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Hat tip to Angry Asian Man. “Ms. Kee worries about a different kind of disconnect: a divide between the explosive growth of Chinese-American wealth and the unmet needs of a new generation of Chinese immigrants who have streamed to the city since the 1990s
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“Tuskegee was just part of a pattern of experimental abuse, one of many shameful chapters in what Harriet A. Washington calls “the long, unhappy history of medical research with black Americans.”
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Another Hawaii-based show that only has white people in it. “Some Maui residents are objecting to the latest MTV reality show, Maui Fever, saying its sexual content and all-white cast gives viewers a skewed impression of their island.”
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Thanks Takara and Rachel! “I would argue that blackness — or, more accurately, “blackness” — is determined not by whether one is descended from slaves, but the degree to which one sees one’s identity as determined by one’s race.”
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“Despite having elected their first Black governor, a majority of Massachusetts residents rate race relations in the state as “fair” or “poor,” according to a new survey conducted by the University of Massachusetts-Boston’s John D. McCormack Gra
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“Director Ed Zwick, a repeat…offender, has made it his bread and butter – he has directed Glory, The Last Samurai, and Blood Diamond, all films based on the condescending premise that the natives, the savage other, need the white man to figure things
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Thanks Rob! “But Islam — something of a third rail of comedy throughout the Western world — did not make the list, which is one reason the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s new situation comedy, “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” is attracting su
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Thanks Kyla! “A man suspected in the death of a Hmong hunter found earlier this month in a wildlife refuge has been charged with murder, according to court records Tuesday.”
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Thanks Rob! “With closing arguments set to begin today, the case against 10 Long Beach youths accused of beating three white women Halloween night hinges almost entirely on identifications made in a Ralphs parking lot the night of the attack.”
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“Excitement is spreading among Democratic Party activists that Obama might have a shot at winning the White House, but black opinion leaders are still sizing him up — and some are already expressing greater kinship with other candidates.”
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Thanks Jen! “Cosmetic surgery is no longer just for white women. Now record numbers of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Hispanics are lining up for a nip here, a tuck there. Are they chasing a Caucasian ideal of beauty? Or are they aiming for racia
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
bertie wrote:
on the whitewashing article–its not that complicated, Leo in Blood Diamonds, Hillary in Freedom Writers, even ol’ School Michelle Phfier in Dangerous Minds, represents the target movie audience—white middle class viewers in suburban theaters. The actors are essentially “stand-ins” or “tour guide” for the audience and help guide them into the mysterious realm of non-whites. Is it condescending-Yes. Is it smart business–Yes again.
Just look how “Catch a Fire” with Derek Luke fared. This was a pretty good, inspirational movie about a black South African’s fight against Apartheid. But without a white Hero there was no audience. In fact, the main white lead, Tim Robbins, was the villian–and what white person wants to go to a movie basically “indicting” white folks for apartheid. They might actaully have to esplore whether they would have been complicit with such a regime had they been there–or examine have they benefited from the Jim Crow apartheid practiced the US in the South. And that’s such a bummer.
Posted 24 Jan 2007 at 12:21 pm ¶
ren wrote:
Nothing sends chills of embarrassment down my spine than the obligatory minority-whining articles that papers like to pick up and run. There always so well written and never gives the impression that minorities are knee-jerk reactive idiots. Maui residents are objecting that this show gives a skewed impression of the island. Skewed as in like the way it portrays itself as an exotic fantasy land and ignores the fact that the indigenous people are poverty stricken and a minority on their own island? Cheer up, it seems they can be exploited more.
When the creator of the show admits that the criteria for casting was the willingness to be intimate in front of a camera for a national audience, you’re safe to assume this isn’t “quality” programming. I’m sure drinking, fighting, partying, and banging women are just the things that would turn off an individual who wastes their time watching MTV network and Maui Fever in particular. The problem is the lack of cohesiveness in the mix of complaints. I don’t see the issue with Mr. Ugale’s complaint:
“I don’t want (tourists) to come to Maui and think that people are going to come up to their daughters, so ‘I better keep them away,’”
Chances are if you’re parents… and you’re watching a show called Maui Fever and you have daughters that are old enough to be hit on… you need some major parent-counseling sessions. Secondly, the participants are white guys not minorities, people are complaining about this issue but hey, consider yourself safe from the negative representation. They couldn’t find any minorities to be on the show… be proud of that. Third you would have to actually prove that any tourist these idiots in the show hit on actually believes these guys “represent” Maui. How do you know they don’t think their just frat-boy tourists from the mainland, or worse Canadians? The fact that they represent MTV pretty much absolves the residents of Maui from blame. Third, the individuals participating in this show I assume aren’t even native residents of Maui since the article stated none were born on Maui. I could be wrong. It’s not clear since many of the people who claim residency in Hawaii weren’t born there.
Have to love Shibao feeling insulted because all they show is partying and ignore the vibrant civic responsibility and sense of community of the residents. Remember that series on MTV exploring the Life and Times of Thomas Hardy during his Wessex years? Neither do I. I think because we’re talking about MTV, the same network that promoted Beavis & Butthead as the voice of our generation and Jackass as resonating with its demographic. You’re lodging the wrong complaints. Complaining that MTV is a stupid f-n network, this we all know, it’s practically inscribed in small legal print as the 11th commandment.
They claim the show fails to represent the ethnic and cultural makeup of Maui, very true and yet wrong. That’s not the intent of the show so it’s not failing at anything. Their goal is to show young white people living it up in Maui. It’s nothing but an exotic and I quote “spicy” backdrop. This is not a cultural exploration of Maui on the History Channel. I’m not sure why you’re offended by that, that’s how Hawaii markets itself to the world. Of the six million tourists who come to Hawaii for a good time, few probably come to ruminate on the vast multi-cultural climate of Maui, unless it’s to hook-up with them. 33% of the Island is white, 22% is mixed (which is left benignly ambiguous as to which races constitute the majority of the mixing). Tourism is a major industry, such that you’ve let productions come in to exploit the vacation-paradise image that Hawaii itself reinforces.
This isn’t some morally offensive issue and defaming one’s character.
“(The show) is a really good idea, but these people aren’t from here,” said Kim Cabanilla.
Not only are your complaints being shot down by another native, their actually complaining about not having residents portray the idiocy this show strives for. Now this is something to complain about. I did take some offense at the idea that some of the “supporting characters” are non-white remark. Should we assume they’ll be required to jump on the live grenade when it gets tossed in the foxhole to sacrifice for the white lead? Hawaii is willingly playing the supporting character, not as an individual but as the setting for all this nonsense. Hawaii is a beautiful country, a tourist wonderland, but how do you pull the people that cater to these tourists out from the periphery? There is nothing Hawaii can really do because that’s the image it wants to portray. At least that’s what’s suggested by Donne Dawson’s idiot reply.
For anyone who has ever applied for a film permit, knows well, that State Film Commissioner Donne Dawson is either lying or a part-time actor playing the role of a State Film Commissioner (unsuccessfully). There is absolutely no way you can be unaware of the show’s details when the Producer has to pitch you the idea. The whole point of having the State Film Commission is to be fully aware of everything that pertains to a production that incorporates a public space. Permits require a pre-production meeting, review of the script material, breakdowns, shooting schedules, production schedules, all of this is reviewed. You have to give detailed explanation of what “activities” will be occurring in specific locations. No film board would set themselves up for a liability if the OK’d a film shoot that decides to use pyrotechnics and it burns down a building or hurts pedestrians in a public place while holding a permit issued by the State. Watch them get sued and Dawson’s defense is, “well I’m only the State Film Commissioner, I’m unaware of the show’s details.” Bravo. And to think you’d know the details since every film permit requires a production’s proof of insurance especially for a cast that will engage in stupid idiotic content so prevalent in MTV programming.
Now, I do agree that film permits can’t be denied based on content, especially if the denial rises from some personal bias. However, to say you as a State Film Commissioner have no say in what is allowed in terms of a production is pure nonsense. Maui reserves the right to add requirements for the attainment of a film permit based solely this productions application… this is not some concrete law that applies across the board. They CAN deny based on content, if they can prove that the production puts the public at harm (think of content that would exempt it from first amendment protection like hate speech that purposely seeks to instigates violence). The problem with that is the burden of proving it. That’s why it’s near impossible to get a book banned for libel, defamation, hate speech, because you have to prove intent and have empirical evidence to back it. That would be insanity. How would you ever prove this show demeans the residents of Maui? Hawaii has issues, but I don’t think they revolve around how stupid MTV is.
Posted 24 Jan 2007 at 12:34 pm ¶
Steve wrote:
I love Little House on the Prairies.
The white people living in Saskatchewan are so stupid.
It is really fun seeing these sub-humans being ridiculed.
Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 3:38 am ¶
Steve wrote:
I mean little Mosque.
Sorry for behaving like an Saskatchewan.
Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 3:39 am ¶