Racquel Gates
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As commenter
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Great post. The thing that
Great post. The thing that has always struck me about the show is the way that it confronts issues of race and gender explicitly, never employing the trite "very special episode" (as you so astutely point out). At the same time, as Alfred Martin ... -
Island of Misfit Toys
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I was particularly struck by your mention of the ways that people like Shonda Rhimes and Pharrell Williams have stepped in to help the show when the more conventional means seemed unavailable. It does seem that Rae has ... -
Code switching
Fantastic post. Like you, I have noticed how the mainstream media has used Rae's educational background and way of speaking to code her as "post-racial," in spite of the explicit race talk and insider culture on the show itself. And in spit ... -
Audiences
You raise some fantastic questions throughout this post, but especially at the end. I agree that the condemnation of Perry's fans suggests a much larger, and more troubling, perception of African American audiences as unsophisticated. Given that main ... -
Just Right
I found this clip really fascinating. Has there been any discussion on message boards about the racial politics (of both the food as well as the contestants)? It's clear that Chef Gillian and Chef Ric follow the same formula for their dishes: just et ... -
"Off White"
Great post! I am very curious about the "relatability" factor that you bring up towards the end of your piece. Although I do agree that on the one hand, the ethnicity presented on Jersey Shore is indeed a world unto itself, I do think that real ... -
Wifey
Thanks for your thoughts, Kristen. Yes, there is something so fascinating about the slippage that occurs in how "wife" is being understood on this show, particularly given Royce's comment that she had been labeled a groupie (but presumably ... -
Exposing the norms
Karen, I think that the title of the show is definitely being read ironically by many viewers (I can't speak to whether it's intentional or not since I believe there were issues with casting). Sadly, I think that the joke is on the women in the ...