I love reading Foucault, truly!
"...commentary's only role is to say finally what has silently been articulated deep down. It must... say, for the first ime, what has already been said and repeat tirelessly what was, nevertheless, never said. "
Foucault, The Discourse on Language
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
God Bless the USA: Kristy Lee Cook, American Idol & The White Nation Fantasy
Tonight was the American Idol results show (moving from 10 to 9 contestants). The theme of the week was "a song from the year you were born."
All season I've noted the interesting demographic composition of the group. In the top 10 only 3 contestants, Brooke White, Kristy Lee Cook and David Cook, would be considered white Americans. They sing alongside Syesha Mercado, Chikeze, Ramiele, Jason Castro, and David Archuleta all of whom would not generally be classified as white and many of whom ( Chikeze, Ramiele and David) have immigrant parents. They are then joined by Aussie, Michael Johns and a woman from Ireland, Carly Smithson.
OK, here's the deal. This week Kristy Lee Cook, who has been in the bottom 2 contestants for the last several weeks, picked the song "God Bless the USA." In tonight's results show Chikeze, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado appeared in the bottom 3. At least Syesha was a surprise since she really nailed her performance this week. Really, in my opinion, only Jason Castro turned in a weak enough performance to qualify for the bottom 3. The others should have been Ramiele and Carly.
I hypothesize that Kristy Lee Cook's song choice activated nationalistic sentiments and biases among some viewers. Nationalistic sentiments (I'm borrowing from Ghassan Hage here) hinge upon the spatial belonging of white folks and the exclusion or at least managed presence of non-whites. Whiteness is not an all or nothing proposition but instead is something one may have to a degree. The extent of one's whiteness may be determined by skin color, culture, accent, etc.
In determining their voting preferences this week callers were influenced by activated nationalistic biases and, therefore, were more likely to vote for those "white" contestants consistent with the bias. I suspect that Syesha suffered as a result of nationalistic bias because she appears African American, because her last name strikes folks as latino and because (and I really think this is the big one and the reason Ramiele and David A. were OK) her song choice, a Gladys Knight & the Pips tune, was not "white." Chikeze suffered in part because he performed a Luther Vandross song (same problem) and, in addition, spent much time in his pre-performance video clips talking about his Nigerian origins and the Nigerian music and family values that made him the person he is today. Jason Castro - already at risk due to his last name and dread locks sang part of his song, Sting's Fragile, in Spanish.
Disclaimer: I'm not about to offer a definition of "white" nor am I advocating "whiteness" on the part of the performers song choice. It is interesting to me, however, to think about how nationalism and race are tangled and how, ultimately, Ireland's Carly Smithson is safer from nationalistic bias than Floridian Syesha Mercado. A strategic contestant could really use song choice to increase their success not just by, as the judges say, connecting with the audience but instead by influencing the way the audience sees the other contestants.
All season I've noted the interesting demographic composition of the group. In the top 10 only 3 contestants, Brooke White, Kristy Lee Cook and David Cook, would be considered white Americans. They sing alongside Syesha Mercado, Chikeze, Ramiele, Jason Castro, and David Archuleta all of whom would not generally be classified as white and many of whom ( Chikeze, Ramiele and David) have immigrant parents. They are then joined by Aussie, Michael Johns and a woman from Ireland, Carly Smithson.
OK, here's the deal. This week Kristy Lee Cook, who has been in the bottom 2 contestants for the last several weeks, picked the song "God Bless the USA." In tonight's results show Chikeze, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado appeared in the bottom 3. At least Syesha was a surprise since she really nailed her performance this week. Really, in my opinion, only Jason Castro turned in a weak enough performance to qualify for the bottom 3. The others should have been Ramiele and Carly.
I hypothesize that Kristy Lee Cook's song choice activated nationalistic sentiments and biases among some viewers. Nationalistic sentiments (I'm borrowing from Ghassan Hage here) hinge upon the spatial belonging of white folks and the exclusion or at least managed presence of non-whites. Whiteness is not an all or nothing proposition but instead is something one may have to a degree. The extent of one's whiteness may be determined by skin color, culture, accent, etc.
In determining their voting preferences this week callers were influenced by activated nationalistic biases and, therefore, were more likely to vote for those "white" contestants consistent with the bias. I suspect that Syesha suffered as a result of nationalistic bias because she appears African American, because her last name strikes folks as latino and because (and I really think this is the big one and the reason Ramiele and David A. were OK) her song choice, a Gladys Knight & the Pips tune, was not "white." Chikeze suffered in part because he performed a Luther Vandross song (same problem) and, in addition, spent much time in his pre-performance video clips talking about his Nigerian origins and the Nigerian music and family values that made him the person he is today. Jason Castro - already at risk due to his last name and dread locks sang part of his song, Sting's Fragile, in Spanish.
Disclaimer: I'm not about to offer a definition of "white" nor am I advocating "whiteness" on the part of the performers song choice. It is interesting to me, however, to think about how nationalism and race are tangled and how, ultimately, Ireland's Carly Smithson is safer from nationalistic bias than Floridian Syesha Mercado. A strategic contestant could really use song choice to increase their success not just by, as the judges say, connecting with the audience but instead by influencing the way the audience sees the other contestants.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
reality bites
Sometimes the enormity of what I did in passing on a 50k-a-year gig here (they confirmed I was their fist choice for the job) in brew city for an uncertain occupational future in the green mountain state hits me with such force that my heart starts pounding and my stomach feels all jumpy. This happens most frequently when I am thinking about money: money for 3-year-old ballet and music classes; money for preschool; money for a gym membership; money to buy books; money to pay for my research; and most relevant given my immediate circumstances, money to replace this dinosaur (more than 5 years old) of a laptop that I am using. It just crashed again. I only lost a couple of paragraphs, but still.... There are lines down each side of the screen. They used to be blue and red but now they faded to white and yellow.
Although I know I could get another laptop for $500, I really would rather have this dream machine:
It's not that we couldn't find the money somewhere. But, if sociology isn't going to be an income-bearing pursuit for me, is it OK to use family resources on it when that means, for example, that my kids don't get music lessons or Montessori preschool? I mean, I already spend thousands of dollars a year on childcare, various supplies, conferences, etc. And, as I opted out of a salary as a sociologist because I want to move home to NNE, at some point don't I have to decide that, if I can't make a living at this there and with the work/family balance I want, that it is just a really expensive hobby?
I know there are all kinds of issues here around the household division of labor, etc...
I actually think I an handling all of this stuff (job market, move, etc) really well given how difficult, unsettling and unpredictably pivotal it all is. Although my life is tinged with a bit of disappointment and depression generally made manifest in a queasy feeling that I cannot be the mother I want to be and a productive sociologist in a place I want to live and, ultimately, that I am a failed academic, I am not unhappy in my day-to-day life. Mostly, I suspect, because I LOVE being a parent and I am too busy to spend much time brooding. This is a stark departure from earlier periods of uncertainty and reevaluation of my life's plan, times in which I went months doing nothing but working and lying in bed, packing on weight.
All the same, I really have no idea what my life is going to look like 12 months, professionally speaking at least. However, I do know that life for myself, my partner and my children is going to be fundamentally different as a result of our decision to move. Seems unwise to sink $2500 into a modbook.
Although I know I could get another laptop for $500, I really would rather have this dream machine:
It's not that we couldn't find the money somewhere. But, if sociology isn't going to be an income-bearing pursuit for me, is it OK to use family resources on it when that means, for example, that my kids don't get music lessons or Montessori preschool? I mean, I already spend thousands of dollars a year on childcare, various supplies, conferences, etc. And, as I opted out of a salary as a sociologist because I want to move home to NNE, at some point don't I have to decide that, if I can't make a living at this there and with the work/family balance I want, that it is just a really expensive hobby?I know there are all kinds of issues here around the household division of labor, etc...
I actually think I an handling all of this stuff (job market, move, etc) really well given how difficult, unsettling and unpredictably pivotal it all is. Although my life is tinged with a bit of disappointment and depression generally made manifest in a queasy feeling that I cannot be the mother I want to be and a productive sociologist in a place I want to live and, ultimately, that I am a failed academic, I am not unhappy in my day-to-day life. Mostly, I suspect, because I LOVE being a parent and I am too busy to spend much time brooding. This is a stark departure from earlier periods of uncertainty and reevaluation of my life's plan, times in which I went months doing nothing but working and lying in bed, packing on weight.
All the same, I really have no idea what my life is going to look like 12 months, professionally speaking at least. However, I do know that life for myself, my partner and my children is going to be fundamentally different as a result of our decision to move. Seems unwise to sink $2500 into a modbook.
take your passion and make it happen
Writing at Whole Foods. I'm always torn between Hotch-a-do and Whole Foods when it comes to writing. Hotch-a-do has booths but no free wireless. The windows face northeast so very little sunlight. Whole Foods has no booths but free wireless. Windows face southeast. WFM offers killer chocolate chip cookies. Hotch-a-do... I get a meal: either eggs benedict with tofu or the Milwaukee Rachel (tofu reuben). Both play good music although WFM is a more eclectic mix (currently playing Flashdance, What a Feelin') at the correct volume and there is always sufficient impersonal hub-bub in the form of cash registers beeping, etc. etc. Hotch-a-do can play the music a bit too loud and be lacking sufficient activity to create the correct background noise for good writing. Anyway, Whole Foods got me today. I'll likely go to Hotch-a-do Friday so I can take myself out for breakfast.
We have an offer on the house but the inspection is holding things up. The buyer is getting estimates on exterior painting and, apparently, has issues with the old coal fireplace. The inspector said it's no good for wood but we say that you can burn wood pellets in it. It's a little frustrating. First, a monkey can see the house needs to be painted. If we had sunk the necessary $12,000 into the job we'd be asking more for the house. Anyway, we'll see. Hope it doesn't fall through because I am tired of living in the car with 2 kids and 2 dogs for hours at a time.
We have an offer on the house but the inspection is holding things up. The buyer is getting estimates on exterior painting and, apparently, has issues with the old coal fireplace. The inspector said it's no good for wood but we say that you can burn wood pellets in it. It's a little frustrating. First, a monkey can see the house needs to be painted. If we had sunk the necessary $12,000 into the job we'd be asking more for the house. Anyway, we'll see. Hope it doesn't fall through because I am tired of living in the car with 2 kids and 2 dogs for hours at a time.
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