Difference between revisions of "BUI301F2022/Comedy and Identity Discussion"
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| + | == Herman Gray and Michael Omi & Howard Winant on the study of race and ethnicity== | ||
| + | *Sociologists Michael Omi and Howard Winant reject the idea of racial '''essentialism''' and propose an approach based instead on a '''racial formation'''. Explain these concepts. | ||
| + | *Herman Gray identifies three African-American discourses in TV. | ||
| + | *#The '''assimilationist''' category, including ''Designing Women''. | ||
| + | *#The '''pluralist''' category, including ''Girlfriends''. | ||
| + | *#The '''multiculturalist''' category. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Beretta Smith-Shomade== | ||
| + | Beretta Smith-Shomade (pronounced "show-ma-day") examines "four intertwined elements in [1990s] television comedy that define and give meaning to Black women's representation there: work roles, characterization, class, and identity" (48). | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Work and class. When Joan snoops in Marcus's apartment, she notes music by John Coltrane and Macy Gray and a novel by Walter Mosley. What do these allusions tell you about Marcus's social class? Also, elsewhere in the episode there are allusions to the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, Nelson Mandela, and Rainbow/PUSH. Each is a significant allusion within black culture. What/who are they? | ||
| + | <!--**The items in Marcus' apartment allude that he is well-off, cultured, and educated. They represent a higher class because many working class individuals may not be interested in those matters. --> | ||
| + | **The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment subjected many black men to the disease without proper treatment or information before the experiment. This contributed to a growing mistrust between the black community and medical professionals. | ||
| + | **Nelson Mandela was jailed for 27 years in South Africa for fighting to end apartheid. This represents racial injustice around the world. | ||
| + | **Rainbow/PUSH is a non-profit intended to empower black individuals within government positions. PUSH stands for People United to Serve Humanity. | ||
| + | *Identity: language. How does the way they speak define black characters? What differences do you hear in the ''Girlfriends'' characters' speech? | ||
| + | *Identity: skin shade. How does skin shade define black characters? Describe how this episode directly addresses this issue in the black community. Is there a moral to this story? | ||
| + | *Identity: hair. How do hair styles define black characters? What hair-style differences do you see in the ''Girlfriends'' characters and what do they tell you about Toni, Maya, Joan, and Lynn? | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Characterization (i.e., conventional roles and stereotypes). Does ''Girlfriends'' rely on African-American stereotypes? E.g., "mammy," "sapphire," "tragic mulatto," etc. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Casts== | ||
| + | ===''Girlfriends''=== | ||
| + | <gallery mode="packed" heights=200px> | ||
| + | File:Girlfriends20001002qq00 01 26qq00017.jpg|alt=Screenshot from Girlfriends.|''Girlfriends'' credits. From left: Toni, Maya, Joan, & Lynn. | ||
| + | File:Girlfriends20001002qq00 01 30qq00020.jpg|alt=Screenshot from Girlfriends.|Joan. | ||
| + | File:Girlfriends20001002qq00 01 31qq00022.jpg|alt=Screenshot from Girlfriends.|Maya. | ||
| + | File:Girlfriends20001002qq00 01 36qq00007.jpg|alt=Screenshot from Girlfriends.|Lynn. | ||
| + | File:Girlfriends20001002qq00 01 39qq00010.jpg|alt=Screenshot from Girlfriends.|Toni. | ||
| + | File:Girlfriends20001002qq00 01 41qq00034.jpg|alt=Screenshot from Girlfriends.|William. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | *William Dent ([[Wikipedia:Reggie Hayes|Reggie Hayes]]) | ||
| + | *Toni Childs ([[Wikipedia:Jill Marie Jones|Jill Marie Jones]]) | ||
| + | *Maya Wilkes ([[Wikipedia:Golden Brooks|Golden Brooks]]) | ||
| + | *Joan Clayton ([[Wikipedia:Tracee Ellis Ross|Tracee Ellis Ross]]) | ||
| + | *Lynn Searcy ([[Wikipedia:Persia White|Persia White]]) | ||
| + | *Marcus Stokes ([[Wikipedia:Rodney Van Johnson|Rodney Van Johnson]]) | ||
== Texts & resources == | == Texts & resources == | ||
*Beretta E. Smith-Shomade, "Laughing Out Loud: Negras Negotiating Situation Comedy," in ''Shaded Lives: African-American Women and Television'' (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2002), 24-68. | *Beretta E. Smith-Shomade, "Laughing Out Loud: Negras Negotiating Situation Comedy," in ''Shaded Lives: African-American Women and Television'' (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2002), 24-68. | ||
*Jeremy G. Butler, "Redesigning Discourse: Feminism, the Sitcom and Designing Women," Journal of Film and Video, 45, no. 1; pp. 13-26. [https://tvcrit.com/jbutler/research/RedesigningDiscourse.pdf Online version]. | *Jeremy G. Butler, "Redesigning Discourse: Feminism, the Sitcom and Designing Women," Journal of Film and Video, 45, no. 1; pp. 13-26. [https://tvcrit.com/jbutler/research/RedesigningDiscourse.pdf Online version]. | ||
| + | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jeremy_Butler/Books/Discourse_and_Identity:_Race Wikipedia book: ''Girlfriends'' allusions] | ||
| + | *[https://tvcrit.org/Classes/Jbutler/T311/Girlfriends/ ''Girlfriends'' illustrations] | ||
| + | *"Infanity: Girlfriends," tour of the ''Girlfriends'' set by Persia White, [https://tvcrit.org/EO/DV/White_Persia_Girlfriends.php local copy] | ||
[[Category:BUI301F2022]] | [[Category:BUI301F2022]] | ||
[[Category:BUI301F2022 Discussion]] | [[Category:BUI301F2022 Discussion]] | ||
Revision as of 19:20, 8 November 2022
- Race
- The Bernie Mac Show
- Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
- Girlfriends
- Jeff Foxworthy, The Good Old Days
- Jim Gaffigan, Noble Ape
- Ethnicity/nationality
- Always Be My Maybe
- Reservation Dogs
- Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens
- Religion
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Class
- The Lady Eve
- 2 Broke Girls
Herman Gray and Michael Omi & Howard Winant on the study of race and ethnicity
- Sociologists Michael Omi and Howard Winant reject the idea of racial essentialism and propose an approach based instead on a racial formation. Explain these concepts.
- Herman Gray identifies three African-American discourses in TV.
- The assimilationist category, including Designing Women.
- The pluralist category, including Girlfriends.
- The multiculturalist category.
Beretta Smith-Shomade
Beretta Smith-Shomade (pronounced "show-ma-day") examines "four intertwined elements in [1990s] television comedy that define and give meaning to Black women's representation there: work roles, characterization, class, and identity" (48).
- Work and class. When Joan snoops in Marcus's apartment, she notes music by John Coltrane and Macy Gray and a novel by Walter Mosley. What do these allusions tell you about Marcus's social class? Also, elsewhere in the episode there are allusions to the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, Nelson Mandela, and Rainbow/PUSH. Each is a significant allusion within black culture. What/who are they?
- The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment subjected many black men to the disease without proper treatment or information before the experiment. This contributed to a growing mistrust between the black community and medical professionals.
- Nelson Mandela was jailed for 27 years in South Africa for fighting to end apartheid. This represents racial injustice around the world.
- Rainbow/PUSH is a non-profit intended to empower black individuals within government positions. PUSH stands for People United to Serve Humanity.
- Identity: language. How does the way they speak define black characters? What differences do you hear in the Girlfriends characters' speech?
- Identity: skin shade. How does skin shade define black characters? Describe how this episode directly addresses this issue in the black community. Is there a moral to this story?
- Identity: hair. How do hair styles define black characters? What hair-style differences do you see in the Girlfriends characters and what do they tell you about Toni, Maya, Joan, and Lynn?
- Characterization (i.e., conventional roles and stereotypes). Does Girlfriends rely on African-American stereotypes? E.g., "mammy," "sapphire," "tragic mulatto," etc.
Casts
Girlfriends
Girlfriends credits. From left: Toni, Maya, Joan, & Lynn.
Joan.
Maya.
Lynn.
Toni.
William.
- William Dent (Reggie Hayes)
- Toni Childs (Jill Marie Jones)
- Maya Wilkes (Golden Brooks)
- Joan Clayton (Tracee Ellis Ross)
- Lynn Searcy (Persia White)
- Marcus Stokes (Rodney Van Johnson)
Texts & resources
- Beretta E. Smith-Shomade, "Laughing Out Loud: Negras Negotiating Situation Comedy," in Shaded Lives: African-American Women and Television (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2002), 24-68.
- Jeremy G. Butler, "Redesigning Discourse: Feminism, the Sitcom and Designing Women," Journal of Film and Video, 45, no. 1; pp. 13-26. Online version.
- Wikipedia book: Girlfriends allusions
- Girlfriends illustrations
- "Infanity: Girlfriends," tour of the Girlfriends set by Persia White, local copy
