Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Difference
"We need to theorize race and gender not as meaningless but as meaningful---as sites of difference, filled with constructed meanings that are in need of constant decoding and interrogation. Such analysis may not finally free us of the ubiquitous body-biology bind or release us from the quagmire of racism and sexism, but it may be at once the most and the least we can do to reclaim difference from the molds of mass production and the casts of the dominant culture."
--Ann duCille
--Ann duCille
Labels: quotations
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Thank God the ape is stil with us.
"mass production and the casts of the dominant culture".
Poliically correct hogwash.
Let's all get laid.
"mass production and the casts of the dominant culture".
Poliically correct hogwash.
Let's all get laid.
Maybe if everyone would take a step back from their learned position, breathe in and out a few times the discussion would at least become rational.
The fact of the matter is that we already fill the concepts of race and gender with constructed meanings, whether we intend to or not, or whether we admit it to ourselves. The problem comes with who gets to have the final say in this construction, how much emphasis they put on it in terms of understanding he individual, and whether or not the construction empowers or demeans.
Ivan: well, dunno what to say.
TWM: the ideology certainly gets in the way don't it?
XD: absolutely. I think she is acknowledging that we do construct meanings, all of us. The deconstruction hopefully can get at the roots of power, ie who has the final say, or the most say.
By the way, this quotation comes from an essay about black Barbie dolls, and how they have been marketed as representative of black culture, partially because they come in 3 shades of black. What a joke!
TWM: the ideology certainly gets in the way don't it?
XD: absolutely. I think she is acknowledging that we do construct meanings, all of us. The deconstruction hopefully can get at the roots of power, ie who has the final say, or the most say.
By the way, this quotation comes from an essay about black Barbie dolls, and how they have been marketed as representative of black culture, partially because they come in 3 shades of black. What a joke!
Benji,
What I mean is that she writes like I make love--badly.
See George Orwell's famous essay on the English Language and politics.
Hers could well be an example of bad, institutional, bureaucratic writing. Say it on, Annie!
What I mean is that she writes like I make love--badly.
See George Orwell's famous essay on the English Language and politics.
Hers could well be an example of bad, institutional, bureaucratic writing. Say it on, Annie!
Well, she is an academic. But I think her main point is that instead of all pretending to be colour blind we should start having honest discussions about race and racism. And I think she makes an excellent point, which is of course why I posted this.
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