- How come when you sign onto AOL, it doesn’t say “Welcome. You’ve got spam”?
- What’s the difference between 112 and Jagged Edge these days?
- Wasn’t Kelis a lot better when she was pissed off?
- Why is that whenever an artist loses weight, so does their music?
- Do you think deaf people are upset that porn isn’t captioned?
- If not, then why does porn have dialogue anyway?
- Aren’t Britney and Usher straight-up wack for trying to capitalize from the “crunk hip-hop” phenomenon?
- Are R. Kelly and The Big Tymers worse seperately, or together?
- Ain’t this shit funny as hell?
- Do AJ and Free ever get tired of babysitting?
- Although we probably aren’t voting for Al Sharpton, don’t we still want him around for a few laughs?
- Shouldn’t The Surreal Life really be called Pitty Party?
- Isn’t The Parkers dying a slow death?
- Doesn’t this resurgance of 80′s fashion just make you feel old?
- When Timbaland said he was retiring, should we have interpreted that as “I’m working with Brandy and LL”?
- Furthermore, how long ago was it that he lost his edge?
- You ever wonder if Beyonc
21 Questions (Strikes Back)
A Long Ways to Go
Push the button, don’t push the button / trip the station / change the channel…
So there has been some talk about the sameness of certain black films, i.e. The Brothers, The Best Man, Brown Sugar, and how all seem to deal with the same themes and star the same core group of actors. There was for a few years a boom in this type of film, where the black relationship was explored rather than the so-called “hood” films that preceded them. They usually star Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Anthony Anderson, Vivica A. Fox, etc.
The complaint is, “Can we get something new?”
Although I am a proud owner of these films and adamantly refuse to buy into the idea that they are tired, I will offer this bit of info. We do need a wider range of themes in our films, but it won’t be easy. You see, every five years or so, there will be a popular black theme in film and we’ll get about 10 of those films within that period. The reason for this is, whenever a black film gains popularity and that door is opened, we have no choice but to milk it. For a lot of actors, these are the only options that keep them paid and employed, and there aren’t enough blacks behind the scenes right now to enable us to have more movie-going options.
And let’s keep it real. Anytime we step outside of the box, it usually goes straight-to-video or straight-to-BET because the theater-going public still has yet to grasp that we aren’t all the same and can pretty much tackle any role or idea. They would be fine if we are always portrayed as the wise-cracking sidekick, the token black girlfriend that’s killed within the first five minutes of a horror movie, or the petty criminal. Another side to this is that when we actually see ourselves portrayed as doctors, lawyers, members of high society or people that are just well-off and successful, we have to deal with the black community screaming foul because this also isn’t a fair representation.
You cannot please everyone at all times. We must first understand why things are the way they are in film. You will get several romantic comedies with an all-white cast any given year, simply because there is a market for it and because the people running things are mostly white. Deliver Us From Eva was originally intended for a white cast until it was handed over to Gary Hardwick. Can you imagine how much more this movie would have made if they’d gone with the original idea? I showed the film to a white friend of mine and he loved it. More importantly, he “got” it. I didn’t have to explain to him what certain bits of slang meant or anything else that could’ve come of him viewing it. What I am trying to illustrate is, he got it because the themes weren’t exclusive to the black community. We have decent jobs, relationships, and have sex just as all people do. Unfortunately, everyone isn’t this colorblind.
I think that’s what these movies set out to do in the first place, they could’ve all easily been played as white. The makers of these movies wanted to show that this isn’t a black relationship, it’s a relationship. We need to be thankful we have these movies, however repetitive they may be. They just might be trying to drive the same point home, not for us as black people, but to the masses. And to express disgust over these films, especially since they aren’t (on the surface) doing us any harm is almost like expecting Hollywood to give us a free pass. Don’t hold your breath.
PLUG: The First Installment of my Serial
Shoo, fly. Be Gone.
I am bugged by a few things right now for whatever reason.
- I really don’t like it when people hate shit just because it’s popular. You know who they are. “Oh, I don’t understand what makes this person so great. Blah blah blah…” And they dare to question someone’s credibility simply because a lot of people like it. Pop doesn’t always equal evil.
- I hate it when people don’t get shit. Third eye blind type mofos that refuse to accept something simply because it’s different. You know the type, you have to spell shit out for them in order for them to get it.
- I don’t like these clique-ish kids that are blogging right now. They range in age from 13-20, have these obnoxious-ass sites, and constantly perpetuate this immature elitist attitude simply because they know a thing or two about Photoshop. Yet these little fucks can’t write for shit. (email me for examples)
- No shade to the south (especially since I’ve just returned from there) but a lot of the hip-hop that comes out of there is straight-up bullshit. Have I said this before? Ok, I’ll say it again. Aside from Ludacris and Outkast, a lot of that shit is just shit and it’s all over the radio here. DC is just stupid for liking this shit. And what’s up with the way most of the rappers down there look? Do you have to look fucking destitute in order to get a record deal?
- I hate it when when motherfuckers don’t know how to fucking be patient.
- These ghetto-ass broads that call in to the radio station are the downfall of society.
- This cold-ass weather is bullshit.
Ok, enough of that.
AAAAAAND WHAT???
Talk amongst yourselves.
< addendum >
Everytime I re-design, it’s a cry for help.
< / addendum >
Much Ado About Yadda
Normally when I write an entry, there is a story or theme. When the entry is random, I usually warn you in the title or the first line. Very rarely do I just blog about things that are on my mind or how my day was–i.e., treat this like an actual journal.
Over the past couple of days, I’ve gotten huge response over my recent entries. One was a story about two parties I’d gone to where I was on my best behavior (re-read it if you aren’t convinced). Another entry was focused on music (it always goes back to Mary for some reason). And the most recent was me opening up about a damn man (for the record, he was a cell/pager guy, the pic is from 4 years ago, and he’s 16-years older than me. Cut a bruh some slack). It all makes me wonder, what makes these entries so popular?
Sometimes it totally befuddles me how my own hostee can outshine me in the comments arena. Afterall, you have to cross my threshold to get to his room, do you not? It has occured to me that you’re likely to be better received on the more personal entries, or if your entry is “pop”. My “pop” entries do very well. Just like their musical counterparts, they are something everyone can relate to and have an opinion on. Check out the highest ranking post on the sidebar. Slide aside the fact that the latter comments were geared more towards me being M.I.A. for a bout a week. It’s a “pop” post. “Pop” posts require virtually no brainpower for me to write, or for you to read.
A while ago, ~SunRay~ mentioned to me that I very rarely talk about myself in my blog, as in, open up about stuff. Then I got some questions about Tiger. So I opened up about that. Enter the second-highest received post to date, just under MJ.
So that brings me to today, where I find myself having absolutely no reason for posting an entry other than the fact that I felt like writing. What can I say today? I followed that fast-paced, action-packed entry about the New Year’s party with some music bullshit because I was stuck. I didn’t know how to follow it, but I knew people were reading.
The keyboard feels mighty comfortable right now. How about a nOva’s Guide to Life 2004? Just 5 things to keep you on track for the New Year.