Archive for the ‘Pop culture’ Category

The Racial Politics of X-Men

“Fiction,” said Stephen King, “is the truth inside the lie.” He might have also mentioned that, for many, it is the only truth they get, at least about some issues. It’s no secret that popular fiction exerts a strong influence on how kids, adolescents, and the rest...

June 28th, 2011 | Culture, Pop culture, Talk About Race | Read More

On multivitamin: art as dietary supplement

Excerpt/Preview: —- “On Multivitamin: Art as Dietary Supplement.” Artist Talk w/ Evan Nabrit and (American) Ex-Patriots in Paris, FR. 2010. — Filmed: November 21st, 2010. — American Visual Artist, Evan Nabrit (b.1982) gives talk on recent collage work @ intimate gathering,...

April 21st, 2011 | Culture, European, Pop culture, The Arts | Read More

Did Kanye West create a Monster?

Let’s get one thing out of the way here at the top: I don’t listen to a lot of music or watch many music videos. I also don’t follow Kanye West’s career. Basically, though I sometimes listen to it, I really don’t know crap about rap. On the other hand, I do know a little...

January 13th, 2011 | Culture, Pop culture | Read More

Are Michelle Obama or Gabourey Sidibe our only role models?

On September 8, First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to New Orleans to participate in a game of flag football with some kids and even caught a pass. She has teamed up with the NFL’s Play 60 clinic, a program that promotes up to 60 minutes a day of exercise for children to curb obesity. NFL Commissioner...

September 15th, 2010 | Featured, Pop culture | Read More

“Should Black people stop using the N-Word?” Is there a word that’s even worse?

Let’s face it: YouTube rocks if you know what you’re searching for, but if you’re just clicking on random links, it’s usually a pretty disappointing experience. Except when it’s not! This particular YouTube video made my day. It has just 700 views. I wish it had 7 million. I’m...

September 14th, 2010 | Pop culture, Talk About Race | Read More

Racism in the elevator; misogyny in the video production room.

I just came across a video I’m pretty sure was intended as a statement of anti-racism. I’m also pretty sure its intention fails. More than that, I think it’s one huge step backwards. I hate writing anything critical of any attempt at anti-racism. It’s hard to put yourself...

July 15th, 2010 | African Americans, Culture, Featured, Pop culture, Talk About Race, Women | Read More

Joel Stein, we are not laughing: The South Asian legal community responds

Humor writer and journalist Joel Stein’s recent piece in Time Magazine, “My Own Private India,” has received a lot of well-deserved criticism. Indeed, one of the (only) good things to have come out of the fiasco of Stein receiving a public forum in which to express his “sense of loss and anomie”...

July 7th, 2010 | Pop culture, Talk About Race | Read More

Race is Sexy. Sex is Racy. Now “Get Lost”

Race is sexy. And sex is racy. Is it any wonder that our society seems fascinated, obsessed even, with their combination? Consider the latest photo shoot by Mikael Jansson titled Let’s Get Lost, in the current issue of Interview Magazine. The photos are edgy. They’re sexually charged,...

May 17th, 2010 | Culture, Pop culture | Read More