Homosexuality, born this way...i don't think so

One thing that is getting way too much undeserved attention in the media is the subject homophobia. Oh, someone said the f word, better get out the equality card and use the same old "born this way" argument. These gay pride parades, these banners telling people that gays are here to say, the opposing groups referring to them as "faggot" and "dikes". And you must chose a side otherwise you are either a homophobic or a "queer lover". Being neutral makes you the target of much abuse, you must either love the idea or hate the idea, indifference is not an option. You have both sides arguing over who is right, and you will one or the other depending on your cultural beliefs. But why can't we all just take a step back and ask "why can't people just mind their own bloody business?". Both sides are wrong in their approach to this issue. I will now put into perspective what the anti-gay groups are saying in protest to pop stars cashing in on a trend with songs like Born this way and unconditionally.

What more is there to say about the anti-gay groups that hasn't been said....oh i know....the bloody truth. The anti-gay groups are traditionalists and purist who believe in the age old concepts of female and male reproduction. And before some idiot says, "Our society should be that", i tell that idiot that i am not talking about love, i am talking about nature. No matter what people say, you need a male and female to make a baby unless you are asexual but that is very unlikely. Society did not decide on males and females marrying, it was in the nature of our species. You will not have same sex couples in nature because animals have intercourse for reproduction more so than pleasure. Species exist on this planet to leave offspring that is fit to leave more offspring, why should humans be any different. Parents feel love for their child because they are naturally designed to feel love. However evolved or above other species we humans think we are, the fact is we still have those fundamental instincts that every other species on the planet has.

Lady Gaga's song born this way is asinine to an extent surpassing the American voting system. Her song is saying there is nothing wrong with being gay which is understandable but she is saying people are born homosexual. Lady Gaga just told Rene Descartes and Charles Darwin to kiss her ass because she is now a biologist and a philosopher. The fact of the matter is, every "fit" organism whether be it human or herring is born programmed with the chromosomes and characteristics of two parents(a man and a woman) and thus given the tools necessary to develop and pass on those characteristics to the next generation. Heterosexuality is not what is right in society it is a scientific fact, these "feelings" men feel for women are natural because there is a chance of offspring.

Rene Descartes said "I think therefore i am", what separates humans from others is choice. Humans can stray off from other species because we have something that other species are missing, humans have reason and therefore they have reasonable doubt. The ability to question nature is what makes humans different.Katy Perry was right, love is unconditional but love does not have to mean you must have sex with that person. Intercourse has one purpose and one purpose only to make babies, and you can only make babies with the opposite gender therefore the concept of homosexuality is redundant. Humans have the ability to reason logical or illogically therefore we will do things that contradict nature.

We can contradict nature but nature is always right in the end, but that hasn't stopped us but going against nature does have consequences. What is the answer to the question "Is homosexuality wrong?", if you look at from a logical perspective then "Yes" would be an easy answer but if you look at it from a human perspective then the answer is fallible and the best thing to do is not to ask the question at all. But humans question and questioning lead to controversy which leads to conflict.

Questions....i don't want any conflict so i ain't asking any!

IS THAT A MOOSE?! No silly, Its a Canadian!

The good  ol' Canadians eh? Living in the harsh winter weather, sporting a toque and riding a polar bear down to the nearest Tim Hortons. Canadians seem to have a wonderful reputation. Viewed as some of the nicest people on earth. If Canada was a human, It'd be that one guy that you barely know but love to be around. Well, that's the dominant discourse at least. Canadians seem to be tucked in by a blanket of stereotypes, which covers the scars of it's past, on its bed of stolen land. These misrepresentations grant Canadians respect, hand in hand with a bit of ridicule, in many parts of the world. Although that may seem like a great thing, it is important to get the full image of this Country and its people. After all, the story that your scars tell are what makes you beautiful, Right?

Although Canadians are represented as loving and accepting in the media, the unfortunate truth is, Canadians can be racist too! The War Measures Act, deemed a "military necessity". During World War 2 This act had allowed for the mass incarceration and unfair treatment of  21,000 Japanese-Canadians. Under suspicions that some Japanese maybe spies. Thousands were forced from their homes into interment camps. Their belongings confiscated and sold at auctions. Men were separated from their families, all Japanese were forced to pay money for their own interment. If they refused to work, they would be sent to jails with barbed-wire fencing. After the war had ended, Japanese were coerced to move away from dense populations. 4,000 Japanese had also been deported back to Japan. After all those security measures were taken, not one Japanese had been convicted of being a spy or even a threat to Canada's security.

Canadians also seem to give a helping hand to other countries when it comes to giving. Has it always been that way though? In the past they seem to grab a heaping load when it comes to taking. One of the things many people may not be aware about the Great Canadians is that they live on stolen land and have played a part in massacring Aboriginal people and their culture. Canada had come into existence by conquering the original inhabitants of the land. To make sure the Canadian culture and presence was rooted into the country, Canadians had also created Residential Schools. They had forcefully taken away Aboriginal Children from their parents and indoctrinated them with their own beliefs and values. Children had to face, physical and sexual abuse, sterilization and murder. That was some of the "true patriot love", Aboriginals had received.

That is just a small glimpse into the history of Canada. But that was the past right? Modern Canadian society is a lot different. Definitely, rather than murdering the rest of the aboriginals, They have just been stuffed into reserves, where we can ignore their pleas, for the fulfillment of contracts for promised land. Canadians have even begun extending a pipeline, through and near their small reserves, without allowing their input into the decision, Isn't that wonderful? Just because Canadians have good stereotypes about them, it does not really prove that they're all that nice. Don't get me wrong a good amount definitely are. But you shouldn't judge and generalize an entire nation based on a few stereotypes. Instead, research and see the facts for yourself. Just remember; No nice guy will be able to tame a beast like the polar bear.

Questions:

Are positive stereotypes a good thing?

How do you feel about the dark history of Canada?

Should we forget about Canada's Past?

Do you like Tim Hortons?

Sources:
http://www.ajic.mb.ca/volumel/chapter5.html

http://www.japanesecanadianhistory.net/the_war_years.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/avrum-rosensweig/canada-residential-schools-_b_1392036.html

Use Female characters in Videogames..It's Super effective!

Elizabeth from Bioshock:infinite, Her characteristics make her seem helpless and childlike.

How often do you see video games featuring female protagonists? How are they portrayed and characterized? Does it influence how society should act?

Of course many of you are non-gamers; this link will provide you an idea of what is happening in the virtual world. 

http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-sexist-video-game-problems-even-bigger-than-breasts/

It’s no doubt that the virtual world is also male dominated and females are treated similarly to reality. Let’s start off by discussing the commonly used roles for female characters. First of all, female characters play in the role of damsel in distress (Women in trouble, in desperate need of help), they wait helplessly as the male hero comes to defeat the villain and rescue her. For those of you who don’t know, this method is commonly used in Mario games, where princess Peach is constantly kidnapped by Bowser the villain and Mario or Luigi are always inclined to save her. Whether or not this is a marketing scheme, the company “Nintendo” portrays females as weak and defenseless in Mario games.

Another role would be the erotic female characters. In today's society , many companies attempt to promote their video games by presenting females in provocative clothing and or sexual attitudes. This technique has been in media for quite a long time that, it is ingrained in our minds to consider it the dominant discourse. It is for a fact that females are used as sex objects to catch teens' and adults' attention to the game, and as a result, it benefits the company. Therefore, it is guaranteed that you will encounter provocative females in free-to-play massive multiplayer online game advertisements(MMO, derived from the ability to maintain vast amount of players). It is also believed that female characters who are presented as sex objects, tend to look childlike, vulnerable, and weak. Although companies profit from this method of attention, it can impact how females in reality are judged by males and even worse, lead to a clash between gender.

Furthermore, an element that was thought to be brought to an end was rape. Of course, the majority of video games today do not depict rape scenes or sexual assault, but still exists over the internet where developers create perverted flash games illegally. There were a few videogames in the past that depicted elements of rape; these games are known as Custer's Revenge, RapeLay, and Hotline Miami 2: Wrong number. It raised major controversy and debates whether it was offensive in terms of racism or sexism. Fortunately, rape to a certain degree was legally abolished, but again, these types of games still remain on the internet and can provoke sexual assaults to occur in reality. 

As you can see, most videogames contain provocative women for the purpose of attracting men because it is the dominant discourse. If the roles were to be reversed, where males presented sexually, topless, or half naked. Men would obviously see it as "wow, that's gay" as opposes to "wow, that's hot". In addition, there are certain games such as Tomb Raider(2013), Mirror's Edge, Resident Evil, and Beyond Two Souls that defy the dominant discourse in male protagonists. However, we should also consider how the females in these games are treated, the amount of brutality is more graphical and disturbing as opposed to a male getting ripped to shreds by a table saw or is eaten alive by a horde of zombies. The reason behind it, since most men see women as frail and helpless, they feel if a female protagonist goes through torture, it would be very disturbing and abnormal compared to a male. It just goes to show that representation of women can be very extreme depending on the condition.

 *CONTAINS SCENES NOT SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED*

Questions to consider:

• How do you feel about females currently represented in videogames?

• Do you think the current portrayals of females can impact today's society negatively?

• How would you consider a unbiased female character to be portrayed in videogames?

• To women, do you approve of how men are currently presenting females in videogames?

That's So Gay!

How many of us used this phrase before? How many use it to describe an action? A person?

Media has been the main influence on many individuals thoughts about this topic. The topic of something being described as "gay". The main characteristics that is showed through media of something or someone being gay are: 

• Feminine
• Fashionistas
• Weaker
• Diseased
• A joke
• Emotional 
• Opinionated
• Excluded from the "Norm"
• Non parental
• Against religion

The list can continue on for quite some time, but these points listed above are the dominant discourse that is portrayed on the media through various forms of media. 

There are many other media outlets no doubt that shows gays in a happy and "normal". For example Grey's Anatomy presents a gay couple comprising of two happy looking women going through the same problems and joys as heterosexual coupes go through. Taking care of a child, financial problems, emotional problems, and romance are some of the few things this couple goes through.

Another strong influence on many of our peers is the fact that many celebrities and pro athletes sponsor what they believe into their from of media. For example rappers and "masculine" sports all are anti-gay sponsored. Rappers as write about having sexual interactions with females strictly and it is assumed that sports such as hockey or football are meant and played by men that are all heterosexuals, due to the fact that those sports are considered "manly". But in actuality there are many athletes that after their career has come out and said that they are gay.

Most celebrities present themselves as pro gay. An obvious example is Ellen Degeneres and Neil Patrick Harris. They are both, with their partners, openly gay and seem to be happy with their relationship.

A parody video posted below has two takes on it's meaning.

1. That it is making fun of Kanye West's new video by using two males to make the video comedic

2. To show how happy two male partners can be

Questions:

1. What problem can arise from this image of gay in the media?

2. Why do you believe that this is correct or incorrect portrayal of gay?

3. Why do you believe that saying "that's so gay!" has become intertwined into our teenage society to tightly?

Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ispgYFInhwE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRckgn36lzY

Readings

http://www.examiner.com/article/are-homosexuals-accurately-represented-the-media

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/mtw9402.html

http://www.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=919

Watch Out Ese, It's The Border Patrol

OH THE IRONY!
Do you  find this to be comedic or offensive?

Offensive isn't it! For any of you who don't know, "ese" is a Spanish word that literally translates to "that" ("that" key or "that" boat). However, over time this word has come to have another meaning which is equivalent to "dude" or "homie". If it is not obvious by now, ese, used in this sense, is a slang term used by the stereotypical Mexican/Cuban seen is various movies. ["Que pasa ese?" is a common phrase used by what the average Joe calls "chollo" (gangster)] Before i continue on, i should state that the politically correct term that is used to reference Mexicans and Cubans, ect, is Latino. However, many individuals say that the politically correct term is actually Hispanic. This is because it was coined by the US Census Bureau in the 70s and it groups together all Spanish speaking people regardless of race/nationality. However, for this post i will be using the term Latino because i find it to be more PC. (I am truly sorry if this offends anyone.)

Have you ever noticed what the dominant discourse says about the average Latino? It says that they all come from South America, they are are illegals, they steal jobs, they all speak Spanish, all the females work as maids, they all eat tacos/burritos, they are all gangsters and they all have long names (usually the typical ones: Jose, Rodriguez, Jorge ect). Sadly, those were just a few of the many currently circulating throughout society. I would now like you to take a couple of minutes and watch the video presented above. Before you watch, you must know that there is profanity involved in it. You have been warned. The video that i have shown above is not to be deconstructed because there is no need for that. It is not like the video in my previous post where i took it apart and while one could do the same to this, it is not necessary. However, i would like to point out a couple of things. While this video was dramatic for comedic purposes, i do agree with many of the points that it made. It's also interesting to see that the video points out that housekeepers are looked down upon, are blamed for actions they did not commit and are treated very disrespectfully. Before i finish talking about this video, i would like to point out one more thing that i found to be quite intriguing. Did you notice that to exemplify the Latino stereotypes, the video uses Caucasian (PC) stereotypes? The Caucasian woman in the video embodies many Caucasian stereotypes. Some of these stereotypes seen in the video are: Caucasians are condescending, they are close minded, they are stupid and they are rich and conceited. Irony, why art thou so beautiful?

Most of these common stereotypes that media presents to us are shown largely on television. It is sad to see so many programs that have characters that portray the stereotypical Latino. Let's take into consideration the show, Devious Maids. I have presented to you the trailer for the show just to give you a glimpse of what the show is about. There are a few problems that i have with this series and i would like to address them. The first issue that i have is fairly obvious: the lead characters are all maids...who are all Latino. Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with working as a maid (the world revolves around money). However, i do have a problem with the American entertainment industry because it constantly tells Latinas that this is all they can ever achieve. Continuing on, i find it to be offensive that in the show the maids are seen to be people who love to gossip, act sassy around their employers and regularly dine is fancy cafes. This does not make sense and not only is it stereotypical but it is also inappropriate to portray Latinos in this way. On another note, although this does not tie in with Latino stereotypes, i should mention that this show also exhibits Caucasian and general maid stereotypes. All the employers in the show are Caucasian and they all are snobby, pompous and loathsome. (Caucasian Stereotypes) Also, the show provides viewers with some maid stereotypes which say that they are all unfaithful, charming, sneaky and that they all wear the same coloured uniforms (black and white).

Let's move away from Devious Maids and go onto a show that most of us know. A show that is comedic, racist, offensive and animated. The name of this nefarious show is Family Guy.  One of the show's characters is Consuela, a Latino maid. She speaks in broken English, cleans all the time and is hardly ever seen in anything other than a housekeeper's outfit. Now, i understand that Family Guy is a humorous show that is meant to be offensive and is meant to take aim at social groups, but the only reason i mention it is for you to get some information on how the dominant discourse portrays Latino stereotypes in television programs. Finally, let's take a look at the show Heroes. The only two Latino characters, Alejandro and Maya Herrera, in the show are shown to be siblings who have crossed the border into America illegally.  While they are shown to be major characters, the brother is killed off early on and as the show goes on their story line becomes erratic and inconsistent. Compare this to the other major characters (even some of the minor characters) and you will see how small of a part they play in the show. It is sad to see that when they are important during scenes, the lines are so cheesy and stereotypical that it makes viewers slightly dislike the writers of the show.

I would like to leave you all with these questions. Ponder upon them, derive an answer and spark a discussion below. Thank you all for reading. Please forgive any grammatical errors and if i need to correct/clarify anything, please tell me (comment).

1. Do you think tv shows like Family Guy and South Park have negative effects on their viewers? If so, then what are they?
2. Have you seen "Devious Maids"? If you have, what do you think of it? If not, then would you like to watch it?
3. In what other shows have you seen Latino stereotypes?
4. Latino or Hispanic, which do you think is more appropriate?
5. Why do you think writers and producers constantly build Latino characters around stereotypes?
6. Other than on television, where else have you seen stereotypes (more specifically Latino stereotypes) being used?
7. Do you think that sometimes writes put in a coloured character not to improve the story line itself, but to prove that the show is culturally diverse? (Wouldn't this get them higher views?)

Where are all the girls?

In the People's Republic of China they have a one-child policy where It restricts urban couples to only one child, while allowing additional in several case, including twins, rural couples, ethnic minorities, and couples who both lack siblings themselves. In China, many people prefer to have boys over girls. Thus aborting their child as soon as they find out they have a girl or they abandon them after giving birth. Why, you ask? Well, many people within China believe having a boy will bring them good luck and success into the family, just because they are a boy! 

Here are a list of things why the citizens of China tend to favor boys over girls :

• Men are more capable of hard labour
• Receive higher wages than women
• Be better providers for the parents when they get old
• Boys and the wives they marry would take care of the members of his own family
• Passes on the family's name/bloodline

(Let's keep in mind that not everyone within China hold this belief, this is mostly because of the age-old traditions) 

Boys are not more important that girls at all, but girls are perceived to be less valuable than boy because the society in China have been taught that they are. The Chinese want boys not girls. They are terribly sad when they get a girl. They consider it a misdeed to their family. Many times, wives leave their baby girls in markets or in parks, in an effort to have a second child (a boy). Of the girls who are found, a few of them are adopted by Americans, many of them are kept in crowded orphanages for the rest of their childhood. All because people favor boys.

Women are equally capable of doing what men can do, in fact possibly even better. They can provide just as much for their family and make higher wages. Once they get married, who says they are not allowed to take care of both families? I believe it is possible, at least they could try. Not every women changes their last name once they get married, the family can discuss about this topic when the time come. There's also another alternative like having both last names. 

Here's a link that talk about this topic more in depth and also the impact if this rate continues: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/10/chinas-population-laws-th_n_185626.html

If you don't understand article, here's a video that can explain it:

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is it so hard to break from tradition? 
2. When will the chinese know that women are just as capable as men?
3. Do you believe women are capable of doing things way better than men can?
4. What do you think about the list, is it true? If so, tell me why? If not, still tell me why?

The Blurred Lines Behind "Blurred Lines"

Everyone must have heard or know of the number one ranked song on Billboard’s 2013 Song of the Summer Chart, “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke. As people listen and jam to the music, many do not realize the hidden messages written between the lines of the lyrics. Yes this song can get very catchy and is popular but, have you ever stopped to think about what the song really means?

In reality, Robin Thicke’s lyrics are very offensive and degrading to women. In his original unrated music video, all three females that were involved in the making were dressed close to being naked. The only clothing present most of the time is a nude toned thong and a pair of heels. “Ok now he was close, tried to domesticate you, but you’re an animal, baby it’s in your nature”, a few lines from the song refers to women being alike animals. By having the women in his video almost naked, he has strengthened the ideas and thoughts of women being at the same status as an animal since, animals do not wear clothes as well. If women are like animals, Robin Thick’s message would also indicate that women need to be tamed and controlled but, by who? Robin Thicke had indicated the dominate discourse of men being superior to women and therefore, males will be the ones to tame females. 

Not only are some of the lyrics demeaning but, also many of the lines are very hurtful to raped victims. Victims of rape have made many complains after the song has started to play on the radio and soon progressed to becoming famous. In the link below, it is said that the victimizers in many rape crimes have used the exact lines written in the song towards their victims. “I know you want it, but you’re a good girl, the way you grab me, must wanna get nasty”, relates to sex and consent. Many rape victims do not give proper consent before being forced to have sex. It is assumed by rapists that nothing is being forced on instead, it is wanted. This would mean that the song is somehow agreeing that it is fine for rapists to use these lines towards their sufferers. Since celebrities have a high status, they have the power to influence the minds of their listeners and fans. The song Blurred Lines sends a negative message to listeners and can be a factor leading to the encouragement of rape and domestic violence crimes.

Still not understanding the negative impact of this song? Another way to see the bad influences omitted would be to view the song with a different lens.  From a male’s perspective, we can change up the sex of the singer to a female, with male back up dancers. Will the different version of the song have a different impression on fans and listeners?

Only by watching a female’s version of this song, can we start to realize the many things that are wrong with the song Blurred Lines.

• What are your thoughts and feelings towards the song after watching the women version? 
• How does your thought differ from the feelings of the original video?
• Do you think its right for women to be to be viewed to society, as they are portrayed in Robin Thicke's video?

Link to raped victims:

http://www.psmag.com/culture/mouths-rapists-lyrics-robin-thickes-blurred-lines-66569/ 

Role Reversals and Relationships

  

Some of the previous blog posts addressing gender inequalities have noted that when certain things like rape or abuse happen to one gender, it is more accepted than if the same thing were to happen to the other gender. 

This idea of role reversal is something that I'd like to discuss using the movie "She's the Man" as an example. In "She's the Man" the main character Viola, disguises herself as her twin brother Sebastian, in order to earn a place on the boys' soccer team and prove that girls can play just as well as boys.

Along the way, we see the process that Viola goes through in order to keep up her facade and how her new guy friends perceive "Sebastian." 

Viola is not portrayed as a completely stereotypical girl, but rather she is sporty, she does not like very "girly" thing like debutantes (coming out parties) and she's very outspoken and not afraid to be crude. However, she does have some more "typically feminine" qualities, such as the fact that she is caring and passionate, and in touch with her emotions.
This, in the end leads her to catch the attention of the male lead Duke (Channing Tatum).

As Sebastian, Viola tries to embody the dominant discourse of men. She tries to be tough and strong, she speaks with a low voice and uses slang such as "bro" and "homie," and she tries not to show emotion. Unfortunately, Viola is not very good at this. When she does slip up and let her emotions and her more caring side show, she (as Sebastian) is thought of as weird and a loser by the other guys. Its not until "Sebastian" pretends to be a player that the other guys start to think that he's cool.
Check out this clip:
She's The Man Restaurant Scene

The explicit message in this clip is that its not cool for guys to be emotional. Guys are cool when they get a lot of girls or they're players. So to go along with this theme of role reversals, how come girls can't be players?
Why is it that when a girl goes out with a lot of guys they are considered sluts and looked down upon, while guys who get a lot of girls are "idols" or people to be looked up to?

Some popular sayings that we've gotten from the media include "Good girls like bad boys," "Nice guys finish last," and "Tall, dark and handsome," (describing attractive men, dark referring to mysterious or bad according to my interpretation), but are these saying really true?
From the lens of someone who is looking for a serious relationship these sayings probably wouldn't be true. When looking for someone to be a friend or a relationship partner, we probably wouldn't want someone, male or female, who is a player or someone who does not care about us. So why does the media state otherwise?
(Just to throw in an extra video for you: Nice Guys )


Questions to consider:

- Why are bad boys or players considered "cool," and do you really think they are?

- Why do you think women are expected to be monogamous (dating only one person at a time) while men are not?

- Do you think that the dominant discourse stating that men are unemotional is true? Do you think that this assumption is true for real men (men in your day to day lives) ?

Sikh people considered "terrorists"

Prabhjot Singh , a university
professor attacked in upper
Manhattan New York 

When we see a man wearing a turban, we have many thoughts going through our mind, the first thing that comes to peoples mind when they see a Sikh man is, “he’s probably a terrorist”, “their responsible for 911”, “what is his turban symbolizing?”. Society stereotypes people just because of how they look and what they believe in, this gives people the wrong idea about who they really are. Sikh people are normal people like you and me, however Many people have a misconception that turbans and beards are associated with terrorism. Absolutely not, a turban and beard are linked with the Sikh faith which is used to show the true identity of a Sikh.

The big question is “who is to be blamed?” The answer to that is media. The reason why is because the western society consumes large amounts of media which comes in different forms such as television, internet, radio, telephone and newspaper. Therefore through consuming hours and hours of media, it’s possible that 1 article can change a person’s perception. Moreover, during the attack on the world trade center, multiple news stations (fox, CNN, ABC) all mentioned how the attacks were conducted by Osama bin laden. Notice how Osama bin laden has a turban and a long beard; also Sikhs have turbans and long beards. From this we see that the media convinced the audience that the suspect responsible for the attacks fits the same description of a Sikh mans physical features (turban and long beard).

To get a better sense of how Sikh people are being portrayed, the wall street journal had put out an article which surveyed 1500 people and found that Americans tend to associate turbans with Osama bin Laden. It said "49% believe “Sikh” is a section of Islam and 79% did not know that Sikhism originated in India. It also stated “of the 1,184 answers to a question on which respondents would associate with a turban and beard, 35.3% said Osama bin Laden. Nearly half (47.3%) answered “no association,” while 14.3% chose Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini”. 

Sikh man in California
found his property vandalized, it read
"Its not your country" 

That is not all, a month after 9/11; more than 300 hate crimes were committed against Sikhs according to the Sikh Coalition, a New York-based community group formed in response to attacks on Sikhs. These hate crimes continue to grow and grow. The mass shooting at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on august 5 2012 was another disturbing example of a hate crime towards Sikhs. Wade Micheal page (a white supremacist) stormed into the Sikh temple killing 6 and wounding 4 worshipers.  The most disturbing form of discrimination towards a Sikh happened in Mississippi when a Sikh trucker was pulled over for a flat tire. The 49 year old  trucker from California insisted that he was harassed by 2 police officers just because of his religious beliefs. “The officers laughed at him and mocked his religious beliefs,” the letter read. “One officer declared that all Sikhs are depraved and ‘terrorists." To make matter worse, the trucker was taken to court where the judge insisted the trucker to take the “rag” (insulting the turban) of his head. 

As a result, we see that media has such a negative impact on Sikhs since media has created a dominant discourse where if a Sikh man in a turban is spotted, people assume he is a linked with a terrorist organization.  In North America, many Sikhs are judged by their physical appearance, their religion, which makes them feel their different from others. However, identifying people wearing turbans as terrorist and making them a target of hatred is completely wrong. Just like every person wearing a baseball hat is not a bank robber; every person wearing a turban is not a terrorist.
Furthermore, we must learn that there is a major misconception on how different minorities are being portrayed in media. In other words we must think from a different perspective on what the media is trying to convey to the audience rather than jumping to conclusions. Therefore, analyze the text, and look at more than one media in order to get a full understanding of a certain situation. I wanted to share this post since I believe it has affected me personally since I have some relatives who wear turbans and they are sometimes the center of attention in malls or public places since the turban distinguish them from others. All in all, we must all learn to not discriminate and stereotype against one another since we are all equal in many ways. 

Please check out the following links to get more information:

The wall street journal

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/09/24/in-the-u-s-associating-sikhs-with-terrorism/

Police officers insult a innocent Sikh truck driver

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sikh-truck-driver-labeled-terrorist-mississippi-traffic-cops-judge-calls-man-turban-rag-aclu-article-1.1470362

New reporter suggest Osama bin laden may be responsible 911

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uFMIvS9vkg

Discussion questions:

1. Will this dominant discourse of Sikhs being categorized as terrorist continue in North America?
2. Is there any other religion aside from Sikhism that faces the same stereotype?
3. How do you feel when you see a Sikh man,  Do you really consider him a terrorist? 
4. What do you think could be done to stop discrimination against Sikhs?
5. Has this post changed the way you think about Sikhs in general? 

Hot girls do indeed face many obstacles made inconsiquential by their presentation

When we think of dominant discourse, we think of subtle and sometimes even subliminal messages which shape the lens with with we view the world. A media text must be deconstructed to see the messages hidden in it, ranging from an appeal to one's pity to an influx of loaded terms. People consume media because it is constructed to appeal to them. But there are times, when the stars align and you get something that can not be described in words more socially acceptable than "the f***". I am of course referring to "Double Take" masterpiece conceived from something along the lines of cockroach feces "Hot Girl Problems".

 

Double Take has made a genuine effort to portray the dilemmas faced by hot girls everyday. Hot girls are just like us except that they are hot, the poetry in their words is almost Shakespearean. Being perfect means that you get phone calls from weird guys and girls calling you names, these girls need your sympathy people. They contradict themselves many times throughout the video, they cannot decide whether they are perfect, textbook perfection or not perfect. We have been looking at hot girls and thinking that they have no problems because they look nice but Double Take has made a revelation with this video.

Now on a less condescending note, this song is not borderline offensive, it raises the bar for insensitive music. The lyrics are degrading to insecure girls and some boys, and the music video is an asinine individual's attempt at something pretentious. If boy bands have taught us anything, its that a very high number of teenage girls who are insecure about how they look. This song is a big "f*** you"(couldn't find a better way to put it) to those girls. This implied message this song sends is that your looks are proportional to your happiness. And it is also implied that guys who don't look to a certain standard are 'weird' for messaging them. The problems these girls have make first world problems seem like monstrous catastrophes.

1. Do you think the problems that these girls are talking about are real 'problems'?

2.  In your view where does this song cross the boundary from arrogant to asinine? 

3. Do any of the things these girls say hold true in reality? (Think about this one)

 

Ching Chong Ling Long Let's Hear a Racist Song

Offensive isn't it! I can guarantee, that when one of you (my peers) read the title, the thought of Eastern Asians popped into your mind. It is truly amazing how media has influenced our views of society and how it impacts the way we look at the people around us. One of the largest forms of media that has been taking humans by storm for thousands of years is music. Whether the medium is the radio, television or internet, the fact of the matter is that music greatly influences the way we see things in life, be it in a positive or negative manner. The sad truth is that many artists have been using music in such a way that it negatively perpetuates stereotypes of various races. Ergo, it increases the affects it has on the minds of males and females throughout the world. A question should now be asked. What does the dominant discourse in music say about certain races? More specifically, what does the dominant discourse in music say about Asians (Politically Corrected to Eastern Asians).

To answer the question we must move on to the meat of the topic. Let's take a moment and deconstruct two songs that fall into the racist category. By doing this, we will be able to see who is being negatively affected by the song, how it might affect younger generations and how it helps to increase stereotypes against Asians. First of all, take a second and watch the video presented above. Produced by the talent agency, PMW Live, Chinese Food is a song that focuses on...well just that. Right at the beginning of the video an Asian man is shown cooking a dish that consists of noodles and vegetables. The interesting thing is that throughout the video when Alison Gold is "singing", unnecessary subtitles are provided in various languages. However, when the Asian man in the beginning speaks in his native language, no subtitles are given. Fast forward to the inside of the restaurant, behind the counter is an Asian girl who serves Gold. As Gold "sings" her order to the girl, the girl is shown to be an expert at using the register; she is able to input the order without looking, all while she constantly laughs and smiles at Gold. [Notice how sad it is that PMW Live did not have the decency to at least change the numbers on the register while they are being "imputed", it stays at 65 from the outside and 6.58 on the inside (this was the price of the previous order)] Continuing on, I find it slightly inappropriate that the man under the panda suit places the dog piece on "Oriental Avenue". Now comes the part where Gold and the other females are seen wearing kimonos while the two girls on the side are seen in a geisha like getup. This is very wrong for two reasons. Firstly, the kimono is the traditional Japanese outfit for women; the Chang-ao is the traditional Chinese garment for women and therefore the kimono does not belong in the video. Secondly, a geisha is a traditional Japanese entertainer and thus the getup should not be donned for a video about Chinese food. What makes it worse is the constant bowing which is really unnecessary. Finally, at the end of the video, the words "Fortune Cookies Are Never Wrong" appear while a stereotypical gong is sounded and the Asian man bows. That phrase can be offensive because fortune cookies are not even part of the Chinese cuisine/tradition/culture. It was popularized in the United States and it seems to have originated in Japan. "Fortune Cookies" are not widely present in China. Now if i were to look at this video though the lens of an Asian man, i believe that this would offend me. Not only does it make fun of Asian heritage and the language but it is also disrespectful to the Asian culture and tradition. People may say that i am taking this video too seriously or that i should not analyze this in such a harsh manner, but i believe that it is necessary to do this for two reasons. Firstly, it helps me recognize stereotypes and how they should not be used and abused in society. Secondly, the 12 year old that sings this is just a child and feeding her such stereotypes at such a young may negatively affect her in the future. By analyzing this video, one can understand that this is wrong and that one should not condone it.

Now before i provide you all with my questions i would like to quickly talk about one more thing. That is the song Asian Girlz by Day Above Ground. Due to the video's explicit content i cannot provide it here. Many have said that this song was just a joke and even the band (yes, it's a legitimate band) claimed that it was done for fun. However, these claims only came out when the reviews turned out horrible, before that they were promoting this song everywhere, especially on their new album. To give you a little taste of how racist this song is, i will provide you with some lyrics. Here we start with "I love your sticky rice" and "I love your creamy yellow thighs/Ooh your slanted eyes". Let's skip ahead to the bridge where it says, "Yeah, shark soup/Oh, tradition, tradition, tradition, yeah yeah/Baby, you're my Asian girl/You're here illegally/So baby marry me/Come on sit on my lap/Or we'll send you back/And you age so well/I can barely tell/17 or 23?/Baby doesn't matter to me". Finally the song ends off by listing various stereotypical names and words pointed towards Asians, ranging from Bruce Lee and Sailor Moon to Chinatown and Toyota. Now you see why i find this song to be the epitome of offensive. I have provided you with these two songs just to give you a glimpse of how Asian stereotypes are being used in the music industry. This should not go without saying that other racial stereotypes are also used in music but that should be the topic of...another post.

I would like to leave you all with these questions. Ponder upon them, derive an answer and spark a discussion below. Thank you all for reading. Please forgive any grammatical errors and if i need to correct/clarify anything, please tell me (comment).

1. What other Asian stereotypes have you seen in musical lyrics or music videos?
2. Do you think early exposure to stereotypes can negatively impact the way a child thinks throughout their life?
3. Why do you think PMW Live produced this song? What was it's purpose? It's message?
4. Do you think using stereotypes and racial remarks is a money making scheme using by large music industries?
5. How do songs like these affect you? Do they?
6. If songs like these are mass produced, in what way(s) will society be affected?

"The Yellow People”?

Why it is that media is so biased against the Eastern Asians? Why does it show them in a specific negative light? Is it really fair to the Asians, when they are misrepresented in the media? The media today, is one heck of a stereotypical, racist and politicized medium. How would you feel if people of your race, colour or ethnicity were being misrepresented on a consistent basis? It is our media which is highly racist and unfair to the people of  East Asian background. Asians are always shown inferior and unimportant in many media TV shows, commercials ,advertisement, etc.Asians are people with just a different culture who share the same planet as who live, eat, breathe, act and feelings and emotions just like us. They are one of us and aren't different from us in any aspect of life. 

With the media portrayal, they are shown as a nerds, spies, gangsters, and people who are excessively close to their culture has only recently emerged; prior to this Asian men and women were shown as spies from Japan. This relates back to the Pearl Harbour incident. Now, since Japan and United States are on good diplomatic terms this hatred has shifted to China; in TV shows today most Chinese people are shown as spies. Overall, one way or the other the media finds a way to crucify the culture of Eastern Asians, rather than celebrate it. This shows that media is politicized; it is not independent in its opinion. 

Moreover, the media has defined a specific role of Asians in our society and our culture. They are known as people who have connections with triads (gangs), they are depicted as nerds, spies and people who have strong ties to their culture. Many times, it has been the case that Asians are not considered a part of the majority. In America and Canada they are several examples that this is the case. For example, in the TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation the forensic doctor of the investigating team is shown as a nerdy and an unattractive person. In the show narrow Asian people are shown as gangsters and part of triads. In NCIS: Los Angeles many episodes show Asian people as Chinese spies. In the Canadian TV show Murdoch Mysteries in an episode Asian people are always shown wearing their cultural clothing. Similarly, in an ad featuring Lebron James, shows him winning from the Chinese god in a one-on-one game. This ad goes way beyond just simple stereotype of cultural clothing and martial arts moves. In my view it shows China against the Americans and shows the victory of Americans over Chinese people. It again demeans them Asian culture.

 Not only that, but the dominant discourse of today’s society proclaimed Asian people who lack communications skills, are shy, overachievers and technologically savvy. There are several of examples of such cases. For example, in Law & Order: SVU, forensic psychiatrist George Huang is shown as a nerdy, and an intelligent man who has extraordinary thinking skills. Moreover, another character from the TV series “Lost”, Jim Kwon is a character who does not speak English at all is shown as a son of poor fisherman from a Korean background. It does not end there, the media find more ways of stereotyping against East Asians such as showing Isabella from “Miami Vice” and Hiro Nakamura from the TV show “Heroes” as untrustworthy, evil, foreign people who could not fully absorb in the American culture. 

Apart from all that, the young famous NBA Asian basketball player Jeremy Lin who currently plays for Houston Rockets was called for a Taiwanese Talk show, and have been reported saying, “I have been racially discriminated when I was in college…There are a lot of slurs being shouted by the crowd” while the games is on. This type of misrepresentation affects the American and Canadian youth who are studying with their Asian peers and problematic situations will appear such as hate crime, racial discrimination, racial harassment and bullying. Now the question arises, why do we let media define our lives?

(In this ad, everyone despite being black or white all the actors are shown 

to have been wearing typical western clothing and speaking English with a

proper accent. In comparison with that, we see two Eastern Asian men dressed

in Martial Art uniform and speak in their weak English accent. Also their dancing style

is the media's art of mocking people's culture. This video hints a little stereotype the 

American media presents in to make fun of someone's background)

Questions to reflect upon:

Have you ever been through racial discrimination at school?

Would there be a time, when we will stop discriminating among your peers and not let media 

shape our perceptions about Asians?

Do you think that these stereotypes hold any truth in them?

If you were to work in the media industry, what would you do to tackle this issue?

Males and Hardworking Go Hand & Hand?

Media has had a profound effect on our minds and the society that we are currently living in. The dominant discourse has really influenced our ideas, behaviors and perceptions that males are to be the only hardworking people.  I will have to disagree on that. Women too are hardworking but media has embedded into our minds that they're only stay at home mothers and take care of the children. That's the stereotype we believe in when we think about females. We can't blame society for thinking that males are the only hardworking people. We are constantly bombarded with all sorts of media text that we consume that implies that males are hardworking and females aren't.

If you were to deconstruct the video with the attached link, you will see the message they are trying to send.

Firstly, let’s take a look at what the ad is trying to implement to its viewers. The producer of the video is telling its viewers that hardworking men deserve a big meal because they work hard. Let’s look at this differently, so the producer is sending a message regarding that only males should eat this meal offered by this restaurant because they are hard workers. This tells the viewer that this meal is not for females because they aren't as hardworking as males. 

Secondly, if we look at this from a neutral-gender lens we will see what the producer is trying to say. Similarly, he is implying that females are not hardworking. I have to totally disagree on that point. Maybe this director has his own beliefs and value messages in the ad but it doesn't give him the ability to forget that females are hardworking. There are female firefighters, cops, doctors, pilots and other professionals in the society we live in today. The implicit message being sent is that females are weak and they aren't hardworking. 

Lastly, media has embedded into our minds and has reshaped us on how hardworking females are. They have labeled the female community as "weak" and "lazy". This video has a special interest. The ad is insisting that males are the majority of people that are hardworking and therefore they can make a healthy profit if this audience accepts their ads message. They are trying to exclude the female community because they believe that there are more hardworking men then females. I believe that this ad misrepresents men. Hardworking men are not just firefighters, policemen and construction workers but they can be hardworking teachers, doctors, investment bankers and so on. We can't just stop here from deconstructing the ad even further. I believe that the female community will view this ad as misrepresenting and omitting them. This media text indicates that females are not hardworking individuals. It paints an image of females as weak and lazy people.The feminist that exist in this world will disagree with this medium. Likewise, the male community will strongly agree with the ad because they believe that they're the backbone of this nation. It's safe to say that the stereotype of men being the hardworking people is truly false and invalid. Yes, there are hardworking men but we can't forget that there are hardworking females as well. For example, look at Hillary Clinton who is a hardworking female who is the United States Secretary of State. She is a hardworking individual who advocated numerous times for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Foster Care Independence Act. This also brings up the question that you don't have to be a firefighter nor policemen/women to be considered a hardworking individual. Hardworking people come with all different types of jobs. Society shouldn't have the ability to label and stereotype which gender is hardworking and which isn't. Another example of hardworking women is our very own, Kathleen Wynne who is the Premier of Ontario. She too is a hardworking woman who has successfully proven that the stereotype of males being the only hardworking people is truly wrong. We can't let the male dominant world 
forget about the hardworking

Hillary Clinton

 females like Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, Malala Yousafzai, Eva Peron, Helen Keller and many more who have contributed to this world we live in. All of these hardworking women have done so much for the female community and the world, which in fact will be really disrespectful to let all sorts of media that we consume affect the way we look at females. The male stereotype of them being the backbone and hardworking people is wrong. We live in a society that is built upon by both genders, male and female.

Video:

Hardworking Guys

Discussion questions:

Do you think that this ad purposely excluded females?

Do you think dominant discourse has gone to far? 

If you're a female would you disagree with this video? Why or why not?

If you're a male would you approve that females are not hardworking? Why or why not?

Do you think that females are capable of doing the same intense work as males?

Should we blame society for this wrongful stereotyping of men being the only the hardworking people?

Hi Everyone,

In preparation for our live-blog round table discussion tomorrow please read this article that addresses the Steubenville rape case,  a teen suicide in Nova Scotia, and the phenomenon of "rape culture."  Just like our previous round table on abortion, I caution you all to be very careful about the tone of your comments.  For some reason when people express themselves through technology their sense of accountability disappears.  Also, it is very difficult to detect tone through text alone (are people being sincere, or sarcastic?).  Since this live-blog will be marked like a regular round table I encourage you to be respectful and mature when writing your comments (as I know you are capable of doing) since you cannot know the past experiences of your peers, or their friends and families.

The article is a bit long, but brings up a lot of interesting points of discussion.  Here are some of the leading questions for our live-blog. 

Questions to consider:

1. To what extent do you believe technology has contributed to incidences of sexual assault?

2. From your experience as a high school student, how well do you think sex education informs students about "consent, new technology, and sexual assault?"

3. What is your response to the statistic listed in the article that, "About one in four college-age women will be sexually assaulted at some point during their time at university?"

4.  “Boys who normally would never sexually assault a girl are much more likely when they feel their peers are watching and will support their efforts . . . And in high school, peer support and likability is everything,” Donovan says." Do you believe this is true? Why/why not?

5. In regards to police questioning victims of rape: "Lots of questions are still asked about: Why did you put yourself in a position where you were going to get raped? . . . We never ask these questions when a person’s house is burgled. What did your curtains do to invite the intruder to break the glass?"  Why do so many people assume that rape is justified on the grounds of what the victim is wearing? How might this be changed?

Please consider these questions carefully tonight and post your responses during class time tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to it!

Violence Against Women in the Media and the Arts

The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes a wave of new products for consumers. The picture to the left is an image being used by NARS Cosmetics as part of their new holiday collection, entitled NARS by Guy Bourdin. Guy Bourdin is an infamous fashion photographer, who is the inspiration for the products in the line.

Let’s deconstruct the image: We’re looking at a woman with an apparent bruised eye (based on my interpretation), headfirst into the grass, and presumably naked. NARS selected the image from one of Guy Bourdin’s photographs, as seen here. For me, the picture raises a lot of immediate red flags and questions. Why would NARS think that showcasing this seemingly battered woman would somehow make female customers want to buy this product? Are they implying that violence against women is somehow the woman’s fault, which is why women would find this image desirable? We all know that these types of decisions are made carefully and deliberately, especially in aesthetic-based industries like beauty.

The picture above is an entryway into a bigger topic, because this is not the first time we've seen companies use questionable images on their products. Focusing on Guy Bourdin for a minute, a lot of his photographs that can be seen in the link above feature women in demeaning, almost-nude positions. He’s known for having a fascination with violence, sex and death. But interestingly enough, he’s also an extremely celebrated and revered fashion icon. In industries like art and fashion, this trend of violence (mostly having to do with women) is considered edgy and mysterious. But why is portraying women in that way acceptable, but if we exchanged those spots with men, it would not be cool or interesting anymore? The media knows that the dominant discourse within our culture is that women automatically equal sex and weakness. Even when discussing topics like rape, we always talk about its effects on women. Well, women are not always the victims as men get raped too. But because of the way history and many other things have shaped the way we think, the issue of women being victimizers does not get discussed as much.

These types of advertisements have a big effect on the way men perceive women, how women look at themselves and even how they look at men. The picture itself portrays women in an unfavourable light that transcends outside of stores and magazines, into the minds of young people who don’t realize that these advertisements are more than just hollow pictures. They are meant to evoke emotion and thought, whether it is good or bad. How we let controversial images, like the one NARS has used, influence the way we as a society think is extremely crucial to moving forward with issues like gender equality and feminism.

The important thing to realize is that the whole reason why companies and media outlets create the advertisements they do is based on us. They pay people tons of money to understand what we as consumers like, and what we don’t like. What’s the new “thing”? Who’s the new “it” girl? All of these things are considered when the commercials and advertisements we’re discussing on the blog are being made. Their creations come from us inadvertently accepting these controversial issues, and not doing anything about it until we see it in a magazine or read an article online. In a way, these media texts are a reflection of us and our ideologies.

Additional Note: If you have a Twitter account and would like to chime in on the issue, you can tweet to NARS Cosmetics with your thoughts to their twitter handle, @NARSissist, with the hashtag #NotBuyingIt. 

Questions to Ponder:

1. Where do we cross the line on free expression?

2. Do you think it's right to portray women in a violent/belittling manner, in the name of art? 

3. What kind of message, if any, do you think NARS is trying to send by using this specific photograph on one of their products?

4. How can we collectively change the negative way women and other groups of people (e.g. teenagers, Muslims) are represented in the media?

Original Article: NARS Cosmetics Glamorizes Violence Against Women