In Brock's article "Who Do You Think You Are," he discusses how the internet encourages interactions between people. This in turn though creates certain stereotypes and marginalization online. Brock also discusses the meaning of the phrase "showing your behind", which means that one member of a certain community has done something that represents or embarrasses all members of that community or group of people. One person who has become infamous for "showing your behind" is Kanye West. The article discusses Kanye's improvisational speech during the Hurricane Katrina relief video, but it also reminds me of the recent Twitter fight between Kanye and Jimmy Kimmel.
After Kimmel made a joke about Kanye on his show, Kanye took to Twitter to vent his frustration. Then he proceeded to go on Kimmel's show and talk about how he is such a creative genius and if he didn't say that he'd be lying to himself and to the world. He also talked about how he doesn't care about the media and the unspoken rules in Hollywood that you're not supposed to speak your mind. I think in the case of the Katrine incident, Kanye was not "showing your behind", because that was a very serious and emotional time where he felt personally effected and hurt. In the case of the Kimmel fight, I feel as though it was a little more embarrassing for him because he wasn't really speaking and when he did, nonsense (for lack of better words) came out. Though he personally embarrassed himself, I don't think he persay embarrassed the entire black community. I don't think one person's actions should dictate how we view the rest of the group, this is the main way stereotypes are formed and acted upon.
Although the article that we read for class gave an excellent definition on what gas lighting is, and how the author perceived it appropriate to describe the Kanye West case, I have to say that it doesn't make me like him any better.
ReplyDeleteI cannot stand Kanye West, and not because I do not understand his "creativity" or his fashion sense, but because in my head he is just obnoxious and he never does anything to help his case.
How does Kanye have the audacity to compare himself to God? Has anybody seen his latest video? Not sure if I am biased because I dislike both Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, but the music lyrics and video are crap. (Seriously, does Kim have any other talent besides posing naked in front of a camera?) If Kanye really wants to be taken seriously, then he wouldn't be dating that bimbo.
And no, I am not not taking him seriously because of the color of his skin, but by the content of his words. Just like I don't see any art in his latest video or in the idea of leather sweatpants, I don't agree with his choices.
Nor do I respect Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan or even Lady Gaga when she wore that dress made out of raw meat. (Because seriously--if a cow is going to die, then I hope it is because of old age or because somebody will use it for its food--not to display it on your body).
P.S. The article that I referred to above was "Kanye West Knows You Think He Sounded Nuts on Kimmel" on Gawker--not "Who do you think you are" by Brock.
ReplyDeletehttp://gawker.com/kanye-west-knows-you-think-he-sounded-nuts-on-kimmel-1443710553