School of Racism

As a child, I loved the Jack Black comedy School of Rock. But while watching the movie again this weekend; I noticed very prominent racial tokenism taking place. The plot of the movie consists of a deadbeat musician, Jack Black, posing as a certified substitute teacher at an elite private elemantary school. They then proceed to form a rock band and perform in shows. While assigning each student's role in the band, he chooses very stereotypical positions for each race. Out of the three back-up singers, two are African-American girls with powerful voices. And out of the "groupies", all three are little, blonde-haired-blue eyed girls. In bands, groupies generally follow the band and have sexual relationships with the members, and are often identified as white.

Not only are these stereotypical placements, but it's also the director of the movie "playing it safe." They are avoiding controversy of having black girls appear remotely promiscuous by instead playing it safe with the stereotype that black girls are good singers. What is so scary about this scenario is that this is a movie with kids, for kids. This racial tokenism is encouraging children to develop subconscious racial stereotypes at a young age. Perhaps the best way to decrease racism in America is to stop it at its root, with our highly impressionable youth.

Not So Funny

There seemed to be a very common theme while going through our tv tokenism presentations: black comedians clearly mocking black people. Dave Chappelle, for example, acted out black musician Lil John in an extremely offensive and stereotypical manner. I laughed at his ridiculous representations, but at the same time felt a pang of guilt for laughing. Similar to the Bamboozled clips, these characters are stupified and ridiculous. The common response to this point? It's not racist because Dave Chappelle is black himself.

It's not just Dave Chappelle. It seems to be a multicultural comical strategy to encourage stereotypes on your own culture. Larry David, a famous Jewish comedian, makes countless stereotypical and offensive jewish quips and jokes. This clip (click HERE), from his show Curb Your Enthusiasm, clearly mocks a "holocaust survivor." Aziz Ansari, Indian actor and comedian, compares a chubby Indian child to a shooting star that is "fat, brown, and on the ground."

It's not just famous comedians either. I have heard the response "It's okay, I'm Jewish/Asian/etc." countless times at New Trier. There is a common notion that if you yourself are of a certain ethnicity, it gives you the right to make fun of it. '

Quite clearly, this is wrong. Mocking your own ethnicity and backing up stereotypes only gives others the belief that these stereotypes are valid. You may believe it gives you power to be able to poke fun at yourself, but in reality it just gives the public the complete power to poke fun at your entire race.

The Office, La Ofis, Le Bureau, y La Job

Lately, due to our heated class discussions on televisions, I look at the television industry in new eyes. No longer is it an industry to serve and entertain the people; but rather a money making machine meant to lure people into the world of advertisements. Every show is made with one intention: to boost ratings and thus boost advertising revenue. Many of the television shows we watch aren't original; they are merely copies of other shows successful in similar countries, the networks praying that the same success will arise in their own country. A popular, NBC network sitcom, The Office, is an example of this lack of originality.

The Office, based of the British sitcom by Ricky Gervais, has adapted versions in fourteen other countries. Countries such as China, Germany, and France all boost their own versions. The networks see the success in other countries, identify similarities between their audiences, and view potential for cashing in the big bucks. And the similarities between these countries? They are all, for the most part, economically advanced. So why is it that the people that suffer endlessly trapped in their nine-to-five office jobs go home to watch more people suffering endlessly in their nine-to-five office jobs? Is it that they can relate? Laugh at themselves? Play out office fantasies of having a more exciting office atmosphere? Or maybe the humor and wittiness of The Office is just what they need to escape from their own office.