The article itself is quite interesting and well written. I’m a new fan of Lindy West now - woot. But what’s even more interesting to me is the commentary. Worth a full read.
Posts tagged racism
agreed - so my exploration of the cake maker didn’t take as long as I thought it would. read points on both sides. totally agree that this dude made an epic fail in judgment. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
So this is Makode Aj Linde, this artist behind the controversial Swedish “cake” event.
The whole thing was supposedly done to raise awareness for female genital mutilation. So naturally a man donning a racist stereotype of the Venus Hottentot image and screaming totally works for that.
He also claims the Culture Minister whispered into his ear that things would be “better for you after this.”
Maybe I’m overreacting, but hopefully some of my followers can clue me in. Am I in the wrong for side-eyeing the hell out of this?
Lin’s work showcases the western concept of the “good man and good life” in juxtaposition with the Other. It combines the commonly romanticized image of a period in western history with the parts western society tries better to forget. It’s humourous appearance is intended to get you to ruminate on the subject, whether or not it conjures disgust or regret at finding such imagery funny since it carries with it such poignant historic meaning.
Or something. Wowwee wow society.
I have an art school degree. 6w9
Plus Linde looks like a fun duder
What I see now is a dude that thinks it’s okay to appropriate from other cultures and he just dropped down to land a place on my shit list.
Got nothing to do with his art and everything with him thinking it’s cool to dress Native.
Ok this shit is not okay. This is not okay at all.
When you combine that he’s a man and the FGM “statement” and Hottentot Venus and the fact it was a CAKE that PEOPLE WERE EATING AND LAUGHING ABOUT there’s just so much EPIC FAIL I can’t even begin…
i think this is just about all the context we need for this story. i’m packing my things up and bidding this “but it was art commentary that is above critique” jive good day
i wonder if he believes “Things will be better” now………..
Files away…
Fuck this guy and fuck people who think art is above criticism and can’t be offensive. I’m not usually bothered by “expressionism” but that fucking cake disturbed me to my core.
It’s hard to shock me these days, after spending years working on Skid Row, in Jail, with violent offenders, sexually violent predators, with women who are victims of DV, former prostitutes and the co-occurring (drug & alcohol addiction + a, or several, mental health diagnosis), and finally military veterans (very similar to the prison population actually, IMHO).
But. It’s not impossible. And Sweden’s new FGM cake, complete with a live head that “acts” the agony of the girl being circumcized as the cake is cut into - wowzers. Sweden, you have shocked me today.
However, as commenter Lars-Erik Franson points out:
Lars-Erik Franson
That the man who made the cake is the Afros-swede Makode Aj Linde.
So before anyone else starts complaining about how a Swedish man could do such a thing maybe you should find out who he is:
http://bbanzaiz.tumblr.com/post/21273758816/so-this-is-makode-aj-linde-this-artist-behind-the
It’s true I don’t know anything about who made the cake and haven’t read about him yet, but Franson included a link to the tumblr account that explains who this cake designer was. I’m going to check that out as soon as I finish reading more about this issue with Australia (see previous post).
Because it’s Islam - a globally misunderstood, feared and hated faith - he was allowed to not only talk about his insanity, but to do so for an hour. Oh, Norway…you disappoint me today.
“In a scene unimaginable in many countries, Norway’s worst mass killer got the chance to explain his fanatical views to the court and the world, unrepentant and dressed in a business suit. Prosecutors and lawyers for the families of his 77 victims even shook his hand.”
Shook his hand?? Really? Wow. Did anyone shake the unabombers hand? What’s that you say? No? Why not? Maybe because he was an insane fanatic that killed people? And let’s remind ourselves that good ol’ Ted Kaczynski only actually KILLED three people. He injured 23 more. So this loony-toon Anders Behring Breivik who killed 77 people - why the niceities? Oh. Because it’s Islam. And it’s okay to hate Islam.
This anti-Islamic sentiment makes me want to puke a little. It seems to be the big “It’s okay to hate these people” of my generation. Over the centuries, the ranks of which have included:
- WOMEN
- HOMOSEXUALS
- AFRICANS/AFRICAN-AMERICANS/AFRICAN-FILL IN THE BLANK
- MEXICANS
- ARMENIANS
- (PEOPLE OF) JEWISH (DESCENT)
- GERMANS (SPECIFICALLY THOSE ALIGNED WITH A CERTAIN SWASTIKA TOTING POLITICAL PARTY)
- ITALIANS
- IRISH
- SCOTTISH
- TURKISH
I really could go on but I think you get my point. Why are we giving any airspace at all to this sanctimonious mass murderer who pointlessly and brutally premeditated the slaughter of 77 innocent people (many of whom were children)?
Oh. Because it’s Islam.
God help them.
Well said.
Although I do think it’s a little more complex than this and most definitely does include who holds the power, the racial and cultural majority, etc…I am happy to support the sentiment that:
1. racism is defined as: a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among thevarious human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others. (dictionary.com)
2. reverse-racism therefore is an oxymoron and does not make any sense. Racism is racism. It’s not okay for anyone, regardless of heritage, because it indicates you are basing your judgements on stereotypes, judgments and likely some - at least a teensy tiny bit - of xenophobia.
I hate it when people say that you can’t be racist towards white people.
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Okay, maybe not the stupidest, but it’s in the running.
It’s not about who’s in the minority or the majority, it’s not about who holds the power, racism is simply hating on someone for their ethnicity. That’s what it is.
Stop being stupid, internet people.
In front of children, in professional settings and in polite company, most Americans no longer think it is OK to make racist jokes about black people. We recognize that it is both hurtful and inaccurate to judge someone’s intentions by their skin color or ethnic origin. But when it comes to Muslims and people from Muslim countries, we lose those same sensibilities. So why do my kind, liberal-minded friends make such comments without realizing the offense they’re causing?
