The case of Hunger Games, excluding Lenny Kravitz ("Cinna")
"Hunger Games" was released March 23rd, 2012 and hit a big 152.5 million dollars at the box office.
Unfortunately, there has been an uproar on the racist tweets about the characters "Rue" and "Cinna" being black.
It is important to address this issue with the thoughts of racism, but also more specifically on the concept of belongingness, and what it means to assign individuals by race to belonging or not belonging in a certain place and time.
Think he should've started off this tweet with "KKK" instead? Fits the tweet doesn't it?
Most of the twitter users that were "mentioned" on Twitter by other users outraged by the racists tweets have deleted their accounts.
Rue
We are all aware of the anonymity of the internet and how this serves as a shield for people to act under prejudice, racism, sexism and so on. This is a prime example of "tweeting" behind this shield, but also an indicator of how much racism still exists. The blog post communicates the surprise that racism is prevalent in our current and younger generation, however, I don't believe this is news. We assume that the generations of our parents and grandparents are MORE racist and less understanding of difference than the current or younger generation.
As invisible as it may seem, it is certainly prevalent. This is an example.
First off, the 'What Goes Around' Video, that was different. Most of your videos are comedy and skits and this one wasn't, why is that?
MP: Basically, I thought of a series, just thinking and brainstorming. I wanted to do something serious, knew it had to do with love and romance. So I was thinking how I can start it off, and leave people confused. Read the comments on YouTube, people got confused...”
Yeah, I read the comments. People were like, “I don't get it” and “What's going to happen next?”
MP: It was perfect, they wanted more, and begged me to make episode two. I have 5 episodes, it will be a total episodes of 5. It was exactly what you were going for.
What about “Sh*t Toronto People Say”, was that following the trend that was going on on YouTube?
MP: Yeah, definitely. I noticed there was not Toronto one.
But when I planned to release it, some people in Toronto seemed to [have] planned to do it that same week.
Then Drake retweeted it and it blew up from there....
Yeah, he tweeted about it...Said something...
MP: He said something like, “I'm dying doggie LOL”... From there it was Sh*t Jamaican People Say.
There was another one out that someone did, but it was bad, So I had to represent. So I called Slynky. People wanted part 2 really bad, and I agreed. Sh*t Jamaican People Say Part 2... I did it because it [Part 1] didn't even cover all the material. And there are still more to do...
Ok, what about Jamaican Death Bed and who is the girl in that video? She was so funny...!
MP: I literally was watching this show and someone was in the deathbed. The family were saying their goodbyes. I was high [laughs] and I developed an idea for it. Someone else came up with the idea of the will though, at first I was just gonna roast them before I die.
The girl is my friend Savannah, I've known her for a long time.
I think she was perfect for the role [laughs]
MP: Yeah, she's going to be in more videos.
I saw some older videos too, and “Look Your Worst Challenge”? Where did that come from?
MP: That was literally how we start making videos. After that one, people were like “Hey, you guys should do more” and all that. There are these two girls that do a make-up tutorial on YouTube and people love it--- Angie's Choice?--- and we did our own video, used our friends' make up. We didn't know what mascara was and the video, it was all natural and improvised because we didn't know how to put on make up or anything about it.
I can hear some girl's voices in the video, was that your friends it looked like they was handing you make up.
MP: Yeah, it was their make up [laughs]
Moving on from that one, there is the “Wray and Nephew Challenge”? That was so nasty [laughs] how was that? Everyone has to take a shot without making a face?
MP: Yeah, we got tons of responses off of YouTube with that, people were going in.
Isn't it like 60% or something...
MP: Yeah [laughs]
Any success stories?
MP: Yeah, some people were able to do it. It's not too too bad, nothing like the Cinnamon Challenge.
What's the Cinnamon Challenge?
MP: You've never heard of the Cinnamon Challenge?!
No... [laughs]
MP: You have to take a spoonful of cinnamon and try to eat it, it's impossible, it soaks up any-- like put cinnamon in water, it will kill it... So when you eat [a spoonful of] cinnamon all you see it POOF! People coughing it out.
Oh cuz you're inhaling and it's all...
MP: Yeah, it's crazy.
Marlon pulled up some videos on YouTube on the Cinnamon Challege and the Wray and Nephew Challenge and told me about the ones he thought were good, right in the middle of the interview, so that I get an idea of what he's talking about. A stand up guy.
Geraldo Rivera provides an alternative explanation for racial profiling and discrimination, and some parenting advice. Hoodies.
I own a few hoodies, but I guess if I go with Rivera's comments, I'm not subject to being shot because I'm not black? Rivera states, "I am urging the parents of black and latino youngsters particularly not to let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as much as George Zimmerman was..."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW...?
First of all, Rivera says the hoodie is just as responsible as Zimmerman because the hoodie is associated with violence, criminal and gang related activities and so on.
Let's be real. Were black people tortured, lynched, burned, killed and enslaved because they wore hoodies?
I swear it was because of hegemony, power-based violence, racism, discrimination, prejudice... need I go on?
I understand partially of what Rivera is saying. I mean, many people may look at a black or latino man with a hoodie and get feelings of suspicion. But IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE HOODIE.
Geraldo is not only classifying the hoodie as the reason for violence, but he also shows WHO wears the hoodie that is dangerous. Let's face it, if I was wearing one, I wouldn't be subject to Zimmerman targeting me. It is about who is wearing it--- a black or latino male.
Doesn't this sound a lot like subjecting someone to hate crimes and tortures because they wear a burqa or a turbin because in ignorant people's minds, they're apparently associated with 9/11?
Doesn't this sound a lot like the Toronto Police Officer who held a presentation at York University claiming that if women didn't want to get raped, they should stop dressing like sluts?
Why is it that people dressing a certain way subjects them to violence and discrimination and why should people stop dressing the way they want because people like Zimmerman are narrow-minded and ignorant?
Why should we change the way we dress, speak, walk, and LIVE to the likeness of people like Zimmerman?
Is Rivera saying that if Martin was wearing a dress shirt that he wouldn't have been shot? What if he was wearing a dress shirt and holding a knife versus a hoodie and holding a pack of Skittles?
Hoodies aren't representative of criminals, hoodies are representative of the ignorant minds that believe all hoodie-wearing black and latino teens are criminals. Ignorant minds including Geraldo Rivera.
Blaming the hoodie takes blame away from people like Zimmerman... the trigger-happy, power tripping, cop wannabe.
It is also an issue of who belongs where. Perhaps Zimmerman believed Martin didn't belong in his community. In addition, it is that Zimmerman felt the threat of black masculinity, and classified black men as a danger to his own.
Geraldo Rivera claimed that after he made those comments, his own son told him he was ashamed of him and his comments. If the media outrage wasn't a clue, perhaps your own son being ashamed of you is.
Geraldo is saying "don't let your children wear hoodies", instead of saying, "don't be racist".
There is a big difference.
WE DONT NEED TO CHANGE OUR CLOTHES WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK
The Canadian Government apologized for residential schools.
The stereotypes still exists.
Colonialism hasn't been eliminated, it still exists through new forms:
The foolish actions of a teacher in Wisconsin toward an Aboriginal student early March 2012, proves that it still exists...
_________
Miranda Washinawatok, 12-- Wisconsin
Miranda Washinawatok, a 7th grader, at Sacred Heart High School, was banned from playing in her high school basketball game after her teacher overheard her teaching fellow students how to say "please", "hello" and "thank you" in her Menominee language.
Julie Gurta, Washinawatok's teacher, reacted angrily and punished the student. The same story in history of residential schools--- denying Aboriginal people the right to speak their own language, have faith in their own belief, to live their own lives.
Gurta, of Polish decent, believed that the student was saying "bad words". The question isn't what bad words was the student teaching her peers, but why did Gurta assume it was bad?
Aboriginal heritage has been seen (historically) as uncivilized, "bad", and in direct opposition or threat to Christianity and whiteness.
Gurta reacting in this manner is based on assimilation ideologies, and makes visible the ideas of who belongs and who doesn't. The same ideologies that was the basis for Whites that forced Aboriginal children from their homes and families and into residential schools. Their heritage was forced denounced, language forgotten and anyone deviating from this was physically and psychologically punished.
Although the school board seems apologetic, Julie Gurta has yet to accept any blame.
Ohio: Club Promoters decide to take the trending topic to the clubs
Discrimination and privilege isn't manifested between races, but within races as well. Think of your own race, and think of the hierarchies within your race based on skin tone, citizenship, "authenticity"...
You don't have to be black to relate to what I am saying in this post. Competition exists WITHIN races, WITHIN genders, WITHIN any social marker. But blackness is used as an example due to the recent events mentioned.....
If you're on Twitter, you've heard of the hashtag/trending topic #TeamLightSkinned and #TeamDarkSkinned. Although Twitter is known for its humourous trending topics, there is a far more cultural, political and historical context to the skin tones of the black community that makes it offensive. It is worse when this is taken beyond Twitter, and into the real lives of real black people.
Behind the anonymity of Twitter and other social networking sites, people will tweet anything, without the fear of getting caught, without personal responsibility and without the concern that their tweets reflect on their own self-worth.
Aside from the controversy from the event pictured above in Ohio, there was another one last month:
Black women labelled light or dark skinned were put into competition. How is this judged exactly? ... Are black women who are light seen as more attractive so they may win the competition? How black women who are dark skinned seen as more "authentic" so that is their chance?
How do you even bring yourself to rate black women based on their skin tones. Do black women not have more value than this?--- Where is the respect?
How you define your identity is not just through how you view yourself. It is a reflection of others, practices, institutions etc. If you are black and you took part in this trending topic on Twitter, how do you identify your blackness?
During the slavery days, "mullattos" were given more privileges for having a skin one "closer" to Whites. Perhaps slavery is over... but isn't it clear that racial privilege a race still exists?
Have you ever been asked, "WHAT ARE YOU?" as a conversation starter on your identity?
Jay Smooth ( real name John Randolph) is the founder of New York's hip hop program Underground Railroad. He addresses the conflicts of his identity of a "mixed race" and how this, in turn, impacted his life. He shares his story about what it is like to grow up with this type of identity--- yet I think we can all somewhat identify with "WHAT ARE YOU?" type of questions, even if we aren't of a mixed race.
Back in October, 2011, I posted a link to this video, "Toronto Tempo", by videographer and visual artist, Ryan Emond. Take a look, if you haven't already... His work is amazing.
For more on Emond, you can click for his Vimeo account here
Look out for posts on Street Art & Graffiti next week!
Standing in the midst of the riot. He's so cool. :S
Happy belated St. Patrick's day everyone... What did you do?
I hope you weren't taking part in the riots of London, Ontario? *sigh*... It seems that alcohol mixed with deindividuation has resulted in thousands of dollars in damages in London this St. Patrick's day. Deindividuation is what occurs in riots and when a crime occurs in front of a large group of people. Not one person feels individual responsibility to speak out, take action, rescue etc.
News reports say that 13 Fanshawe College students -- 7 of them suspended-- have been arrested. A CTV News van was flipped and torched. A coworker of mind wasn't near the riot, but was at a house party that consisted of a few attendees walking on top of houses---- what?
I'm not sure if I would blame only the Fanshawe students, it can't be that no other individuals took part. However, the president of the College promises that if those students are found guilty, they will be expelled.
This riot isn't political, for example, like the Stonewall Riots of 1969 that started the movement for LGBT individuals.
This event is an example of what NOT to do... EVER. But what is REALLY a kicker in this is that the people who took part in the riots WERE DUMB ENOUGH TO TWEET ABOUT IT AND POST IT ON THEIR STATUS ON FACEBOOK.
Take for example, Brenden Dowden. He seems to have some smart friends that don't enable his behaviour. ... He doesn't seem to be too bright.
The poster reads, "KONY 2012... One thing we can all agree on"... What ONE thing and who are WE, really? It seems that from the criticism, "WE" apparently doesn't include Ugandans.
Ugandans are NOT HAPPY with the video that is intended to make Kony famous, visible. The idea is perfect... because to find a solution to a problem... the problem has to be visible. But something isn't right.
On March 13th, 2012, Ugandan's watched the screening of "Kony 2012" in Lira.
The video was seen as insulting and as an inaccurately portrayal of the victims--- a reaction from a region once terrorized by Kony. The video, by film maker Jason Russell of Invisible Children has been viewed approximately 80 million times on YouTube, and it has fulfilled (partially) the goal of making Kony famous. However, the video seems to draw criticism that the video was very much insensitive to Ugandans.
The people of the "developed" countries often have the well-intentions of helping those in need, while calling themselves "first world" countries, and places that are "underdeveloped" as "third world". This actually is what a lot of theorists and researchers call "othering". There is a clear classification of who is dominant, and who is "otherated". In this case, it seems that the organization, Invisible Children, are guilty of "othering" the people of Uganda...
Invisible Children is also causing a stir in the spotlight of the media for never being audited, spending million in media production and only a small portion of the funds to actually help children and youth. Although there is much room to speculate the real workings of such organizations, there is much more room to snoop around and try and get the real story.
Organizations often sell emotions to attract donations--- often having people ask...where is the money really going? They sell sympathy/empathy, guilt, happiness, unconditional love, romantic love etc. That's business.
And if Invisible Children inaccurately portrayed Ugandans and the real story is lost somewhere... What kind of activism is everyone taking part in? This could all be a hoax--- the Ugandan government insists that Russell's portrayal is false... however, when governments take part in anything, do we really know what is true and false? Conspiracy theory?
In addition, Russell was apparently found ranting and running naked in the streets of San Diego, cursing and saying some rubbish about the devil. We could speculate that since April 20th is drawing near, this is a stunt. ... But then again, some people have come to the conclusion that the mastermind behind the film has just plain gone crazy.
My concern with all this is... where is the ethnography? Where is the reflexive thinking? The film included one young Ugandan boy that experienced seeing the actual murder of his brother by the power of Kony. Yet, this isn't ethnography. This isn't the voice of Ugandans.. It is filled with bias, and the residual specks of the dominant American view. This isn't ethnography, but ethnocentric.
Without ethnographic research, how are we to ever count out the biases of an American, or a Canadian... someone who hold the privilege of citizenship, among many others?
"...My mind--- the way it works--- I'm analyzing in the back of my mind
of how it can become a video"
If you have access to YouTube, you know about the rising star, Marlon Palmer. He's kind of a big deal.
So far, he has shown you what a man looks like in a wig purchased at Keele and Sheppard, how to lick your hoodie after the awful taste of Wray & Nephew and how NOT to put on mascara-- all guaranteed to make you laugh.
More importantly, Marlon has shown you how to identify your resources, utilize your talents and share it with the world--- all while having a few laughs. Toronto couldn't be more proud.
Palmer is not just a 23 year old from Toronto trying to make it. To the youths of Toronto and nation wide, including his close friends, he is an inspiration.
Who is this guy?
I found Palmer in his apartment addictively consumed by the drama filled “Breaking Bad”. With his Nintendo 64 by the TV and his Macbook and Black Berry close by, Palmer was planning for the upcoming Windsor Sports Weekend. Palmer and close (and absolutely hilarious) friend, Slynky hosted the event alongside Legacy Sound. You can see his promo video here.
Growing up mostly in the GTA area, Palmer is “dead middle” of about ten siblings and from Jamaican decent. He was inspired by Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and Jamie Foxx, just to name a few. He admires Will Smith for his versatility. What is evident here is that Palmer is versatile as well. He has developed a couple of characters such as “Marleesha” (my favourite) and “Donovan McGarland”. Palmer stated that he knew they were REAL characters when people referred to them as Marleesha and Donovan, not as “Marlon playing Marleesha” or “Marlon as Donovan”. When a character is referred to as an actually individual instead of an extension of the actor, it is a real character--- did you know that? I didn't, but it make so much sense.
His YouTube productions are inclusive of his close friends who actually all contribute in different ways whether through editing, recording, construction of ideas etc., showing not only support for his aspirations, but a drive for their goals as a group. His friends don't all necessarily have to have experience in being a part of sixteen plays as Palmer has, nor do they have to be graduates of Juliard. Palmer insists that it is based on their natural talents, “They won't necessarily have to be acting, like Slynky---that's natural--- it's natural for him, he's just like that all the time”. Palmer shared that the skits are actually NOT scripted (insert surprised face here), as I initially assumed. The videos are actually improvised, which really shows the extension of his talents and the talents of his castmates.
Marlon Palmer, Andrew Lewis, Laith Hakeem
"Friends With Benefits"
Furthermore, Palmer shares how he develops an idea, and how to combine the natural talents of the cast with a little motivation and a big step away from the biased point of view,“Lately, something will happen or someone will say something, and my mind--- the way it works--- I'm analyzing in the back of my mind of how it can become a video. Then I write it down quickly. Later on I think of ideas for it".
His Resume
In addition to his experiences as a performer in the past, Palmer has developed a talent for making people laugh with his creativity and vigilance of the workings of Toronto and its people.
In 2009, Palmer tried out for the Much Music VJ Search, a reality television contest held by Much Music with a number of selected candidates to compete for the title of the next Much Music VJ. Intially, Palmer's friend, Laith Hakeem, auditioned and encouraged him to as well, “Laith auditioned first, he convinced me to do it. I auditioned and they gave us a call”. Hakeem and Palmer made it to the final four, however, Liz Trinnear won the competition.
It was during my research of Palmer's audition for the VJ Search that I learned he did an educational video on women and violence. Considering the interests of the blog being social justice and equality, I asked the story behind this. He had done the video,"Zero Tolerance" as a part of a challege during the VJ search, “During the VJ search, in 2009, did the video. There was a challenge where we had to speak out on a topic of our choice. Pick an organization representing the topic of our choice. I picked a Women's Awareness group [Canadian Women's Foundation] and picked Violence Against Women as my topic, raising money and awareness for the cause”.
Marlon Palmer's Video on Violence Against
Women-- Canadian Women's Foundation (2009)
In 2012, Marlon Palmer auditioned for Karmaloop TV and came in second place.
What's next for Marlon Palmer?:
You can find Palmer brainstorming for his next moves. On a daily, Palmer thinks of ideas for his next skit, and distributing an the remainder of his anticipated series, “What Goes Around”.
And my favourite news, Palmer has decided to extend the character of Marleesha to have her own skits. I'm looking forward to this...
Aside from acting, Palmer plans to continue in marketing and promotions, “I want to do creative advertising and marketing. I think I'm pretty creative. I enjoy seeing what I can come up with, I always like a challenge”.
Palmer has future plans on spreading the word on the power of social media, along his productions of comedic YouTube videos, “I'm going to be talking to a class next month about social media and how it influences society... Especially with KONY 2012, this is a prime example of how powerful social media is. People think that it is because of the videos that I am popular, but there is a formula”. He has a string of new videos to upload, most recently “Marlon's Intro” featuring Toronto artist Ron Dias, as a promotion for Dias' upcoming self-titled EP releasing on April 24th of this year. Dias developed the idea for the video and showed Marlon the “rap mode” as an appreciation and as a response to Palmer's inspiring words for Dias to craft his music.
See? Told you he's an inspiration.
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Coming up this week, Marlon shares with me the background stories of some of my favourite videos.
I was able to meet with Madiha and Samia Mirza once again (almost a year anniversary from our first interview!) and chat with them about their progress throughout 2011, and their plans for 2012.
Their Spring Line is out, featuring a colourful collection, available for sale at their online shop.
They've expanded their business with access to the products at local shops such as "Come Get Customized" and "Ephin Apparel" in Toronto recently. With their attendance at various events in the city such as Manifesto and Distillary Art Market, the two entrepreneurs have more plans this Summer to get your heart beating for Toronto.
Madiha puttin' in work :P
Their "Big Beat" collection has made about 90% of the orders at Ephin Apparel. With plans to hopefully take part in Pride, Jazz Festival, Festival on Bloor and Caribana, who knows how many other tees and tanks will be added to the collection--- and to my closet?
Heart Beats TO: Spring 2012 Collection
Throughout 2011, HBTO did a lot of vending and networking, not to mention experiencing trial and errors in trying to figure out the demographics of their label. This summer, they plan to be more specialized, as Samia says, "A lot of Toronto brands are associated with music, we like that too. But we want to do different things, not just restrict ourselves to one thing, or a genre of one thing".
They visualize the expansion of their business into teaming up with organizations like United Way, and sponsoring such agencies where proceeds will go towards a cause. (Thumbs up from me!)
They have also reached out to local talents such as Marlon Palmer. They spoke highly of the aspiring actor of Toronto, "We have always tried to get Toronto people in our clothes... We noticed he wore a lot of different brands in his videos. He wore ours after we messaged him about it. He actually did what he said he would and kept in touch. There are people that don't do that, but he did. After he tweeted about it, we got 100 hits on the site immediately of the hoodie. The day he posted the video, we got 600 hits and orders of what him and Laith were wearing in the video". Clearly, the testimonial... (or endorsement?) helped! A kind gesture from a fellow Torontonian.
I asked an important question, in light of the great amounts of exposure they were receiving... Are they worried about becoming too commercial?
Nope.
Making the brand more appealing or distributing different collections is one thing, but Madiha says, "We don't want to change our brand and make it all flashy just for the sake of selling". Loyalty.
------
Catch HBTO this summer at some of Toronto's anticipated annual events. Don't forget to check out their Spring collection!
I'm all for reading books to children, but why is it that it is SO categorized by gender. You go to a baby shower and if the parents are having a girl, everything is PINK PINK PINK. Pink lace, pink ribbons, pink icing, pink booties with pink roses and pink birds. What kind of bird is pink?
The picture above caught my attention especially after my shift at the daycare. My energetic preschoolers tends to interact with other children regardless of the gendered activities. Girls play with toy cars and trucks and boys play dress up and with dolls. We allow it, because it is wrong not to. If a child wants to venture off, why not? Who are we to limit their imaginations and their learning by imposing our socially unequal, prejudicial and simplified NORMS?
The problem is that the issue is black and white (or blue and pink?). It is a dichotomous structure of one or the other. Binary thinking prohibits any grey area, any ambiguous sections and assigns no space for anyone or anything that falls in the middle somewhere. It excludes, then, mixed raced individuals, bisexual/transgendered/transexual individuals, single parents, interracial marriages etc. Then, it excludes children that want to take part in activities and even reading books that is not assigned for their gender.
Using books, children are taught early on (in addition to the teaching of parents, teachers and caregivers), that they belong in a specific category. Unlike our preschool room, there are certain children that are taught that in an environment, you must perform your gender accordingly. Those that deviate from this are often punished through shame and ridicule.
Sad how our world is pink and blue.... With those damn pink birds.
