I think part of the problem is that we (and by we I mean practically every culture of the world) still hold onto that idea that everyone who does not look like us, looks the same. We say this about asian people; asian people say this about us.
This is absolutely true.
Because of this, we tend to associate different skin pigmentations with different emotions: when we want a gibbering crowd for comedic effect, we use a flock of little Asian ladies; when we need people (things, really) to blow up to a - usually, though not always - less comedic effect, we use african-american men; when we need menace to no comedic effect at all, we have a knot of middle eastern men, glaring. Automatic visual response + cultural lesson-learning usually = bad.
Cogently observed and illustrated!
Aw, I feel so flattered - I inspired rage by rambling! (This is one of my greater achievements, so far.)
Ahaha. Rage is awesome*—it's a good thing I have lots of it! And friend away. I don't post that often, but I'll add you to my disorganized filters so you can hopefully see entries later (future rants, or something besides really old quizzes and crap). It's been a pleasure to rant to you and vice versa. ...I mean, share my views in a totally organized and irreproachable fashion.
*Sometimes, anyway!
Personally, I hold that Donna should get an "<-- I'm With Stupid" shirt. Or something. There are not nearly enough cracks made at the Doctor, when there is so much general crack'dness to laugh at.
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branchandroot
Re: I'm glad you shared this mix!
Date: 2008-04-24 11:20 pm (UTC)This is absolutely true.
Because of this, we tend to associate different skin pigmentations with different emotions: when we want a gibbering crowd for comedic effect, we use a flock of little Asian ladies; when we need people (things, really) to blow up to a - usually, though not always - less comedic effect, we use african-american men; when we need menace to no comedic effect at all, we have a knot of middle eastern men, glaring. Automatic visual response + cultural lesson-learning usually = bad.
Cogently observed and illustrated!
Aw, I feel so flattered - I inspired rage by rambling! (This is one of my greater achievements, so far.)
Ahaha. Rage is awesome*—it's a good thing I have lots of it! And friend away. I don't post that often, but I'll add you to my disorganized filters so you can hopefully see entries later (future rants, or something besides really old quizzes and crap). It's been a pleasure to rant to you and vice versa. ...I mean, share my views in a totally organized and irreproachable fashion.
*Sometimes, anyway!
Personally, I hold that Donna should get an "<-- I'm With Stupid" shirt. Or something. There are not nearly enough cracks made at the Doctor, when there is so much general crack'dness to laugh at.
It would sure save her a lot of explaining!