Just read about this and it made me think of our conversation earlier in the year. Additionally, there's some fun gender stuff here. :)
Hope finals are going well for everyone!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/us/hamtramck-high-holds-all-girl-prom.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
In Response to "A New Perspective"
So instead of making this just a comment to Sarah's post about having a new perspective...I thought I'd do a final big post. Taking this class has definitely raised my awareness about the various messages I receive from all of the existing media outlets we have now. Of course there are the things that are obvious, (sex, drugs, sex, powerful men, sex, the woman who is the sex kitten, and even more sex) but it goes a long way to really pay attention to the subliminal messages we are bombarded with daily. I must say that one of my favorite of the short films was the one Michael and Emily did, and it's because they did what has become one of my new favorites hobbies - analyzing TV. The fact that we got to do an entire analysis of something so mundane as movie trailers was definitely enjoyable. All the things that we found or that were pointed out weren't necessarily surprising but it just goes show how much is really hidden in things so commonplace and of low importance.
So the entire point of this post is to express my satisfaction with our semester in Feminist Philosophy. I have found a new appreciation for feminist and sex/gender issues, and feel more equipped to deal with them. I now have the experience and the terminology to articulate my feelings about these issues and those that are related. Walking into class the first day, I knew that I was going to dread every bit of this semester, but I have to admit that I have been pleasantly surprised. Who knew that out of all of this would emerge "Omolola, the Feminist"?!?!?! While I don't agree with certain issues or have a definite opinion on others, I would consider myself very much so under the broader feminist umbrella and fighting for some aspect of the feminist cause...believe me it's an interesting and eventful place to be. A big shout out to all of my fellow peers in this journey! It's been great!
So the entire point of this post is to express my satisfaction with our semester in Feminist Philosophy. I have found a new appreciation for feminist and sex/gender issues, and feel more equipped to deal with them. I now have the experience and the terminology to articulate my feelings about these issues and those that are related. Walking into class the first day, I knew that I was going to dread every bit of this semester, but I have to admit that I have been pleasantly surprised. Who knew that out of all of this would emerge "Omolola, the Feminist"?!?!?! While I don't agree with certain issues or have a definite opinion on others, I would consider myself very much so under the broader feminist umbrella and fighting for some aspect of the feminist cause...believe me it's an interesting and eventful place to be. A big shout out to all of my fellow peers in this journey! It's been great!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Stereotypes and art
I wanted to put up one last blog post, before the end of the year, seeing as how my participation hasn't been what it could have.
Maybe some of you have seen this already: the racist cake cut by the Swedish culture minister at the opening of an event for the Swedish Artists Federation. The cake was designed by artist Makode Aj Linde, who uses images of blackface in his work (as he says) to criticize ideas of black identity. The cake, made into the stereotypical, "blackface" image of an African woman, was supposed to be a commentary on gender mutilation in Africa. As the guests (including the culture minister) cut into the cake, Makode, who built himself into the piece as the African woman's "head," would scream.
From the video, it seems obvious that the attempt at commentary, or criticism, failed entirely. One can see the party's attendants in the video, smiling and laughing as the cake is cut. For them, it seems that the event is a riotous good time, and the cake, in the degrading image of the stereotyped African, was a jolly good joke. If this was the purpose of Makode's art, to reveal the complacency and racist attitudes of wealthy Westerners, then he was successful. But inasmuch as the artwork was intended to rise awareness of genital mutilation in Africa, to raise consciousness of its horrors and the suffering caused by the practice, it would seem that the work resoundingly failed.
The work brings up a number of questions pertinent to our course. One such question is who has the right to speak for those who suffer injustice. In the same vein: how can a man claim to speak on behalf of women? How can a comfortable Westerner claim to speak for those growing up and living in Africa?
Maybe some of you have seen this already: the racist cake cut by the Swedish culture minister at the opening of an event for the Swedish Artists Federation. The cake was designed by artist Makode Aj Linde, who uses images of blackface in his work (as he says) to criticize ideas of black identity. The cake, made into the stereotypical, "blackface" image of an African woman, was supposed to be a commentary on gender mutilation in Africa. As the guests (including the culture minister) cut into the cake, Makode, who built himself into the piece as the African woman's "head," would scream.
From the video, it seems obvious that the attempt at commentary, or criticism, failed entirely. One can see the party's attendants in the video, smiling and laughing as the cake is cut. For them, it seems that the event is a riotous good time, and the cake, in the degrading image of the stereotyped African, was a jolly good joke. If this was the purpose of Makode's art, to reveal the complacency and racist attitudes of wealthy Westerners, then he was successful. But inasmuch as the artwork was intended to rise awareness of genital mutilation in Africa, to raise consciousness of its horrors and the suffering caused by the practice, it would seem that the work resoundingly failed.
The work brings up a number of questions pertinent to our course. One such question is who has the right to speak for those who suffer injustice. In the same vein: how can a man claim to speak on behalf of women? How can a comfortable Westerner claim to speak for those growing up and living in Africa?
"Got Privilege?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p17GV5P3u2Q
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p17GV5P3u2Q
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Justice for Trayvon?
http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2012/apr/23/50/man-beaten-mob-critical-condition-ar-3659891/
just an interesting read given the whole trayvon situation. im surprised this isn't getting as much attention as some other things
Altering Ourselves
http://vimeo.com/37716468
Last Thursday we discussed the idea of altering one's body and if all forms of body alteration were the same. Beauty contests have paradigms for what sort of alteration is acceptable: makeup (in a particular way), hair alteration, particular outfits, diets, cosmetic surgery, etc. Dr. J brought up the idea of bodybuilding and working out and whether these are exponentially different from the alterations of beauty queens. The gut reaction seemed to be that no, working out was different than cosmetic surgery. But when looking at it for what it does simply in that people's bodies change, how different is it?
This video clip demonstrates how two artists have used their bodies as a material to sculpt and manipulate. They are not only trying to highlight the normative views of gender, but also just showing the capabilities of our bodies. This is a very interesting look at typical views of what men and women are. After watching today's video (with the typical answer being 'well... women have a vagina and men have a penis'), we can see in this video the different ideals held in society.
So, are all body alterations really just the same?
Last Thursday we discussed the idea of altering one's body and if all forms of body alteration were the same. Beauty contests have paradigms for what sort of alteration is acceptable: makeup (in a particular way), hair alteration, particular outfits, diets, cosmetic surgery, etc. Dr. J brought up the idea of bodybuilding and working out and whether these are exponentially different from the alterations of beauty queens. The gut reaction seemed to be that no, working out was different than cosmetic surgery. But when looking at it for what it does simply in that people's bodies change, how different is it?
This video clip demonstrates how two artists have used their bodies as a material to sculpt and manipulate. They are not only trying to highlight the normative views of gender, but also just showing the capabilities of our bodies. This is a very interesting look at typical views of what men and women are. After watching today's video (with the typical answer being 'well... women have a vagina and men have a penis'), we can see in this video the different ideals held in society.
So, are all body alterations really just the same?
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