism in pop culture. It is there and it perpetuates. But I also wonder if people are more likely to see racism if they are actually looking for it, perhaps to the point where they are seeing racism that others would say didn't exist. Do the people that see it want to see it whereas the people who don't see it don't want to see it? How much racism is perceived just because we (not you and me 'we', generalized society 'we') want to find it? I'm pretty sure that if someone tries hard enough they can be offended by anything

[conspiratorsb]

Adding to this, just to be clear, I did NOT see the twins as ganster wannabes. I was actually surprised to learn that THAT was the 'effect' they were going for. I also had no idea they were 'Jive talking.'

Hmmm.... I wonder if I had NOT grown up in Utah if I would have seen them differently.

[conspiratorsb]

OH wait! This is an interesting aside. What about "gay" characters? Like those two rhinos in ice age?

.... If we respected 'jive talking' as a positive personality trait, would it be a negative stereotype? If minstrel shows had not relied on racism for laughs, would we have had blaxploitation films? What part does white man's burden play in Mudflap and Skids' inability to read?

Inquiring minds want to know!!