Racism in Movies

Over the past couple of days in class we have been watching the movie Gran Torino; the story follows a grumpy old man who lives in a neighborhood that is no longer predominantly white and he is a very racist to his Mong neighbors. He uses the worst stereotypical phrases and terms when referring to these people it really make you drop your jaw at some of the things he says.

Also during the past couple of days before we began watching the film we have talked about Transformers 2 and the controversy that surrounds that as well. In that particular film there are two “black” robots that posses negative stereotypes of African-American people. Examples in the film are using slang words, being illiterate and one even having a gold tooth. Both movies posses’ traits of racism, Gran Torino being more blatantly open about it, but there are still there.

My questions are when is racism or negative stereotypes okay to be used in movies if ever? Also, Could Transformers been just as funny and mediocre if the two robots we not so negatively stereotyped and modeled after African-Americans? I think the answer is yes. I also think that racism or negative stereotypes are okay to be used in movies when it shows just how ridiculous racism is. I feel that is what makes Gran Torino unique and different is the way the story unfolds. Now I do not want to spoil the end of the movie for whoever is reading this right now but even though racist terms and remakes are throughout the movie over time you begin to see that racism and hatred is no longer the case. Another movie that comes to mind about racism and negative stereotypes is Boyz n The Hood and how all young black men want to be gang bangers. Race was used quite a bit throughout that movie and then in the end the message and moral to the story was to increase the peace.

These are the times where I feel racism and negative stereotypes are okay in movies. In the case of Transformers race had nothing to do with the story, there was no need or point to having it within the film, and I think that is why people get upset and offended when they see it. Films that revolve around race don’t come around very often and they have to be dealt with carefully, but normally they possess a strong message that is able to open people’s eyes and influence change. What is sad is that most movies have racism and negative stereotypes in them and they have nothing to do with the film, yet still they deem it necessary to have it in them and in the end I feel that is just morally wrong.

Related Link:

Was Transformers 2 Racist?

My Goal

So my dream and goal that I would like to be at in 20 years is a sports writer for the Dallas Morning News covering NBA basketball and the Dallas Mavericks. Now I am sure in 20 years that newspapers will be a thing of the past so whatever a journalist does (online things) that is what I want to be doing. I grew up playing basketball and I love the NBA over any sport in the world. I also want to cover the Dallas Mavericks because I am from Dallas so I am a home town kid. I would be close to all my family and I love Dallas it would be a great place to raise a family. In my personal life I hope to be happily married in 20 years to a hot wife and have a couple of kids.

In ten years I see myself still working up the ladder to become a solid journalist. By the time I am 32 I see myself working in the middle of the pack in the newsroom. Covering smaller sports such as high school and college basketball games. Honestly I do not see myself at the Dallas Morning News yet. I see myself working for a mid size organization, like the Fort Worth Star Telegram or something of that nature. By the time I am 32 I would like to be already married and have at least one of my two kids. I hope to make a solid wage so I can support my wife and we can live in a nice home in a nice neighborhood so we can begin to start to raise our children.

By this time next year I will have been graduated from OU for about six months. I really hope that the economy is better by then and that I have just gotten my foot in the door. I see myself doing one of two things, interning at a medium size organization which could possibly lead to a job or I could see myself writing for a small circulation paper cover local sports like middle school and high school type games. In my personal life I see myself back at home living with my parents for a while so I can save up enough money to get my own place.

This is my goal for the future. I really do hope it goes the way I picture it in my mind. Still everyday is a different and who knows what tomorrow holds for me. Hopefully my goal I have wanted all my life will come true... I will walk around the corner and trip and fall into a pile of money and not have to work a day for the rest of my life. Since I don't see that happening a my other dream as a sports writer will have to do.

When the Levees Broke

On today’s post I would like to talk about a film I watched today in class, it was called “When the Levees Broke.” It was a documentary shown on HBO about Hurricane Katrina and all aspects of it both positive and negative. I know on our syllabus the suggested theme today is diversity and the professions, but I really want to talk about the film because it sheds so much light on the matter and gives information to people who still have no clue about what was going on in New Orleans at that time.

I personally have family in New Orleans, and luckily none of them where heavily affected by the storm, they did have some water damages but they did not lose their homes thank goodness. My family was fortunate, however watching this video today and seeing people suffering they way they did and how there was not much help provided to them really puts me in a state of disbelief. I know this term has been overused but… this is the United States of America, you would think that if something happened to our people in our country help would be provided and nothing else would matter. That did not happen for Katrina, why? I really don’t know why, it amazes me along with many other people why help was not more responsive to the situation. A Tsunami disaster that takes place half way around the world, America is there within two days. For Katrina it took two weeks, that just does not make sense to me. Now I am sure there are circumstances that we as everyday citizens can’t understand, things such as who has the power in this situation? Who makes the final decisions on what’s going to happen? Etc. Still, personally I feel that when there is a situation, rather it be from weather or terrorist attacks or whatever, anything that threatens American lives on American soil that should be priority number one, everything else in the world can be put on hold to help our people, and I do not think I am out of line in saying that.

In the end this video really opened up my eyes today, it showed me parts of Katrina that I might never had known. Seeing this video really makes you think about a lot of things and it gets me kind of heated as you can tell from this post. It was an eye opening experience to say the least.

Related Links:

Wiki page dedicated to the delayed response, thats how poor it was

Picture of New Orleans under water after Katrina

Stereotypes in the media

I was reading comments that people made on blogs yesterday and one blog talked about how the media tends to focus on the stereotypical cheerleader, the blonde haired, skinny, spunky girl which many of us have built up in our minds as being the typical cheerleader. The author of the blog then questioned the media saying that because the media focuses on this image it affects younger girls who strive to become that image, a valid point. However, the first comment on the blog said, “Which came first, the stereotype? Or the media focus on that image?”

It really got me thinking, did I come up with these stereotypical images of people first and then the media just justifies my ideas? Or has the media put these stereotypical thoughts in my head and now I have these views and feelings? I think it could be both, I could have been raised and taught a certain way that might cause me to have a stereotype towards someone or something, but then I ask the question, where did my parents get those views? Was it the way there were raised or the media? In my personal opinion I feel that media has been such a big part of my entire life that it would have more of an impact on me when establishing stereotypes.

The media can pick and choose what type of people and what type of image they want to portray. They can also edit anything they say to make it sound how they want it to sound. Then as we, the viewer, watch these images and listen to what they say we form these stereotypes, and if we had a previous stereotype about someone or something it can just justify those ideas. We have talked about it many times before, the media affects our lives rather we are aware of it or completely oblivious to it. It is able to put images and thoughts in our head, which we then express in our lives. In the end I really feel that stereotypes are formed by the media and that when we see a certain image about someone or something over and over again we automatically think of these stereotypical thoughts. Then the next time we see someone who has similar characteristics of that image we immediately label them and stereotype them. It is a chain reaction that once it begins, there is really no stopping it. Of course, this is just my personal opinion.

Related Links:

Minorities portrayed in news

Look at the picture and then read the captions

Free Expression

"It’s a free country!" remember when you used to say that all the time as a kid when someone told you not to do something? In America we feel that we can do or say anything because we are the land of the free. We are allowed to freely express our emotions and views whenever we like, but I do not believe that is true.

I feel that freedom of expression is a touchy subject. We tell ourselves we have this God given right, the freedom to do what we want when we want, however in reality and in today's world that is not exactly true. People constantly have to watch their mouths and their actions so that they do not come under scrutiny by their family, friends, and peers. Examples of this are shown in the media when high profile figures say or do something that they feel they have the right to do when they really don’t. They make a comment about someone or something and it ends up offending many people and then they are immediately scrutinized for their actions.

In reality we cannot say nor do anything we want. Deep down inside we might feel a certain way about a certain subject, but we will never let those emotions out because of the fear of how people will then perceive us after we make those actions. It really makes you wonder about what freedom of expression means. How much can we freely express? I feel that it varies from subject to subject. Obviously nobody wants to hurt or offend anyone but if we have to bite our tongues from time to time then are we truly allowed to express ourselves the way we want to? The answer is no. There is always a line on how far someone can go before it becomes wrong. In the end free expression does not always mean we truly have the freedom to express our selves, instead we are only allowed to express ourselves to a certain extent.

Related Links:

Freedom of speech defined

Free Expression in the classroom

Male Cheerleading... Sorry not for me

During a class discussion on gender and the difference between boys and girls and how they are raised the subject came up about what if a boy wanted to be a cheerleader? Every guy in the room had the same feeling about male cheerleaders, it is girly and guys should not be a part of it. When I was in high school and saw male cheerleaders I thought that they were gay and that was that. Now that I have matured and met male cheerleaders in college, they actually are quite the ladies men. Sure there are some flamboyant male cheerleaders but there are also some really nice, down to earth, straight guys as well. I think male cheerleading is a personal choice, and no matter what cheerleading will still always be viewed as more of a female sport. Still, with that being said in the end there is nothing wrong with a male being a cheerleader. If you want to be one go for it, just be warned that many negative stereotypes will come along with it and you are just going to have to fight through it and get over it.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1685

http://gaylifestylemonthly.com/2008/jan/male-cheerleaders.html

Am I Privileged???

As a white middle class male living in America today I would have to say that I am privileged. I am privileged to be able to attend college, that my family is financially stable, that I have been raised in a good environment, but do I have white privilege? It might sound bad or wrong of me to say this but deep down I do feel that I do have some sort of white privilege. These are things that most of the time I take for granted unless I am made aware of my current situation, that happened to me today when watching "Pathology of Privilege" and listening to Tim Wise.

In listening to Wise and the multiple statistics he made when talking about what white privilege is I couldn't help but think back on my life and my experience when being white played in my favor. Now I just want to make clear that I do not feel that this is right, I do not feel I should be given the benefit of the doubt just because the color of my skin, but I cannot help but to think that at the end of the day in certain situations it did. If that is the case should I really be mad at myself or feel guilty? I really don't know how to answer that question to be honest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Xe1kX7Wsc

For example, today I went to best buy to look at phone cases, I walked in right behind a big African-American male looked to be about my age and possibly a football player judging by his huge stature and his OU apparel. The man at the door, who was a middle aged white male, who normally greets people by saying "Hi, welcome to best buy" did not say a word to the black male, however literally five seconds later he looks at me as I walk through the door and says "Hi, welcome to best buy can I help you with anything today." I actually smiled and laughed. I immediately thought of the video and couldn't help but to think to myself, "Wow, Wise is right." Now there could have been a thousand other reasons why the door greeter did not greet the black guy in front of me, but after today's lecture I could not help but think that it was a reason. With that being said, I do have white privilege rather I like it or not. It is just there and in many situations I will be seen in a different light based on the color of my skin. I guess I should be thankful, or consider myself lucky but I feel guilty in saying that, but should I be? Whatever the answer is I know that is some way shape or form I am privileged regardless of my skin and for that I am thankful and consider myself lucky.

http://trailerpark.blog.ca/2008/09/22/tim-wise-4763399/

Thoughts on Race in the Media

It would be a flat out lie to say that race is not portrayed in the media, it is not done on purpose but yet it is still there. When watching commercials, sporting events or the evening news it is very apparent. I feel however that in some situations race is so common on certain topics that we as viewers are used to seeing it and we have become oblivious to the situation. On the other hand, I also feel that it race is portrayed more in certain situation, it almost varies from topic to topic

I am a sports freak, I can watch any sport at anytime, and when I think of the best athletes in the world in major sports I tend to think of African-American athletes. In the basketball world I immediately think of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Michael Jordan. In golf I think of Tiger Woods, in the NFL I think of Randy Moss or my all time favorite player Emmit Smith. All of these athletes are African-American, but seeing them perform and hearing them being talked about on television and radio I do not even think about their race, I see them as the best players in their sport.

Then on the other hand you have our last presidential election. Barack Obama is our nation's first African-American president. When watching the inauguration many people made a point to make sure that he was our first black president like if we could not already tell. It seemed that people were making a very big deal about President Obama's race then his actual political views. This was a momentous occasion, but why did the media and many people decide to make it just about race?

http://www.gregpalast.com/vote-for-him-because-hes-black/

Comparing this to sports, Tiger Woods will most likely go down as the best golfer to ever live and that's it. Not Tiger Woods was the best African-American golfer to ever live; he is the best overall period. Woods is the only African-American player on the PGA Tour and no one makes a big deal about that. I feel that in the end the media seems to make race a bigger issue on certain topics than others. I would almost them rather make race a part of every story or just leave it alone completely. I know that is a big statement to make and not a very realistic one at that, but I feel that making someone's race a part of a story when there are so many other angles and views that can be taken it almost seems like they are settling when they can do so much more. Race has always been in the media and will always will be. It shapes our views and stereotypes rather if we notice it or are completely oblivious to it, it will always be present in media.

http://www.racewire.org/archives/2007/04/why_tiger_woods_is_the_only_bl.html