Okay, I may be over-dosed on cough drops and saline washes but something is kind of bugging me.
I'm not sure if it's a mood thing, a blah-induced kind of thinking or a real issue. Maybe you can help.
I've spent three days sucking up movies and television and there is one commercial that has got my jaw a little tight.
The lack of nominations of actors-of-color is a big deal in the media of late. We have cops vs minority stuff going on, some of it real and some of it hyped. (Yay for the legal action being taken against law enforcement in Ferguson).
There is a whole bunch of "those-guys versus us-guys" going on in the Republican debates, the media, blogs, and Hollywood.
The ad that is bugging me is a commercial for a program called the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards.
Now pull your bundled undies out of your butt, I don't mean this in a prejudiced way. I am a Latino woman with Native American blood.. I clearly don't see Latinos, Native Americans, or for that matter, Women, represented proportionately. I also see the portrayal of minorities in pretty stereotypical light on a regular basis.
It's not fair! I don't think that the constitution listed 'Fair' as an unalienable right. My dad told me the world isn't fair when I was 3, as your fathers' probably informed you. It is getting better but it still ain't-fair!
My father also taught me that if you don't like the game being played down the street, stop going down the street! Stop attending the Academy Awards show, stop telling the media 'who' you are wearing. If you want to be taken serious as an actor, then when asked who you are wearing, walk away. Answer only the important questions.
I don't understand, why on a network, owned by a woman; in a show produced by a woman; in a show hosted by a woman for women; why isn't this a program called Women in Hollywood Awards? Or maybe, Women of the World Awards or even Women Awards. Hell, I'd settle for Feathers-In-Caps for Females or Girls' Gone Gold!
Why do we have to divide everything up? Why are there Latin music awards? Why are there BET Awards?
If we are tired of the division, why do we continue to emphasize the division?
Can anyone help me understand?
I'm not sure if it's a mood thing, a blah-induced kind of thinking or a real issue. Maybe you can help.
I've spent three days sucking up movies and television and there is one commercial that has got my jaw a little tight.
The lack of nominations of actors-of-color is a big deal in the media of late. We have cops vs minority stuff going on, some of it real and some of it hyped. (Yay for the legal action being taken against law enforcement in Ferguson).
There is a whole bunch of "those-guys versus us-guys" going on in the Republican debates, the media, blogs, and Hollywood.
The ad that is bugging me is a commercial for a program called the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards.
Now pull your bundled undies out of your butt, I don't mean this in a prejudiced way. I am a Latino woman with Native American blood.. I clearly don't see Latinos, Native Americans, or for that matter, Women, represented proportionately. I also see the portrayal of minorities in pretty stereotypical light on a regular basis.
It's not fair! I don't think that the constitution listed 'Fair' as an unalienable right. My dad told me the world isn't fair when I was 3, as your fathers' probably informed you. It is getting better but it still ain't-fair!
My father also taught me that if you don't like the game being played down the street, stop going down the street! Stop attending the Academy Awards show, stop telling the media 'who' you are wearing. If you want to be taken serious as an actor, then when asked who you are wearing, walk away. Answer only the important questions.
I don't understand, why on a network, owned by a woman; in a show produced by a woman; in a show hosted by a woman for women; why isn't this a program called Women in Hollywood Awards? Or maybe, Women of the World Awards or even Women Awards. Hell, I'd settle for Feathers-In-Caps for Females or Girls' Gone Gold!
Why do we have to divide everything up? Why are there Latin music awards? Why are there BET Awards?
If we are tired of the division, why do we continue to emphasize the division?
Can anyone help me understand?
To tell you the truth, I think the entertainment industry has way too many award shows. I don't care what they call them, they just are constantly promoting themselves and making up these "awards", so everyone can go home with a trophy and the advertisers can promote their products. I love the movies, but the importance of celebrities is out of whack.
ReplyDeleteI agree, there are an abundance of award shows. I,too, love many movies but many of them I refuse to pay full premiere prices. I usually wait for them to go to the dollar theater. $2 for my husband and I to see the movie, $29 if we want popcorn and a soda!
DeleteI never watch tv, or go to the movies frequently. I listen to classical music or jazz mostly. I appreciate the artist and their talents; the color of their skin doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned the color of skin should only matter when you've been in the sun for hours after your SPF # expires! I love to listen to music during the day, especially if I'm working on my art but, as a true introvert, I love, love, love quiet. I love classical but unless it's smooth jazz, it drives me crazy. I'm more the "Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon" fan. Awesome CD.
DeleteI believe that special awards like this get created as a backlash against the lack of diversity of winners in the broad general categories. It's disheartening when only "one" type of winner gets recognized over and over again ad nauseum (the one who's white, or has a certain musical sound, or what have you). Special categories ensure that some glory gets spread around to everyone. They'll disappear when everyone truly has an "equal" chance of being recognized in the broad general categories. In other words, special cateqories and special awards are a reaction to discrimination and will disappear when discrimination does.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that everyone has the mindset of "you first" instead of "follow our lead"!
DeleteI'd like to agree with Debra but also see the (ridiculous) importance attached to these separations within American culture... can't speak to worldwide cultures, so must refer to what I know best.
ReplyDeleteCorporate sponsorships, etc... subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, encourage this divisiveness. It is we who will make the necessary changes.
Sometimes I feel like we are all being pulled along with rings in our noses. Why do we follow along with the divisiveness?
DeleteI agree with Debra. Artists want to feel acknowledged, appreciated, and celebrated. If the mainstream academy doesn't represent them or notice their efforts, the actors who are ignored will continue to look elsewhere for this recognition.
ReplyDeleteWow, Debra! You got lots of support on this post! All artists want to feel acknowledged and appreciated. I love it when people say great things about my art or stories but I don't need to wear a dress worth thousands and thousands of dollars, walk a red carpet and have the powers-that-be tell me I'm better than four other sculptors or writers. The work should speak for itself.
DeleteI wonder if I am are drifting a little off subject.
divisions are condemn able where ever they are ,artist wants recognition and respect and some people belong to media take wrong advantage of this thing,now a days i think there are really few people left on earth who believe in rubbish that difference of color created by any gene pool mater anymore
ReplyDeleteRight on, Baili. Only the most ignorant and the most fearful are still invested in these shallow beliefs!
DeleteI don't follow/watch any of these awards, so I only end up finding out about them in the news. But I agree with Debra about why these special awards are going on.
ReplyDeleteAnd the award goes to Debra! Award shows are great times for reading a good book, taking a long walk or jumping the bones of our lovers!
DeleteExcellent point. Although, I do think that Hollywood definitely needs to look at the way it's treating women and minorities. I think sometimes people are so focused on "balance" that they tip the scale in the opposite way.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Kind of sets it up for failure no matter what!
DeleteI'm glad we don't get to see all those awards over here! Hope your cold is getting better. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI'm well! Took me down like a Mac-truck but I peeled myself off the asphalt, fluffed me up and back on my feet!
DeleteThanks for visiting, Sarah.
Enjoyed this thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteSharing? or Ranting?
Delete