Thursday, January 17, 2013

Django Unchained.....Controversy?

    Recently I saw Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, one of my favorite directors of all time (Kill Bill, anyone?). When I went to go see this movie, someone commented that they heard the movie was racist. I asked why, assuming the presumed racism was due to the story line - the plot, if you haven't heard, is about a slave seeking revenge on a plantation owner - and, to my surprise, the commentator felt it was racist against black folks. Of course, I became even more intrigued, having to see the film by one of my favorite directors, to uncover the mystery, racist or not?


    Besides the uncomfortable use of the "n" word, I enjoyed every minute of it...all 3 or so hours...and apparently that's not the only undeserved criticism this film is receiving. Spike Lee, for instance, thought the film depicted slavery as something other than a serious matter. Strange, coming from an outspoken black man...
    I felt as I watched the movie, that it was made very tactfully, balancing the humorous aspects and uncomfortable language with historical accuracy. Even when showing Django's wife being whipped, the film was careful not to over-do the abuse, cutting the scene before it became too intense or unnecessary. Not only that, there were many levels of slavery depicted, the "Uncle Tom" character of Samuel Jackson, which was both humorous and sad, women of color being used as sexual objects or maids, workers out on the field, slaves being used for personal amusement (such as fighting and killing), and not to mention the accuracy of the punishments that were chosen (like the hot box).


    I also believe that the language is a necessary component of the film, used to show the degradation through the use of the "n" word and as a commentary of how it is used currently. Due to the time period and the nature of what the film was depicting, it would be inaccurate to not have that word spoken at all, and the use of that word during that time was constant and common. The only inaccuracy of the film is the plot point, so I think it is entitled and justified to use the "n" word, and I speculate Spike Lee is probably being touchy about a white man doing a film of this nature.
    When I saw the movie and it was over, I was relieved to notice I was the only person not of color in the theater and everyone who saw it spoke highly of the film. To sum up this movie, I think it's about time a black-centered movie such as this receives the kind of attention it has (won 2 Golden Globes) and that white directors are starting to see the necessity of depicting people of color in uplifting, empowering roles. Just as my opinion of women in film, just because film-makers are doing historical pieces, doesn't mean we need to keep rehashing the second-class citizenship of women now. So, to show a movie about slavery and to rewrite history.......I say, finally. We don't need to keep depicting the pain of black people, put them in empowering roles. Good! I'm glad Django killed Leonardo DiCaprio... well actually he didn't, but he killed alot of his buddies....now we just have to work on getting more black actors Golden Globes...


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Why Feminism is Necessary (Part 1 of Many)...

    Inclusiveness has been a big talk among feminists, a notion that is the most relevant of all the aspects of feminism, in practice and in theory. "Feminism" when said, immediately sends chills down the spines of previously thought "open-minded" individuals, but why? I have heard many of my cohorts say when I just mention "women" and not "men" I am being exclusive. Even in the context of my feminist blog. Interestingly, feminism is felt to be too harsh of a word because the male-bodied people, and those who have been brainwashed by the depiction of feminism in popular media, thanks to Gloria Steinem, immediately think you are trying to make the world into a matriarchy.
    This is NOT radical feminism, especially not anarcha-feminism. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcha-feminism) It is also not my fault there are preconceived notions of what/who feminists are, but it is my duty to change them if it is my goal to accomplish feminism's goal: true equality, especially between males and females.
   There are preconceived notions of everything - you don't see vegetarians changing their name/label because everyone thinks if you are called a vegetarian you should only eat plant material and not cheese. Well, too bad ignorant people who think that, that's just the way it is! There are even people who eat fish and call themselves a vegetarian, which technically you would be a pescatarian, but the point is, just because people who are unaware of the true definition of feminism feel like I should say male and female all the time, doesn't mean I should use a different term for feminism. In fact, it's fucked up. After all these years of using that term, then all of a sudden the p.c. police comes and WHAM! feminism has to be "all-inclusive" - guess what? I hate police, especially the p.c. police and feminism is the practice of inclusiveness, because women are NOT included on the whole.

Here is why:

As a woman I am,
1) constantly cat called when I walk outside, making me feel inferior and generally bad, especially about what I wear, even if it's something unrevealing.

2) pressured to beautify myself, like shaving, wearing makeup, wearing pantyhouse - and I do not always have the luxury of defiance. I could loose my job.

3) constantly sexualized, oh, especially when I am in the middle of discussing intellectual ideas

4) ignored when I speak.

5) scared to walk outside alone at night.

6) walking the line of "too sexy" and "too plain"

7) fed images of women since birth that are unrealistic body types, and made to feel less than worthy if I do not try to follow these ideals.

8) told I need "a man to take care of me" by various people including strangers trying to hit on me and my own mother.



   As for other women, around the world, it is obvious there is not equality. Keep in mind, my experiences are those of a young woman in the United States in South Florida, a pretty liberal area. Woman across the globe are frequent victims of rape, the legal systems do not champion them even in the U.S., they are mutilated in some countries, killed at birth in others, and generally kept in fear in all areas, whether because of backwards religious beliefs or backwards political policies. This is called patriarchy. Women are not represented in government around the world, not just here, and therefore are forced to work 40hrs while pregnant and other mind-blowing atrocities that for some reason men think are the same for them......

   That is why it is called feminism and not called equality-ism or something. Say it with pride, you feminists. Don't blush with embarrassment the same way we've been taught when someone cat calls at us and we are wearing a tank-top. Men - it IS NOT EQUAL. Stop whinning about it, and understand you are not all rapists and no one thinks that, but most men are blissfully unaware bystanders. Feminism exists for a reason. Gah.