(also pasted below)
"Part of being passionate about art and culture is getting into arguments about art and culture. Sometimes lots of arguments. I’ve had my share, especially when it comes to the intersection of social justice and pop culture. What follows are eight rhetorical devices that I’ve encountered in these arguments and reasons why they’re invalid.
1. “It’s just a (movie/song/book/etc.).”
Culture informs society. To dismiss pop culture as simple escapism or background noise is naïve. No, a racist portrayal of a character on a TV show isn’t going to magically turn all the viewers into racists, but offensive images and words, over time, do make an impact on the real world, especially when those images or words correspond with institutions that systematically privilege certain people over others. Seeing and hearing this content normalizes and reinforces harmful stereotypes. Even seemingly innocuous archetypes like “the sassy Black friend” or the “wise old Asian man” become harmful because of the prevalence of the images and the lack of alternative images.
2. “You’re just being over-sensitive. Lighten up.”
When someone is offended, that emotional and intellectual response is real. It’s both rude and arrogant to simply write that off. Maybe the person really is being oversensitive, but the least you can do is take a second to try to understand where they’re coming from and debate the specific points that that person is concerned about. If someone thinks that “Avatar” co-opts and distorts indigenous struggles, and you disagree, talk about why you disagree; don’t just dismiss them.
3. “I’m also (Asian/lesbian/blind/etc.) and I wasn’t offended by that” or “I have a friend who is (Asian/lesbian/blind/etc.) and they weren’t offended by that.”
Doesn’t matter. You and/or your friend are not the absolute authority on all things (Asian/lesbian/blind/etc.). If other people are offended, that reaction is real; see point #2.
4. “At least it’s better than everything else out there.”
Doesn’t matter. The fact that you’re not Hitler doesn’t mean that you’re a good person. Additionally, the current state of pop culture is pretty damn dreadful when it comes to representation and social justice. Being a little bit better isn’t good enough.
5. “Sure it was offensive, but they didn’t mean to do it. They weren’t trying to be (racist/sexist/homophobic/etc). They just didn’t know any better.”
Doesn’t matter. The impact of words or actions is always more important than the intent behind those words or actions, at least in the context of interpersonal communication. If you accidentally offend someone, you might not be a bad person, but it does not absolve you of responsibility. Saying something stupid out of ignorance is only marginally better than saying something stupid out of malice. See point #4.
6. “They’re not saying that ALL (female/gay/Black/etc.) people are like that, just these specific ones.”
This is also known as the “but some women ARE bitches” argument. An artist cannot control how people ingest his or her art. Interpretations differ. Characters and images in pop culture are always symbols for larger communities, whether or not the creator of that culture meant it to be that way. Sure, Long Duk Dong from “16 Candles” is just one specific character. But in a movie (and corresponding cultural landscape) that has no other Asian characters, he becomes a vessel for Asian-ness and Otherness, both of which are characterized negatively. See point #5.
7. Anything involving the phrase “politically correct.”
As much as people try to characterize those who are offended as oversensitive whiners, phrases like “PC police” and “I don’t believe in political correctness” absolutely reek of whininess, like “boo hoo I actually have to think about what I’m saying and consider other people’s feelings; I’m so oppressed!” Political correctness doesn’t mean that you can’t be honest. It doesn’t mean that you can’t be offensive, if that offensive language is making a larger, important point. It just means “don’t be a jackass.” The “PC police” defense is a blanket rhetorical device that allows thoughtless people to dodge criticism. If you are going to say/do something offensive, it should serve a greater purpose, and you should take whatever criticism you have coming openly and honestly.
8. Why would you expect something better? They’re just trying to make money and most people don’t care about this stuff.
Of course this is true. But to simply internalize it is defeatism. We can fight back, make noise, start conversations, engage in boycotts, write articles, create better art, and make the connections between pop culture and society that need to be made."
1. “It’s just a (movie/song/book/etc.).”
Culture informs society. To dismiss pop culture as simple escapism or background noise is naïve. No, a racist portrayal of a character on a TV show isn’t going to magically turn all the viewers into racists, but offensive images and words, over time, do make an impact on the real world, especially when those images or words correspond with institutions that systematically privilege certain people over others. Seeing and hearing this content normalizes and reinforces harmful stereotypes. Even seemingly innocuous archetypes like “the sassy Black friend” or the “wise old Asian man” become harmful because of the prevalence of the images and the lack of alternative images.
2. “You’re just being over-sensitive. Lighten up.”
When someone is offended, that emotional and intellectual response is real. It’s both rude and arrogant to simply write that off. Maybe the person really is being oversensitive, but the least you can do is take a second to try to understand where they’re coming from and debate the specific points that that person is concerned about. If someone thinks that “Avatar” co-opts and distorts indigenous struggles, and you disagree, talk about why you disagree; don’t just dismiss them.
3. “I’m also (Asian/lesbian/blind/etc.) and I wasn’t offended by that” or “I have a friend who is (Asian/lesbian/blind/etc.) and they weren’t offended by that.”
Doesn’t matter. You and/or your friend are not the absolute authority on all things (Asian/lesbian/blind/etc.). If other people are offended, that reaction is real; see point #2.
4. “At least it’s better than everything else out there.”
Doesn’t matter. The fact that you’re not Hitler doesn’t mean that you’re a good person. Additionally, the current state of pop culture is pretty damn dreadful when it comes to representation and social justice. Being a little bit better isn’t good enough.
5. “Sure it was offensive, but they didn’t mean to do it. They weren’t trying to be (racist/sexist/homophobic/etc). They just didn’t know any better.”
Doesn’t matter. The impact of words or actions is always more important than the intent behind those words or actions, at least in the context of interpersonal communication. If you accidentally offend someone, you might not be a bad person, but it does not absolve you of responsibility. Saying something stupid out of ignorance is only marginally better than saying something stupid out of malice. See point #4.
6. “They’re not saying that ALL (female/gay/Black/etc.) people are like that, just these specific ones.”
This is also known as the “but some women ARE bitches” argument. An artist cannot control how people ingest his or her art. Interpretations differ. Characters and images in pop culture are always symbols for larger communities, whether or not the creator of that culture meant it to be that way. Sure, Long Duk Dong from “16 Candles” is just one specific character. But in a movie (and corresponding cultural landscape) that has no other Asian characters, he becomes a vessel for Asian-ness and Otherness, both of which are characterized negatively. See point #5.
7. Anything involving the phrase “politically correct.”
As much as people try to characterize those who are offended as oversensitive whiners, phrases like “PC police” and “I don’t believe in political correctness” absolutely reek of whininess, like “boo hoo I actually have to think about what I’m saying and consider other people’s feelings; I’m so oppressed!” Political correctness doesn’t mean that you can’t be honest. It doesn’t mean that you can’t be offensive, if that offensive language is making a larger, important point. It just means “don’t be a jackass.” The “PC police” defense is a blanket rhetorical device that allows thoughtless people to dodge criticism. If you are going to say/do something offensive, it should serve a greater purpose, and you should take whatever criticism you have coming openly and honestly.
8. Why would you expect something better? They’re just trying to make money and most people don’t care about this stuff.
Of course this is true. But to simply internalize it is defeatism. We can fight back, make noise, start conversations, engage in boycotts, write articles, create better art, and make the connections between pop culture and society that need to be made."
A to the Men Guante!
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1 comment:
Oh, this is gooood. I love the breakdown of each point, as it has even brought some of it home for me (things I do/say/etc.). The example of Long Duk Dong is a good one, too - certainly I saw the character as a comic stereotypical portrayal, but did not think about the negative repercussions of it and how it may hurt others. Lots of laughter at their expense. This all translates smoothly and efficiently into the realm of disability.
Thanks for sharing that!
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