Have you ever been eating with somebody & then they taste something disgusting and immediately offer it to you to share in the experience? “YUK! Here, taste this!” I have never understood that exchange.
I also have never understood why so many folks claim to despise negative stereotypical images fed to us, but continue to support them.
I believe Melvin Van Peebles was the one that once said Hollywood has an Achilles wallet: if it makes money no matter what it is they will make it. So it could be said that Hollywood and televison are artistically/politically/morally neutral – they couldn’t care less if it’s a movie about Madea or Mumia as long as it makes money. Examples range from corporate support and wide distribution of Michael Moore’s antiestablishment documentaries, to the Kwanzaa cups at McDonald’s. It could be further said that the responsibility lies with the audience then, to make quality decisions that in turn effect the quality and content of the material. But it seems to me that every time there is an award show on BET or a racist misogynistic reality show or a poorly written melodramatic farce celebrating contemporary coonery, folks FLOCK to it in unprecedented numbers.
Some claim intellectual curiousity, some say they can’t comment unless they see it, some just love it as a guilty pleasure – all of which are fine. My issue comes with the fact that if you put money into supporting these projects then they will continue to make them – even bigger and more frequently. My greater issue comes with the fact that we collectively as audience members don’t find and support the alternatives with the same amount of enthusiasm. We don’t search out and support and vote with our dollars for the films, shows, movies and art that enhance and cleberate our mythology. [Read more]
Art activist (honorary RBG) Banksy does opening credits for The Simpson’s. If you know nothing about Banksy please see the documentary “Exit through the gift shop” if its being screened near you or when it finally comes to this country on DVD.
all i had to say when i saw this bizarrely racist app in the iTunes store was, ‘really, apple?’ but author & blogger Erica Kennedy has much more to say about the issue.
TALKBACK THEATER – interactive community cinema
Second Saturdays @ WESTNORTH Studio (September 11th)
106 W. North Ave. Baltimore MD. 21201
8-10 pm
This week we cap off the season with a selection of short film and avant-garde music videos. The program will include many of Pierre Bennu’s award-winning shorts. Including the clip of the soon to re-released “Red Bone Guerillas” & and very special NEVER seen before episode of the series “story” that was too crazy to post.
Snacks will be provided!
come yell at the screen with your friends one last time
Writer, filmmaker, and radio host Nyree Emory on the role of the Law Of Attraction in interpersonal relationships.
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(Overheard on the 6:40 To Croton Harmon)
“She been at my house for a week my nigga…”
“A week?”
“Yeah, she been there since I had the cable cut off. I’m about to turn that shit back on though. Tired of that bitch being in my house…”
(5 minutes later…)
“Told you, my nigga, ignore that shit. Act like that phone ain’t even ring. When she say, ‘Why you ain’t call me?’ just tell her ‘I’m callin’ you now, right?’ And if she keep up with it, or say some shit you can’t come back from, hang up. Her insecurity will be eatin’ at her my nigga.”
They say that it takes about 7 years 4 u 2 recycle all the cells in your body. This took place abt 2 Pierre’s ago.
Chakaras & I went to art school together. We had several small adventures during the time we knew each other… our last big one was a road trip to the Million Man March in October 1995.
I was inspired to get this photo essay/album scanned and uploaded by his untimely passing last week. It’s dedicated to him, his memory, and all of those whose lives he touched.
You always hear the cliche about the journey and the destination. We’re all destined to end up in the same place, but i am thankful that our journeys crossed paths at some point. I am better because of it. Thank you, Chakaras. rest in peace.
“A new performance art project that we have been working on with RED CLAY called High and Low, the name is based on the Kurosawa film with the same title. We take High art to common places and see what reactions we get.” – Shawn Peters
Writer, filmmaker, and radio host Nyree Emory on the role of the Law Of Attraction in interpersonal relationships. 
