Last year Darryl Duncan of Gamebeats Studios wrote and produced a beautiful song dedicated to Trayvon Martin and the children killed by violence. We celebrate Trayvon’s 19th year with the song “18”. What do you think of the song?
O
kay… this is where my emotional, intuitive, reactionary mind picks a fight with my rational, analytical, objective mind. Buro 247 published an online interview with Dasha Zhukova, the Russian editor-in-chief of Garage magazine, who was photographed atop a chair made of a life size scantily clad black woman frozen in a very compromising position.
I am trying to be fair about the existence of this Black Woman Chair aka art piece created by Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard. It’s one of a series of installments inspired by the work of artist Allen Jones as a commentary on sexism and racism. To be fair there are other “furniture” pieces in this collective that feature white women in similar compromising positions. 
But take the Black Woman Chair out of its collective, plop a white socialite on top of it (or her), and instantly another layer of meaning rises to the surface. The one who’s on top becomes part of the art piece. What becomes the message? Dominance over subservience? Privilege over bondage? Superiority over inferiority? Actually there may be brilliance in this transformation of perspective. If a black man sits on the Black Woman Chair, what would that say? How about a white man? A black woman? In a gallery this chair is provocative art. As Dasha’s prop in a photo op, it becomes racist.
The backlash has been extreme. In an issued statement, Dasha had this to say “…I regret allowing an artwork with such charged meaning to be used in this context. I utterly abhor racism and would like to apologize to those offended by my participation in this shoot…”
Miroslava Duma of Buro 24/7.ru wrote on Instagram, “Dear All, Buro 24.7.ru team and I would like to express our sincerest apology to anyone who we offended or hurt…”
Really now? Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking when they do stuff like this.
What do you think?
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 15,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Turns out BIM Distribuzione developed the controversial 12 Years posters featuring Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender without authority from the studio. The company recently issued an apology along with a revised poster prominently featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor. The New York Times Artsbeat blog has the scoop: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/27/distributor-apologizes-for-movie-posters-ignoring-chiwetel-ejiofor/?_r=1#!
UPDATE: The Italian “12 Years a Slave” poster featuring Brad Pitt has been pulled
After much controversy, Lionsgate’s Italian “12 Years a Slave” posters featuring Brad Pitt (and Michael Fassbender), have been pulled. Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment claim that the posters were unauthorized and is currently investigating the situation. Special shout out to Tumblr blog Carefree Black Girl and Shadow and Act for being catalysts for this sudden and swift change of events. Click the link to read more about it.
Here’s an Italian poster for the movie “12 Years a Slave” repackaged to appeal to the Italian market. Do you think it’s smart marketing or racism?
The Internet is abuzz with artist Kyle Lambert’s lifelike portrait of Morgan Freeman finger drawn on his iPad. Over 200 hours of mastery emerges right before your very eyes! Do you think this is art or a photograph?
“How Japan View Black People (Part 2)” Click image to view video
How do people of other cultures and countries perceive the black experience? Is the art of blackface a global mockery of black people or an act of self expression? The likeness, lifestyle, language and mannerisms of cultures in the African diaspora are often distorted and used as props, backdrops, accessories, exclamation points, iterations and punchlines. Is black culture to be twisted, deformed and repurposed to fit the objectives of another culture’s agenda? Many think it is harmless fun and will defend the practice.
Recently, Dunkin Donuts Thailand franchise depicted a model in blackface with pink lips to advertise their new charcoal donut. The Human Rights Watch and other groups were in an uproar. Though the Thailand agency felt that America was being overly sensitive. Dunkin Donuts issued an immediate apology and is in the process of yanking the ad. Was this racism or just ad art misunderstood?
Dunkin Donuts Thailand Blackface ad
Asia is notorious for mocking black people in their advertisements and products. Does the fact that blacks are different in skin color, hair texture and features give them the right to racially objectify blacks to sell products? To them, blacks are obviously fascinating and repulsive at the same time.
Racial insensitivity is evident in other countries. Last year, Sweden made world headlines when culture minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, was photographed happily slicing into what is now infamously called the blackface or ni*ger cake at World Art Day in Stockholm. The edible installation was sculpted in the likeness of a grotesquely distorted African woman by black Swedish artist Makode Aj Linde. it was meant to provoke strong reaction, awareness and disgust for the brutal practice of female circumcision in Africa. However it evoked outrage on a global scale. Regardless of who created the “art piece” or why, the installation was considered exploitation of African women and their bodies. 
Model Ondria Hardin as “African Queen” for Numero magazine
France’s Numero fashion magazine caught global flack when Caucasian model Ondria Hardin, posed as an “African Queen” in their controversial fashion expose’. In an industry that often shuns models of African descent, Numero found the “look” of Africa intriguing on a white girl.
Mexico’s beloved dimwit, Mimen Pinguin is a longstanding comic strip character known for his street smarts, playful demeanor and ape-like features. Is this flattery or mockery?
Memin Penguin, Mexican comic book character
Here in America we have accepted the kindly servants gracing the boxes of Uncle Ben’s rice, Cream of Wheat and Aunt Jemima. Do we still consider these images culturally insensitive? Or have we accepted these images as harmless age old branding?
The Mammy cookie jar, a popular souvenir in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans gift shops are still selling blackfaced Mammy cookie jars with matching salt and pepper shakers and toothpick holders. Should one be outraged?
If the tables were turned and we used yellow skin and slanted eyes to promote lemon donuts with slits instead of holes would Asians be offended? What about a whiteface with pink pimples selling crackers?
I don’t know. You tell me.
Finally CNN’s Don Lemon and Russell Simmons meet face-to-face to discuss their opposing reasons on why Black America is under siege.
Who do you agree with?
Click image to hear snippet of song, “Breakfast Can Wait”
Dave Prince? Prince Chappelle? No, it’s Dave Chappelle as Prince gracing the cover of Prince’s new single Breakfast Can Wait.
Prince’s cover will surely turn heads and perhaps shake them as well with this catchy image taken from The Chappelle Show sketch. It looks like Prince is trying to stay relevant and irreverent at the same time. Ditto for Dave Chappelle whose antics are sorely missed by fans of his short-lived comedy series. Do you think it’s a savvy move on their parts?
As for the content of the album, is it just as edgy and unique? Actually I heard a snippet of the new single Breakfast Can Wait. It’s as tasty as those pancakes Prince – I mean Dave is holding on the cover. Wait, I take that back. Those pancakes look kinda nasty, but the song is cool.
Black Copy 