Brit.

Hello! My name is Brit! Originally used this as a studyblog, but I’m done with school lol But then again when do we ever stop studying in healthcare🫠 If you have any questions, send me a message! About Me | Ask Me Anything | Blog Posts | 100 Days of Productivity

[beemovieerotica]

[prettyblossom]

I. Am. UNDONE! 😩

I’m seriously suppose to wait until NOVEMBER?! How is that even right???

[velartis]

Franz Kafka, 1912

[prettyblossom]

*Note to self

[prettyblossom]

I know a lot of people are upset by Grace inviting the vampires into the building. And to be honest, SO AM I!

I’m like “Trick! Did you not see what they did to that man outside the door??”

But I want to make a case for her behaviour. I don’t know how many people will be receptive to it but meh! I’m here for the dialogue.

I just want to bring a different perspective.

Grace is Chinese. And out of every marginalized group highlighted, she comes from a place that has not been colonized. A VERY homogeneous society that withstood the test of time for THOUSANDS of years. Dynasties have come and gone. But they are dynasties made up of themselves.

Colonization is such a nefarious act that not only does it oppress the people being colonized physically, economically, and socially, but it oppresses them mentally. Make them so afraid to rise up that they simply “keep their heads down” to avoid problems. And ensure others do the same to protect the collective from any repercussions.

I wonder if her heritage is what enabled her to take a stand. A “all or nothing” or “we die as men” type mentality. Because one of things we do associate with China are their fierce warriors. Her family migrated from the US, but historically, the Chinese were able to start businesses and accumulate some wealth, while maintaining their traditions and language. Interestingly enough, in some parts of the South, they were allowed to attend some White-only schools during the Jim Crow era. They were allowed to maintain a level of dignity for their identity that enslaved Black people could never fully relate to.

So for their language to be used to mock and taunt her?? While her turned husband is right there?? For his memories to be known and yet that was not enough for Remmick to stop his takeover?? Because at the end of the day, they still left their home to be in the US for a better life.

But not only did she have that going for her, they threatened her daughter. Mama Bear came out!

Because sis was up in FLAMES! to kill these blood suckers!

Just looking at the demeanor of Smoke and the others compared to her when they were about to be attacked just shows the dichotomy of these group of people when they have no choice but to rise up to save themselves.

Grace really was about that life.

[princelydisaster]

I don’t want to ruffle any feathers or be difficult, but I think you have some misconceptions about Chinese culture and history 😅

I’ve seen them in a few places online and irl so I don’t think it’s your problem specifically, OP. I think education on these things isn’t common in the USA and other places. So I want to explain it and give resources for further learning.

I’ve been familiar with this subject because I’m Chinese American and interested in history - in fact my family is from the same region as Grace and Bo!

But I found out there’s a lot that even I didn’t know while I was looking for sources. Have some info + links for further reading + my own Sinners thoughts below the cut.

A) China has a history of colonization. At least by the time of Sinners there would’ve been decades of British occupation.

a) in southern China (where Grace & Bo come from) is Macau, which was a Portuguese colonial settlement until 1999.

B) China is not ethnically homogenous, as there’s 56 Chinese ethnic groups recognized by the government. I headcanon that Grace and Bo would be Han Chinese, sub group Cantonese.

C) the last dynasty, the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) was actually run by another ethnic group called the Manchu.

Again this is not meant as a knock against OP, as I have met a lot of people with similar misconceptions. I want to make this a teaching moment for everyone (including myself). I have an appreciation for history and I think knowing more would help with understanding historical based fiction like Sinners.

I would argue that all this information makes Remmick even worse considering Ireland’s colonization.

For all his talk of solidarity, he singles out someone from a country that was also exploited by the British. All this because he wants to take Sammie’s gift and assimilate the people of the juke joint into singing his songs and dancing his dances.

I also appreciate the Grace defense as I see so many people hating on Grace.

Personally I interpret her actions in that scene first as the actions of someone in a stressful survival situation in a horror film, rather than being representative of race relations. I’m not saying “it’s not that deep” or that is an invalid form of analysis. but one character cracking and making a split second decision that puts everyone else in danger is a common trope in horror, especially with zombies / vampires / humanoid monsters that infect people.

It seems so mean spirited when I see other people interpret her actions in this scene - reckless and under distress - as a representation of every Asian American person’s role in America’s racial hierarchy for example. Usually from non Asians as “proof” of their assumption that Asians shouldn’t be reached out to, or even by other Asians as something to cringe at because it “makes us look bad”.

I like the interpretation that Grace did it because she wanted to go out fighting. Or at least keep the vampires away from the town.

Do I wish she did it differently? Yeah.

But I respect that Grace chose to eliminate the threat to her daughter by taking herself and her husband out, and in order to make sure their souls could reunite with their ancestors. Just like Annie asked Smoke to do for her.

… it makes me wonder if things would be awkward for Lisa to observe the Chinese Buddhist practice of burning incense and offerings to ancestors when her parents burnt to death. She could still leave them food at an altar at least…?

also I was thinking because of their accents that Grace and Bo grew up in Mississippi, or at least spent most of their lives there. the first wave of Chinese immigrants to the region arrived after the civil war. so it’s possible. But you could make the case either way. They talk to people a lot and could’ve picked up the language quickly to make business deals.

[prettyblossom]

Thank you for the clarification!

Definitely opened my worldview and corrected some misconceptions. It does worsen the actions of Remmick. And to be honest, after some time has passed since watching the movie, his takeover is just as violent as a colonist.

So it is a bit disappointing to read that even a major country such as China has experienced colonization/foreign occupation. Which makes me wonder if there is a country that has been left completely untouched?

Personally, I’m Afro-Caribbean. Unfortunately, I’m not able to trace back my ancestry. So the idea of a country not experiencing it was/is so inspiring.

But to know that’s not the case…smh

However, I do appreciate correction. That’s why I kinda gave a bit of a disclaimer in the beginning lol

I loved that this movie has allowed us to reveal parts of history that is unknown or needs clarity. Because everyone’s history is important. And the way that it’s told is important. How else are we not to repeat it if we don’t know it. It reveals why people think and operate the way that they do.

Which may be one of the reasons Ryan included images of their ancestry and culture during Sammie’s song. Almost a reminder that we should learn to appreciate one another and find more opportunities to fellowship together despite the obvious differences.

As you said, at some point of a horror film, someone is pushed to the brink so that the story can progress to the climax. Reflecting further, out of those who were present, I believe either Grace or Smoke could have been that vehicle.

So then it begs the question, why was Grace chosen? Probably because everyone she knew and loved were outside those walls? She believed she would have had a better chance of retaliation with five instead her one (and that’s with the idea of her leaving the building by herself)?

(obviously this calls for another watch lol)

I do hope we get more insight on Ryan’s choices when plotting out the story lol because I still believe that there is some element of upbringing and cultural relevance at play as to why she did what she did. Only because I can understand the behaviour of the others and how that hesitation can be traced back to personal historic conflicts (read: slavery, Jim Crow, etc.), since we are ethnically similar, in choosing not to do anything at that time. To wait for the moment that yields the biggest advantage.

Thanks again for the insight!

[prettyblossom]

I know a lot of people are upset by Grace inviting the vampires into the building. And to be honest, SO AM I!

I’m like “Trick! Did you not see what they did to that man outside the door??”

But I want to make a case for her behaviour. I don’t know how many people will be receptive to it but meh! I’m here for the dialogue.

I just want to bring a different perspective.

Grace is Chinese. And out of every marginalized group highlighted, she comes from a place that has not been colonized. A VERY homogeneous society that withstood the test of time for THOUSANDS of years. Dynasties have come and gone. But they are dynasties made up of themselves.

Colonization is such a nefarious act that not only does it oppress the people being colonized physically, economically, and socially, but it oppresses them mentally. Make them so afraid to rise up that they simply “keep their heads down” to avoid problems. And ensure others do the same to protect the collective from any repercussions.

I wonder if her heritage is what enabled her to take a stand. A “all or nothing” or “we die as men” type mentality. Because one of things we do associate with China are their fierce warriors. Her family migrated from the US, but historically, the Chinese were able to start businesses and accumulate some wealth, while maintaining their traditions and language. Interestingly enough, in some parts of the South, they were allowed to attend some White-only schools during the Jim Crow era. They were allowed to maintain a level of dignity for their identity that enslaved Black people could never fully relate to.

So for their language to be used to mock and taunt her?? While her turned husband is right there?? For his memories to be known and yet that was not enough for Remmick to stop his takeover?? Because at the end of the day, they still left their home to be in the US for a better life.

But not only did she have that going for her, they threatened her daughter. Mama Bear came out!

Because sis was up in FLAMES! to kill these blood suckers!

Just looking at the demeanor of Smoke and the others compared to her when they were about to be attacked just shows the dichotomy of these group of people when they have no choice but to rise up to save themselves.

Grace really was about that life.

[prettyblossom]

Many have already connected the theme of forced assimilation and how even marginalized groups of people can perpetuate the same racist constructs if they’re ir not careful.

I loved that each main character came from a marginalized group, in some capacity (Remmick from British colonized Ireland, which is a group of people who were also “othered” when they migrated to the US, Grace and Bo from China, Mary, a white-passing woman (because back then if you had ONE drop of blood, you were considered black) who basically argued that she wanted some level of autonomy for her life, etc.)

Therefore, they share some commonality of experiencing oppressive systems.

But unfortunately, human beings have an issue with power.

Despite Remmick knowing and experiencing the stripping of his own culture, his behavior emulated the same as white Americans. However, under the guise of “unity” and “we won’t treat you the same as they did.”

Almost “the lesser of two evils” coded.

I think he may have gotten this way by being complacent and unconsciously (or maybe consciously) assimilating to the centric mindset of White Americans. It is much easier for them to be accepted because they look that same (i.e. the white couple inviting him inside, not knowing that he is Irish and they are Klansmen).

He took on the “White Saviour” persona. Who have always been the “main character. Have the “the ability to save those who are marginalized.” They “step up when one else would.”

He believes himself to be the answer to their needs.

But it was all a facade.

He knew exactly what they’ve experienced, endured. What has been stripped away from them. Yet, he only thought of himself and what he can get out of it.

[prettyblossom]

First of all, I LOVED THIS MOVIE! The cast! The music! The story! The metaphors! The message!!

Definitely, have “classic” potential.

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan did their big one with this. It’s so different from their other work together, which just speaks to the RANGE!

You can’t tell me Michael don’t have a twin! The character are so distinct from each other, that I QUICKLY forgot this is one man playing twins.

(Lindsey Lohan crawl so that he could run lol)

[prettyblossom]

Hi hello!

Just saw “Sinners” and I have MANY THOUGHTS!

(It’s funny that I literally only make a series of posts after watching a movie lol)

[kaleidoscopic-quiddity]

i know i shouldnt be suprised but sinners being out for less than a week and already tumblr is fandomifying and 'poor wet pathetic cat'-ifying the main white man villain of the movie is so... disapointing??? like did the fucking point of the movie really go over your heads that badly or are you just willingly ignorant and stupid?

AND BEFORE ANYONE STARTS; im not saying you cant like remmick, he's a very interesting character, a great villain, and jack o'connell gave a great performance playing him, nor do i care if you think hes sexy, I think hes sexy

but i think to come out of a movie where vampires serve as a metaphor for how black american communities have the life sucked out of them by white people via cultural appropriation (remmick wanting to use sammie's gift to summon his own ancestors) and forced assimilation (all the turned vampires singing and dancing along with remmick's irish folk song and dance juxtaposed with the blend of cultures during sammie's song in the juke joint) and for your main take away to be 'aww the main villain is just a misunderstood sadboy' or 'idc abt the atrocities he looked sexy doing them (when the atrocities in question were racism)' then youre just being so disengenuous and antithetical to the whole point of the film?

and dont come at me with the 'let people enjoy things' bullshit, sinners is a movie FUNDAMENTALLY about racism and racial dynamics in the united states, and i do think focusing on your little y/n x [whiteboy of the month] fics and 'hes so babygirl' posts do actually stunt your own critical engagement with the message this movie was trying to convey to its audience

i think its also a disservice to remmick's character; the moral nuance that comes to light when you consider his position as an irish immigrant to the US, a victim of the colonialist british empire just like the black main cast (although in a very different way) and how, whilst his desire to reclaim his ancestry and heritage is understandable and even relatable, his pursuit of sammie and willingness to kill literally everyone else at the juke joint is allegorical for how, regardless of their own marginalisation, white people will prey upon and steal from black culture(s) and destroy/disenfranchise black communities to serve their own interests, and the movie is NOT subtle about this either, delta slim literally lays it out for us "white folks like the blues just fine, they just don't like the people who make them"

idk im yelling into the void here, the ppl im complaining about are never going to give a shit about racism or even just critically engaging with art when theres a new cute whiteboy to write fluff and angst about, but its just soooo annoying to see, yet again, how fandom spaces, which SHOULD be about uplifing and celebrating art in all its diversity and complexity, once again is nothing more than people ignoring anything that actually makes them have to confront reality and filing off the serial numbers to slot characters into pre-determined fanon molds so they can pump out incorrect quotes and coffee shop AUs en masse until the media iliterate heat death of the universe

[trans-ralsei]

[trans-ralsei]

[caughtthedarkness93]

I love my job, but reblogging employment jelly for someone else I love.

[ciil]

i recently started yyh b/c it is on netflix now (when did that happen) anyways the dub especially makes me laugh truly some bangers in there

[awed-frog]

Met an old teacher today and we got talking about ‘the good old times’ and ten minutes into the conversation I jokingly said the one regret I have from middle school is that I never won anything at her magnificent tombolas? Because, like, she used to hold this game about once a month so we’d learn the numbers in French and it was never big prizes, but as a 12-yo I desperately craved them - a cactus-shaped eraser, a bright blue notebook with slightly larger-than-usual squares, a set of coloured pens - and never ever got a single one of them. 

(Actually spent a good few months thinking I was genetically unlucky and researching ancient family curses with my grandma.) 

So today I don’t know what I was hoping for - nothing, really?

(I mean, that part of me that’s still twelve was probably expecting this sweet old woman to have a set of glitter stickers in her purse and just go ‘You know what, you’re right - I’ve been saving this one for you all these years, here you go’ but I’m a solidly rational person and I know that’s stupid.)

No, I thought we’d just laugh and it would be a good shared memory and that would be it. Instead, my teacher got flustered and a bit embarrassed and explained the game was rigged. It was never about learning French at all. She’d just noticed some kids couldn’t afford even basic stationery, so she’d buy a few half-fancy items every month with her own money just for them. She didn’t want them to feel different or left out. And obviously the way she used to walk around in the classroom, looking over our shoulders - it wasn’t to prevent cheating. It was because she was cheating herself, wanting to see which number a particular child needed to get a Minnie Mouse pencil case.

Guys - the world is fucked up, but so many people out there are just good and kind and humbly heroic it honestly gives me hope. 

It’ll be alright, you’ll see.

[tay-swifts]

ARIANA GRANDE & CYNTHIA ERIVO performing at the Oscars (March 02, 2025)

[prettyblossom]

Not them including “Home” from “The Wiz” in Oscars Opening 😭😭😭😭

I’m not okay!

(So often it’s forgotten or ignored when speaking on The Wizard of Oz franchise. So to see its inclusion…😭)

[alchemyfreak123]

KENDRICK LAMAR - Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show

[prettyblossom]

Everything about this was *chef’s kiss*

[lilhawkeye3]

A Crash Course to Kendrick's Super Bowl Performance, from a Black Woman

Note: this does NOT go in depth into all of the song's lyrics. I don't have time to recount two decades of his discography. This is just a summary of the performance itself.

Let's start with the first visual we get:

UNCLE SAM - most notably recognized from WWII American wartime propaganda, Uncle Sam is the personification of American patriotism and freedom. The term "uncle" is also evocative of Uncle Tom from Uncle Tom's Cabin, an abolitionist book that aided in inciting the Civil War. Uncle is also a very common term (both endearment and derogatory) towards Black men (eg. "unc"). Samuel L Jackson was fantastic.

Uncle Sam also resembles a circus ringleader, notable for my next point:

THE GREAT AMERICAN GAME - no, not Super Bowl. The GAG is us the people being pitted against each other: through late-stage capitalism, through the culture war, through class warfare, through being built of the backs of slaves. We are all players in the GAG because none of us on this site were the oligarchs seated at the inauguration.

This is also seen as Kendrick's stage was a Play Station controller. Not only did it remind of circus rings visually, but it was a game battle stage. The Great American Game is a battle royale of the commoners for the amusement of the rich whites.

Remember the foods / Them color was tin and brown / But now they 100 and blue - For this I'll just say, look what the last election said about lowering the price of eggs... and look at the prices now.

The revolution about to be televised / You picked the right time / But the wrong guy - Election 2024 once more. *Edit to add, the first part of this lyric is in reference to the Black Liberation Song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron. Thanks to everyone who mentioned that.

THE FLAG DANCERS - yes, the dancers formed the US flag... off of the backs of Black people. Not a single white person in sight, and that's true of the cotton pickers in the fields. Plantations are part of how the US came to economic prominence after being a "backwater" colony. Remember tobacco? Cotton? Our bloodlines do. *Edit to add: they also all piled out of a clown car. The US flag in a clown car? Brilliant.

The red and blue dancers are also notable for representing the Crips and Bloods, two infamous street gangs. The dance in Not Like Us is the Crip Walk. I recommend researching more on your own time about them, but just know they are a large part of the stereotype of Black people being "ghetto."

TOO LOUD, TOO RECKLESS, TOO GHETTO. Do you really know how to play the game? - This is exactly what Black people, especially Black men, get told all the time. It's why we change our names on resumes if they sound "too Black." It's why we codeswitch in non-Black company. This is especially rich considering how non-Black people love our culture and love to make money off of us, as the latter part of the quote points to. And it's even more profound during the Super Bowl-- the NFL is majority Black players.

STREET LIGHT A CAPELLA -- "thug" stereotype dancers to counteract the a capella connotations, with Uncle Sam then saying that Kendrick figured out "bringing other street guys around being a culture cheat code." Yes, this is a direct hit at Drake (listen to "Not Like Us") but also politically. Look up "model minority". Notably I would point to Candace Owens, or the Miami Venezuelan political group that's been in the news recently, especially as this directly led to Kendrick being surrounded by...

DANCERS IN WHITE -- it's white America. That's... that's the allegory.

NOT LIKE US TEASER -- Kendrick says "Not Like Us" is "their favorite song." -> he means white people specifically here. It comes after he's surrounded by all white dancers, the women around him who are his call and response are also in white (my opinion, they represent the industry). He's saying "Not Like Us" is the favorite of yts because it is about BLACK MEN FIGHTING. This again is reflected in the video game stage and ringleader Uncle Sam.

SZA -- instead of giving what they want, we see SZA. She's one of Drake's exes and Kendrick has always supported her.

ALL THE STARS -- This was in the first Black Panther movie, which I recommend you watch. Rest in Power Chadwick. Notably, this movie was incredibly mainstream as a major Marvel movie, and then we have Uncle Sam say...

"THAT'S WHAT AMERICA WANTS: NICE AND CALM. DON'T MESS THIS UP" -- translation: Marvel (the industry, America, etc.) wanted a safe, semi-pop song because white American likes safe pop songs, not Kendrick's usual heavy rap style about his life as a Black man! Don't mess up what you've got going mainstream for having this "Black rap feud" with Drake, who is an R&B model minority to white people because he's safe.

So what does Kendrick say?

IT'S A CULTURAL DIVIDE / IMMA GET IT ON THE FLOOR -- He was warned not to be political or apologetically Black for this Super Bowl performance, but he is using this big stage opportunity to speak out.

40 ACRES AND A MULE / THIS IS BIGGER THAN THE MUSIC -- 40 acres and a mule are what the freed slaves were promised. Instead, this land went to white sharecroppers. Research Jim Crow laws.

THEY TRIED TO RIG THE GAME / BUT YOU CAN'T FAKE INFLUENCE -- rig the election, rig the industry like with model minority Drake, rig the Great American Game with culture war to distract from active class warfare.

NOT LIKE US -- the only thing I'll mention because it made me holler is Serena Williams crip walking on Drake's metaphorical grave. She's another one of his exes.

TURN THE TV OFF -- exactly like he said! The TV is a distraction, the Super Bowl is a distraction, the mainstream news is often a distraction. Turn it off and get with your people!

GAME OVER — could not see this on my stream but at the end of the performance, the lights in the stadium spelled this out. The world is watching, America…

In conclusion, Kendrick Lamar is a visionary and thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

[catchymemes]