Democrats and Liberals always lose to the racists. The racists always get the last word of racism in and Liberals and Democrats walk away nodding their heads. Elijah Cummings was useless, but you all thought he was great. Who is accepting of the mediocrity? Certainly not me.
Democrats have already shot down the best 2 pols they have: Rashida and AOC; because Democrats being useless are afraid they will upset the ignorant and racist Republican white people. If I was a dem leader, I would unleash Rashida and AOC and back them at every turn. But America is mediocre and Democrats are useless, so we have what we have - this false equivalency between racist white people and women who question their racism.
I just searched Netflix streaming for the 6 mainstream films you mentioned. None are available. Disappointing. I've seen one, but will see if Amazon has the others.
It's pretty embarrassing that all educated people nowadays seem to take any interest in is popular culture. If high culture wasn't so important, it wouldn't be the first thing shut down by dictators, or the first thing developed in countries that want to advance themselves. Pop culture is not important. It's fun, it's entertainment, and it is not serious. And all of it should be covered, especially now. Time was, serious culture was present in all media, now it is not. As a result, it is dying quickly. Raising popular culture in importance above it is part of the reason it is dying. It is not more important. Just more popular. But serious culture can also be popular. When network television was required to broadcast serious culture, they did, and people watched. Classical musicians and dancers appeared on all the variety and talk shows. Not any more. And even in popular culture, what is good or great is constantly thrown aside for what is new. Other countries have much more sense than that, so when we go there and see them having variety shows, vaudeville even, and lots of classical music everywhere, it is shocking. It shouldn't be, because that's how it should be here. Trendiness is not a virtue. If anything, it's a negative virtue. What is timeless and enduring is what must be valued most. All music is being destroyed by rap and hip-hop, but also the Arabic influence in too much singing, where there is lots of chant and ornamentation, but little melody or real singing.
Would Wesley consider adding Blindspotting to his list? If he doesn't think it belongs I would be interested in hearing why. It was one of my favorite movies of 2018.
The Daily Newsletter is to be congratulated for tackling this subject.
In his groundbreaking 1965 debate at the University of Cambridge on the state of race in American with William F. Buckley, Jr., James Baldwin opened by acknowledging that any conversation on the subject of race in American was hideously loaded because one's perspective and reference were totally determined by how one found oneself racially defined. Any interracial discussions on the topic were, therefore, hobbled by little, if any, common definitions—let alone understanding—of a shared reality. They still are.
For any credible progress, engagement must share a respect for facts. If we are ever to get past the identify bias we have been trained for centuries to embrace, then we must get past our own "observer effect." The Daily Newsletter's piece helps by tackling the controversy over the Green Book's Academy Award as well as enumerating other films and TV shows that depict a more realistically grounded baseline on racial themes whether they are comedic, expository or dramatic.
Finally, it is perfectly fitting for a news show or column to engage an analysis of pop-culture since there are fewer more authentic indicators at any time of what a society truly values and consumes. What matters is the standard of care that the news outlet brings to the topic as it looks through the lens of pop culture to find the truth. You showed here how it's done: good job.
Wesley Morris was right. Art and life came together this week as Congressman Meadows tried to use a black female federal employee, and former Trump family employee, as a political prop to absolve Trump of his racism. Mind you, unlike the racial reconciliation fantasies in these movies, Trump has made no attempt and we can see no evidence of personal growth in his views on race. Meadows also used his nieces and nephews as political props as well. The presence of people of color in your family - their mere proximity- does not give you a free pass. Sit down with people of color in mixed race families and you will get some eye opening stories made all the more powerful because these are people in their immediate and extended family and they simply cannot cuss them out and tell them to take a flying leap. Please cover more culture.
Either (or both) NYT podcasts like "The Daily" or "The Argument", or The Young Turks webcasts have been my go to daily media in addition to reading the online editions of the Times and WaPo.
Sorry, PBS Newshour (except for Friday Shields and Brooks segment), NBC Nightly News and BBC World News. You've been supplanted in my media diet by more interesting podcasts and webcasts.
I have no interest in the OSCARS anymore. Hollywood movies these days like the great start of years gone by.
I don't think any account of the Oscars belongs on Page 1 of the NYT. Please stick it where it belongs on the entertainment and don't cheapen your daily newsletter with talk about it.
This bit about “racial reconciliation fantasies,” such as Green Book (I’ve not seen it yet) reminds me of the “We saved some Jews” stories and films that seem to pop up more often lately. One can be somewhat conflicted about both genres. On the one hand they tell stories of humanity and courage on the other hand they are glossy reminders of mass madness and unspeakable horror. The both have a place in the cannon.
Really, could just do it and not tell us about it?
I'd listen to the 47-minute version! :D