Ria Storm

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Dear White People - Film Review

The plot of Dear White People revolves around the reactions of a university's black student population to the annual, ever popular, "black" theme party that a frat hosts. In response to the blatant racism, intended or not, Sam White uses her position as an on campus radio station operator to voice her opinions on all the stereotypical, completely incorrect things white people do to try and seem not racist. Her bold attack sparks a fire on campus, which quickly leads to an all out race war.

I think my favorite part about Dear White People is it combats every excuse that "post-racial" America tries to come up with to justify why black people deserve the continuation of systematic oppression in the 21st century. Right off the bat, we're placed in a fantastical Ivy League college. Perhaps the fact that this school, Winchester University, doesn't exist gives the unknowing racists some room to breathe. "This school doesn't exist, therefore these problems don't." Wrong. Black people get in to great, real, schools all the time, believe it or not. The setting of the film combats the notion that "if black people only led better lives, got higher levels of education, excelled on extraordinary levels, they wouldn't be treated so badly." I could go into a whole rant about how backwards this thinking is, but unfortunately it is still true in a alarming amount of cases when it comes to non people of color. Honestly, especially white, cis-gendered males. But again, another story for another day. 

Another great part about Dear White People is that it encompasses so many different kinds of personalities within it, bolstering the little known fact that not all black people act the same way! Take Tyler Williams' character, Lionel Higgins, for example. How many tall, skinny, afro-equipped, awkward, meek, gay black guys can you think of? It doesn't matter, that's not really the point. The point is, when most white people think of a stereotypical black guy, Williams' character most certainly doesn't come to mind. Lionel is very aware of his position within the realm of college life. He is the epitome of what one might call an "oreo." He neither fully fits in with the black or white kids, but knows just how to disguise himself to camouflage on either side. That is what is so great about his character! He is so incredibly relatable to all of the black kids out there who have been raised in a predominantly white environment but are fully aware of their lack of social standing in either the black or white communities, but who strive for acceptance regardless. Poor Lionel has all odds against him, with his long list of reasons why it is hard to interact with average people in the first place. Despite all of Lionel's defining characteristics, he is still an incredibly relatable and lovable character, which is pretty damn awesome. That's coming from someone who can identify with just about every adjective I used to describe him, because I personally have been in his shoes before, and I know a lot of others who have as well.

Overall, Dear White People is a great film because it's fearless. Far too often, people of color are labeled as radical revolutionaries because they simply desire to express their opinions, whilst pointing out the flawed actions of others. White people in particular are apt to take offense to black people calling them out on, and excuse my French, their bullshit. But if we are simply relaying facts to you, accompanied with layers of analysis as to why some things you do are wrong, then the only one to blame is yourself. This film takes a stab at race in modern society, a topic that is frequently neglected by popular and mass media outlets. And its delivery is impeccable: a comedic, satire air with a bit of drama is the quickest way to our cold, jaded, American hearts. All-in-all, Dear White People attempts to open up everyones' eyes to the reality of today's world, whether we want to accept these truths or not.

[riastorm]

Blog Post #5: Reflecting on Blogging

Blogging this term truly gave me the opportunity to realize my strengths and weaknesses as a writer because I got to analyze my writing from a new perspective and medium. At first it was rather difficult, because I approached blogged writing from the typical form that I had used all of high school. But I quickly learned that blogging is about much more than the written content, visual content is equally important. I ended up spending just as much time focusing on how to make my blog post look visually appealing as I did making sure I got across my desired message. Getting feedback from both Dr. Bronstein and my peers was the most helpful feature of blogging this semester, because I immediately could see others’ perspectives on my work. The least helpful thing would probably be not being able to blog more. Though we did have practice blogging assignments along with the ones we turned in for a grade, it would have been great to get even more practice in, since I am so new to blogging.

[riastorm]

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Nicki Minaj - Anaconda Response

In her article Nicki Minaj, Power, and Sexual Objectification, Dr. Melissa Sexton makes the argument that it is hypocritical and unfair for society to deem Minaj’s Anaconda music video and cover as anything less than it actually is: a woman going against the grain and showcasing her body in a positive manner. Sexton also argues that the backlash is really because society is shocked that a woman would so proudly display her body, when today’s world is so accustomed to shaming women who choose to share their bodies and shaming women whose bodies are forced into the public eye without their consent.

The Anaconda music video overflows with sexual innuendos from the very first scene. It opens with a shot of a mystical, fantastical jungle setting. Minaj and four back-up dancers are poised in a variety of sexual positions, all draped over one another. For the entirety of the music video, Minaj and her dancers perform a variety of dance routines that emphasize butt shaking, ground humping, pelvic thrusting, and just about any other sexual gesture imaginable. Minaj suddenly breaks the flow of shots midway through the video, as seductively eating a banana turns into violently cutting it up. And here is where her true intentions for both the song and the video are blatantly displayed. Nicki Minaj has coaxed viewers and listeners into a false sense of security, pushing the message that the song is simply about embracing men’s extreme sexual and physical expectations for women. She wants everyone to see just how ridiculous it is to expect women to cater to every member of society’s views on sexual pleasure and physical requirements. Minaj goes against the grain, choosing instead to take control of her body, how much of it is revealed, and just who she is trying to cater to. In the end, all she is concerned about is her own happiness and that of her fans, not society.

[daniellemarieramos]

Hobson is arguing that “Picasso Baby” isn’t being seen for the reasons Jay Z intended. Jay Z is commenting on how the art and music industry see the people within it. He now has enough sway and money to access the luxurious things in life, but he can’t relate with anyone in the same sphere...

[riastorm]

Your argument that Hobson believes Jay Z got to where he is due to his race is very interesting, you mind going a bit more into detail about it?

[andrew-j-wallace-deactivated201]

Compare these two covers from Vibe magazine. How does the cover on the left construct Tupac? What about Biggie in his cover? How do they differ? Provide details of mise en scene and framing to support your analysis.

Tupac’s cover constructs him as a much more in depth and thought provoking...

[riastorm]

Do you think Vibe was trying to make a statement by juxtaposing these covers about two deeply intertwined rappers?

[riastorm]

"Picasso Baby" and White Appropriation

Appropriation can take on several different definitions, depending on the context. In general, when referring to an artistic form, appropriation describes using another artists’ work, style, or form within your own “original” piece with little to no editing or changing of the borrowed work. In Picasso Baby, Jay Z appropriates a variety of cultures and styles through the medium of the video and beat of the song.

His video borrows from the style of modern day visual art, and the beat “samples,” a direct copy really, another song from basically start to finish. Though Jay Z is taking from a lot of different styles for which he is no way the owner or curator of, it is arguable that such appropriation is negative, as the word often implies. However, it is safe to say that Jay Z is purely providing an example of what he talks about in the song itself. Picasso Baby lists off a number of influential and well known artists from history. All of these names boil down to the fact that, though these artists created original pieces, their inspiration was not always necessarily completely pulled from inside their head. There had to have been many instances where anothers’ style directly impacted their decisions regarding their own art work and helped cultivate some of their most celebrated pieces. Art is a world of symbiosis, where inspiration breeds innovation. Jay Z is simply using this cycle to his advantage to try and make his own original masterpiece using old tricks.

[riastorm]

Tupac v. Biggie - Legacy of Gangsta Rap

Gangsta rap has transformed most certainly from its original essence and also from what it was known as in 2003. Nowadays, rappers who focus on the traditional framework of rap, rather than an adaptation to please solely “Top 200” listeners can be divided into two sub groups: those whose raps are a narrative and those whose raps are a retelling. What most rap fans struggle with today is connecting to the music they hear because it is not always clear if the message is authentic to the rapper’s life. There are many rappers nowadays, who translate their message through stories about a life they have never personally lived. It is easy to mistake this narrative form of rapping with the artist purely lying about their past. In reality, these rappers are simply trying to provide another perspective to view a situation. Rappers who have experienced their content, on the other hand, give a firsthand perspective that can only be mimicked by narrative rappers. Regardless of which category a rapper may belong in, the judging of authenticity of their work should be based on their message, not necessarily their content. Therefore, not all “gangsta rappers” are really, or ever were, “gangstas” by definition.

[riastorm]

Blog Post #2: Shot List + Thesis

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-qcifmRFaQSt4ECyAYUtNAePfePO1IQDBmhX8KvNnxU/edit?usp=sharing

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In Class Blogging: Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi"

In Lady Gaga’s Paparrazi, she uses a variety of editing techniques to give a visual representation of what is like to live the fast paced life of a celebrity. The editing in the opening sequence gives a sense of classical, old money wealth and elegance, introducing the long sought after, outwardly appealing life of the rich and famous. She continues with various long shots of all the beautiful things in her home, adding further enticement. Then suddenly, the slow pace is broken up by rapid cuts of a bedroom scene, creating disheveled and lost sensations as the camera cuts between images of her and her lover and the mess that is her bedroom. While everything outwardly appears to be calm, this is not completely clear because there is so much disarray in her home. The fast cuts continue while “photos” are taken of her and her boyfriend and snapshot sounds play before he pushes her off the balcony. Right before her plummet, Gaga can clearly sense something is wrong and attempts to escape her boyfriend. The editing emphasizes their power struggle, cutting quickly between shots of romance and tension. Long medium shots of Gaga falling into a vortex that follows right before the newspaper headlines depict her at “rock bottom” and her career as “over.” Her fall is the first true hint that her boy toy can represent the overwhelming influence and power of paparazzi, following the title of the song and the innuendos that come along with the lyrics. Gaga adds visual reinforcement to what the paparazzi is saying about her, as she struggles to make a comeback after her tragic fall from the balcony, and in reality a comeback from a vicious attack from the paparazzi. The edits from then on change to the beat of her music, similar to Madonna’s Vogue. For the rest of the video she is slowly rebuilding herself, as most celebrities have to rebuild their image when faced with bad publicity. There is reinforcement of her rebirth with the various women in positions that seem dead, slain by the slander coming from the media. The editing in the high paced montage switches rapidly between Gaga and various disconcerting images of animals reinforces the idea of disorientation as the pap cameras flash, coming full circle from the beginning of the video. Some of the images that appear are those of animals, hinting at how Gaga feels as though the Paparazzi treats the famous they chase as animals in a zoo, not as people. In the end, acting on an act of revenge, she kills her boyfriend, finally making her full comeback to success and fame by overcoming the very force that kept her back before.

[riastorm]

The opening sequence of Michael Jackson’s video for Beat It immediately sets the tone for how the rest of the video will play out by introducing the viewer to the story at hand. As there is no music in the opening sequence, the viewer focuses purely on diegetic noise and the…

[daniellemarieramos]

I love your analysis! I think it’s really interesting that instead of focusing on the costuming, you focused heavily on the social cues and actions of the man sitting at the bar. Your idea that he is the most important because the camera follows him out of the room is really smart, and cinematically makes a lot of sense. In reference to your last lines, who do you think they are and what are they up to?

[riastorm]

Thank you! And we can assume that they are part of the gang MJ is with later, I can't remember if I saw those two distinctly or not with all of the characters he introduces later. But it definitely seems as though they are up to no good and looking for trouble.

[davidmedrizzle-blog]

Opening sequences in music videos are generally skipped, primarily because of the lack of music. What’s a music video without music? ”Beat it” by Michael Jackson, however, is one that shouldn’t be glossed over as it contains very crucial details that introduce the audience to the mood and...

[riastorm]

It's cool how you noted the characters' facial expressions. Since there's so much unclarity throughout this opening sequence, I feel like their faces definitely give us a big hint as to exactly what is going on, and help explicate the tone of the video. Why do you think MJ chose greasers to be the bad guys in this video? There's been plenty of various kinds of thugs throughout the ages.

[riastorm]

Michael Jackson's "Beat It" - Opening Sequence Analysis

The opening sequence of Michael Jackson’s video for Beat It immediately sets the tone for how the rest of the video will play out by introducing the viewer to the story at hand. As there is no music in the opening sequence, the viewer focuses purely on diegetic noise and the characters within the frame. The camera is closest to a man sitting at a diner bar; he takes up most of the frame in the medium close up. The camera is also level with him and the rest of the diner patrons, so his level of power or influence is ambiguous. The viewer is not immediately sure what to make of the man at the bar, due to his indistinguishable features and the dim lighting. A low or high angle shot would have signaled if he is in a position of power or is actually powerless.  Another bar patron emerges from the background and makes his way to the main figure. As he approaches, he adjusts a wide brimmed hat low over his face so the viewer never gets a clear look. The masked figure heightens the level of uncertainty the viewer feels in this desolate diner as he taps the main figure on the shoulder and the two begin to leave. As they exit, this is the first time the camera is mobile. The new framing signals who is really in charge, as the masked figure begins to take up most of the frame as the two men approach the exit door. The closer the two men get, the more the viewer can see of their clothing, triggering a response from the viewer through mise en scene. Who are they and what are they up to? Jackson spends the rest of the video answering these questions.

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Wednesday, Aug. 27 - MJ Assignment

As we watch “Thriller,” consider costuming, lighting, framing, camera angles. How do elements such as costuming, makeup, and framing set up the two characters? How does form help tell the story? (Consider, here too, what Griffin says about Jackson’s costuming and image.)

The lighting from the very first shot is very dark

Makes it harder to distinguish what’s what

Adds a level of uncertainty that can help thrill the audience

Manages to combine two completely different time periods by using the opening sequence as a movie that Michael and his date are watching

Foreshadows what will happen to Michael and his date

Because the zombie costumes look so ridiculous and overly gory, we’re reminded that this is more of a “Disney” horror than a true one

Same with the overdramatic looks and exchanges

Michael looks pretty undead due to his small frame

Low camera angle as the swarm of zombies approach the house Ola has gone to in order to escape

Makes the house loom over everyone

It appears bigger, as do the zombies

Costume serves as a way to show Michael as a “leading man” instead of a “child star”

What is Griffin’s argument and/or the larger purpose of her essay on “Thriller?”

Griffin gave us a view of Michael as a public figure as well as a private one. Her article gave us a lot of insight about his internal struggles that he kept out of the lime light, such as family issues and religious beliefs and also how these struggles influenced his career as an artist.

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Mise en scene presentation, the visual and electronic aspect of a WOVEN presentation

Disclaimer: Looks a lot cooler in person bc gifs