BuzzFeedYellow (2014) If Black People Said the Stuff White People Say Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1zLzWtULig (Accessed: 28 November 2014).
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Showing posts with label collecting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collecting. Show all posts
‘If Black People Said the Stuff White People say’, deals with stereotypes by reversing ‘the norm’. Let’s take the comment ‘Your name is so easy to spell and pronounce. Was it like really easy to get a job?’ Regarding the spelling and pronunciation of names, I feel as though this topic is sort of taboo, like an ‘unspoken thought’. Although it’s wrong to do so, it is something that we may think, but never speak about. However, I wouldn’t necessarily apply it to this topic because this video is dealing with race by taking typical things white people say to black people, but just the other way around. I think it’s wrong to associate this with black people because it applies to many other people as well, for example, Eastern European names and even british names - particularly for people with foreign ancestry and the introduction of all the ‘hipster’ baby names. I would associate names with culture rather than race. For example, we may have trouble pronouncing or spelling African or Polish names because it’s not part of our culture, likewise, they may have trouble pronouncing or spelling our names. It’s to do with culture rather than race and is applicable to everyone.
Looking at the job comment, I feel like this is still an issue in society, but that it is improving. Typically, especially if we look at 20-30 years ago, a black person would have found it much harder to get a job than a white person. Although times have changed, I sometimes still feel that the notions of this still apply to society today. For example, in TV or pictures in leaflets, you often find that the majority of the people will be white, with only one black person featured, so that its ‘not racist’, but I think this shows that there is still racism within society.
With the second video: ‘Who Wants to be a Volunteer?’ it’s portraying how white people are always the ‘saviour’ and Africa depends on us. The part with the selfie in particular, is very stereotypical of white people who volunteer in Africa, they always take a selfie with the children, again showing how white people are here to ‘save Africa’. Regarding the very beginning, where food is given to all the black people, the exaggeration is very clear. I think with this video, I do enjoy the humour, which has been created by exaggerating the volunteering experience and it works more successfully as a humorous video because it is stereotypical to white and black people which sort of cancels the racism out.
The video shows us that what white people would say as a ‘normal, everyday thing’ is still in fact incredibly stereotypical and racist but clearly it’s not something we notice until it’s switched the other way round. Therefore, there are still many issues that need tackling regarding racism.
Video: BuzzFeedYellow (2014) If Black People Said the Stuff White People Say Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1zLzWtULig (Accessed: 28 November 2014).
Jitterbug Videos (2013) Extreme Collectors - My Little Pony Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKLXmmCgdbM (Accessed: 7 November 2014)
‘Among the various meanings of the French word ‘object’, the Littré dictionary gives this: ‘Anything which is the cause or subject of a passion. Figuratively and most typically: the loved object’ (Baudrillard, J. (1994) ‘The Systems of Collecting’, in Elsner, J and Cardinal, R. (ed.) The Cultures of Collecting. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, pp. 7.)
For Stephanie, My Little Pony is something which she is incredibly passionate about. She first started collecting the ponies when she was a child and unfortunately, was being bullied, using the ponies as an escape, playing with the ponies made her forget all the troubles she was having. Because of this attachment to the ponies, she obviously then went on to collect far more which then turned into this obsession.
Some may say her obsession is un-healthy, which is partly true. She is creating an attachment to these inanimate objects rather then creating healthy relationships with fellow humans. As a child especially, she probably would have spent more time playing with and caring for these ponies than trying to make new friends, which I understand, is due to the bullying. However, as she has grown up, because she has more of an attachment to the ponies to humans, her collection and love for these ponies has continued to grow, causing her to spend thousands of dollars ‘perfecting’ her collection.
Looking on the healthy side, I guess collecting ponies is a much better reaction to bullying than other methods. For example, there is an increase in teenagers self-harming because they are being bullied. So when you look at it from that angle, collecting the ponies has kept her in a good state of mind and as the years have gone on, they have even helped her re-build her confidence as she has made friends through collecting: sellers, buyers and other my little pony enthusiasts, I assume.
‘Once the object stops being defined by its function, it’s meaning is entirely up to the subject.’ (Baudrillard, J. (1994) 'The Systems of Collecting’, in Elsner, J and Cardinal, R. (ed.) The Cultures of Collecting. Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, pp. 8.) For Stephanie, the ponies are no longer just a toy, they are: a coping method, confidence and new friendships.
Overall, I understand why she has such a passion for these ponies and in the long-term, I think collecting these ponies have benefitted her greatly, particularly her state of mind and the fact that she now has more confidence and is able to make friends - especially when you compare it to what might of happened. However, I think spending thousands of dollars is a bit over the top!
Youtube Video: Jitterbug Videos (2013) Extreme Collectors - My Little Pony Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKLXmmCgdbM (Accessed: 7 November 2014).