This course explores the ways in which objects and material culture embody personal narrative. Moving back and forth from ephemeral traces of events and experiences to the culturally invested luxury goods that create legacy to the objects that facilitate daily life, this class will use, as its primary references, examples that draw from queer and African American cultures to underscore the potential of objects to tell the stories that not only reflect majority traditions and experiences but those of the disenfranchised, the details of whose lives are often obscured. In addition to readings that will provide background for class discussion, student will be asked to play the roles of detectives, archeologists, and curators at various sites around New York City. Each student will also be asked to create an annotated material record that reveals the public and private lives of one individual. That record may consist of texts, objects or any variety of media chosen or designed by the student. This blogs serves as an archive for the work done in the context of this course and related materials that become relevant to this exploration.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Racial Insensitivity Then and Even Now

Article & Video:



During an annual and historical event called the Vienna Opera Ball, also considered a glamorous event, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner felt disrespected when approached with an Austrian comedian dressed as Blackface mimicking Kanye West.

I think this would be considered an evidence that some countries are less progressive with regards to racial insensitivity. “In the Netherlands, performers sometimes wear blackface for Christmas celebrations. In Germany, blackface is common, particularly during the country's Karneval.”

Instinctively, this is disappointing to hear since the historical and theatrical context of Blackface is offensive in nature especially for the purpose of comical enactment. Sure, one could claim that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but almost always when a race is generally casted down, it’s just disrespectful.

- Nova
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