zaneskipper

[zaneskipper]

Punching Up: An Analysis of Hip-Hop and Oppression

Hip-Hop (as well as rap) is a musical genre that assembles rhythmic beats and pairs them with spoken prose. It’s come in many different forms, but there is no denying that hip-hop is associated with our understanding of black culture. Hip-hop was originated by oppressed black citizens directly following the Civil Rights movement in the 60′s. Groups like N.W.A would soon come to rise with anthems such as “F*** Tha Police” which acted as a cultural slap to the face to the society that embraced Jim Crowe and further oppressed minority races. For nearly half a century, hip-hop has been used as a medium to communicate the experience of the voiceless, of the oppressed. 

A more recent development in hip-hop has been the rise of Native American hip-hop. With change comes hesitation, and some have argued that Native American hip-hop is the latest to appropriate black culture. I would argue that Native American hip-hop is not cultural appropriation, but rather cultural appreciation. Hip-hop first and foremost was created to voice the opinions of an oppressed race, so it seems like a befitting genre for Native American music. Native culture, being filled with pain and suffering ever since their land was stripped away from them, has been seemingly disregarded in the contemporary era. I’d like to think that one race doesn't hold complete control over a genre of music, but rather than this genre is being used by different oppressed cultures to voice their injustices, vicariously relieve the pain of their ancestors, and punch up at the powers that be. 

#hip hop #rap #oppression #systematicracism #analysis #punchingup

[zaneskipper]

A Review of “Blindspotting (2018)”

‘Blindspotting’ is the story of two best friends from Oakland named Collin and Miles. As gentrification and police brutality ravage through the city they once knew, Collin and Miles have to face their differences and address each other’s “blindspots.”

I loved this film. I say that as a film major who genuinely thinks that this is a good movie on a technical level. I know some people think that ‘good movies’ are synonymous with ‘movies that I agree with,’ but I wholeheartedly think this a good movie across the board. The performances, cinematography, sound design, direction, writing, set design, costumes, everything is superb! That being said, most people are going to walk away from this film more impressed with its political commentary. “Blindspotting” offers some very insightful commentary into the damage of police brutality on the black community, as well as the gentrification of lower income communities. Commentary that was written nearly a decade ago and it still relevant, might I add. I found the film very provocative, and the use of color is very striking. Our protagonist, Collin, frequently has nightmares following a violent act he was witness to, and these sequences are extraordinarily creative. The use of color is super contrastful, oftentimes fusing implications of the police with bloodshed and violence. 

There is so much I could talk about regarding this film, but I feel like this post would be reeeeally long if I did. I’m the type to really dig deep whenever I do film analyses. For now, I will just say that “Blindspotting” is a very good film and you should definitely give it a watch. For being such a low-budget indie film, the creators were able to accomplish a lot. It’s commentary is meaningful and poignant, and you’ll be glued to the screen for a majority of its runtime. Definitely give “Blindspotting” a chance! 

#blindspotting #moviereview #filmreview #daveed diggs

[zaneskipper]

A Course Evaluation

So far, I enjoy this course. It’s nice to be in a course that is more subjective. Your success is more dependent on your open-mindedness and understanding rather than remembering an answer. It’s a pleasant change of pace. I enjoy the analysis-type content we discuss in class, because as a Film Studies major, I’m pretty used to doing analysis work. Overall, I’ve enjoyed it so far. 

I feel like where some students’ apprehension comes from is the topics that we discuss. It’s no secret that Florida Southern is a primarily white campus, with nearly 76% of its student body being white students. So having a primarily white student body discuss issues of representation and minority races, although necessary, could leave some feeling uncomfortable. With today’s political climate, and the election running closer and closer, it seems like it’s become more imperative that students keep their political affiliations under wraps. So having this course, (which let’s be honest, is primarily left-leaning) require students to discuss these issues aloud to other students, it might leave some more conservative students feeling pressured into conforming into an ideology. 

Now I’m not saying that is representative of my experience. I pride myself in being able to see both sides of the coin, but I’m just providing some context to a situation that I’m sure at least a few students are feeling. 

[zaneskipper]

Race in Comedy

Comedy can be a powerful tool for any social movement for a multitude of reasons. Comedy is accessible, and a great way to engage people in your cause. Comedy is a wonderful outlet to ridicule the oppressor. Comedy, most of all, helps us relate. 

Using all three of these ideas, let's apply them specifically to conversations regarding race and/or systematic racism. For this example, we will discuss various skits by the comedy duo. Key & Peele, as well as a recent SNL sketch titled “Black Jeopardy.”

Key & Peele are no strangers to controversy, but I think they tackle some very interesting things in their sketches. They manage to find very absurdist and almost outrageously boisterous ways to communicate real world problems such as racism and political agendas. One sketch I’d like to mention is one called “Obama’s Anger Translator: Meet Luthor.” The premise of the skit is quite simple, the president hires an anger translator to communicate his frustrations to the people of America. While Obama (Peele) is very collected, his translator Luther (Key) is loud and manic. Luthor bickers about the American public giving president Obama backlash after his inauguration, especially regarding his birth certificate. This leads to the most explosive part of the video, where Luthor breaks down the ridiculous nature of petitioning against the active president because his middle name sounds vaguely middle-eastern. The skit is very funny, and I would highly advise giving it a watch if you are at all interested in political humor. 

Speaking of political humor, SNL released a sketch called “Black Jeopardy” that was just that. Just like Key & Peele, the premise is quite simple: a Jeopardy panel containing mainly black contestants is shocked when a white Donald Trump supporter surprisingly becomes a worthy competitor. The skit is used as a means of saying “why aren't so different, you and I,” pointing out similarities in ideology between both black citizens and Trump supporters. The real stinger is at the end, when the final category is “Lives That Matter,” and it serves as a final jab at the ideologies of the Republican party during that political race. It's a really funny sketch with an emphasis and comparison. 

[zaneskipper]

Intersectionality and the “Model Minority Myth”

In recent years, there’s no denying that social justice has made tremendous strides. However, with all these social justice movements seemingly prevailing beyond belief, why is that a majority of this country's communities still feel discriminated against? As great as social justice movements are, they neglect to question whether or not an individual’s pain is synonymous with someone else's. Do we all experience discrimination and prejudice in the same fashion? Many would argue that, in reality, there are multiple layers of discrimination that need to be addressed in order to truly be an anti-racist/anti-sexist society. This idea is called ‘intersectionality.’ A black woman will, in most circumstances, experience more prejudice than a white woman, despite both parties fighting against the same issues of sexism in America. Not only is she fighting for her rights as a woman, but she is simultaneously fighting for her value as an African-American. Understanding intersectionality will be the next big step for social movements, and might be the difference between painful stagnation and meaningful change. 

Another point of conversation worth bringing up would be how painfully outdated and hypocritical the “model minority myth” is. The model minority myth is basically the preconception that minority groups have an obligation to be more successful and more responsible, in an effort to prove their worth to the rest of our capitalist society. It is pressured on minority teenagers very heavily, especially those found in the Asian-American and Black minority groups. First off, the idea that minority races are “obligated” to be anything other than people is completely bogus. Secondly, this is America. This is suppose to be the home of the free. This is supposed to be the home of those pursuing liberty and happiness. For our society to encourage, and more importantly, ENFORCE, minority races into certain careers and responsibilities seems utterly paradoxical to what America is supposed to be. Treat people like people, and let them pursue and be whatever the hell they want. 

#racism #systematicracism #intersectionality #minority #model minority #prejudice #america #socialjustice

[zaneskipper]

Welcome to my blog! On this blog, we’re going to take a deep dive into the systematic racism found within popular culture, but first, let me tell you a little about me!

My name is Ryder Skipper. I’m 20 years old, and have lived in Florida my entire life (I know, insanity, right). I’m an artist, filmmaker, musician, actor, car enthusiast, metalhead, amongst many other things. I grew up reading comic books, so I love anything associated with Marvel or DC. I absolutely love snakes, and I own a python named Buck. He’s about 4 feet long, as he's my best friend! I have three nephews (6, 11, and 13), and they all love anime and reptiles as much as me. I love to joke around and spend time with friends (something that’s become a rare occurrence due to Covid). I enjoy spending time in nature, and having a momentary release from urban life. It’s very surreal to put yourself in a position where you're surrounded by untouched Earth. You feel like you’re a part of something larger. I’m a Junior at FSC and study Communications: Film Studies with a minor in Biology. I feel like I’m rambling, so I suppose that’s enough about me, lol. Thanks for tuning in to my blog, and hopefully we can come to a new understanding of race and popular culture together 

#new blog #race #popularculture #class #floridasouthern