Black Face in Fashion

So the ugly nuisance called black face has re-emerged in a new form called high fashion. Recently French Vogue has included a spread of a Caucasian model with blatantly darkened skin. Now some argue that the photos are doing something new and different but what is so new about demeaning peoples of African decent? You may ask what does this have to do with art? Well high fashion is considered a form of "wear able art" if you will and it also relates to my own personal art work that examines the use of black face and other images. So is their a difference between what is offensive in art for mere aesthetic reasons and what is blatantly offensive to garner intellectual thought?

Wildboyz is Art

For those of you who haven’t heard of the Wildboyz on MTV here is a brief explanation. It is a spinoff of the popular Jackass show which aired on MTV 2000-2002. Much like Jackass, Wildboyz features stunts and pranks which inflict bodily harm upon stars Steve O and Chris Pontius. But unlike Jackass, Wildboyz mostly involves wild animals , for which they are not trained to work with, and exotic locales all over the world. The show aired on MTV from 2003 until 2006.

So why are the antics of Wildboyz, Steve O and Chris Pontius art? Well in art theory jargon the show could be defined as a study in phenomenology. In this case one’s relation to native animals and culture of a region and the subsequent distress the body may encounter as a result of this interaction. Basically Steve O and Chris placing themselves in situations that will most certainly cause bodily harm as inflicted by animals native to the locale. Or they may also partake in cultural activities for the purpose of gauging their body’s reaction.

So how is this show art? Well its art because this isnt the first time someone has inflicted pain upon themseles in order to reach out to an audience. Much like the work of famous performance artist Chris Burden who's work from the seventies entitled Shoot which consisted of the artist having himself shot with a rifle in the arm. Also the performance Trans-Fixed (1974) where Burden laid upon a Volkswagen beetle with his hands nailed to the hood of the car relates to the Wildboyz. Burden and the Wildboyz similarly experiment with danger and pain, both of which are self inflicted as a form of expression.

The scope of performance art is wide and varied so why can't the Wildboyz be included in this definition? Artists have pushed the limits of constructed definitions beyond the white box of the gallery space into a different realm. Artists such as damali ayo, Joseph Beuys, Nam June Paik, Survival Research Laboratories, Janine Antoni, and Guillermo Vargas have produced work that ranges from the romantic to controversial. Now it maybe argued that the show Wildboyz is not art because a profound social or political message is lacking, but the show is a form of personal art in that it exhibits one’s own body in harm’s way for the sake of seeing what happens and experiencing the pain. In other words the show is ''l'art pour l’art’’ or art for art’s sake.

Disney Animation... a love hate relationship

The much anticipated "Black Disney Princess" is to be featured in Walt Disney's The Princess and the Frog, to be released on December 11, 2009. Now much hoopla and controversy has surrounded this production from its conception. The working title was The frog princess and the main character's name was Maddy, both of which upset the public. The title of Frog Princess was perceived as offensive as well as the name Maddy in that it was too similar to Mammy. Moreover the original role of the main charcter was a chambermaid to a caucasian/white character which was deemed too similar to slavery. The list of greivances against Disney and this movie are endless, everything from names, vernacular, location, religion and of course ethnicity.

More Issues/Grievances against movie

• Prince Naveen (love interest) is not black/African American, but racially ambigous


• A setting in New Orleans, Louisiana is being insensitive to Hurricane Katrina victims


• the villainizing of the Voodoo religion


• the dialect, or speech pattern of certain charcters is unbecoming


• the princess, new name Tiana, is in the form of a frog for a majority of the movies
  

I am sure there are more issues that are not listed here. What I am most surprised about is the public reception of the movie so far. Yes, this may be the first Black/African American princess but it is not the first time Disney has created characters, scenarios, or movies that are offensive. This is defiently not the first time Disney has included racial stereotypes and ethnic prejudices in their films.

After so many Disney movies audiences should not be surprised that a princess does not have a mother, that she talks to animals (which is usually her sidekick), she is heavily dependent upon a man to rescue her, and the villain has significantly darker and/or ethnic features. Prime examples are The Little Mermaid Ariel does not have a mother, she talks to crabs and fish, and the villian Ursula is a strange purplish blue color. Another example is Aladdin, Jasmine does not have a mother, talks to tigers, and the villian Javar has darker skin and ethnic features in comparison to the rest of the characters. The film Mulan may break from the norm in that she is not dependent upon a man to rescue her, she enlists in the army in her father's place, but like all the others she talks to animals and the Huns (villians)are blue. All of these things are not new but just a formula set down by Walt himself.

With this movie the company has come a long way, albeit very slowy, noting that the first animated Black/African American character was featured in Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) a Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet which was also the first Native American character since Pocahontas. Now you may be surprised by this tidbit then think of movies such as Tarzan or The Lion King. Then remember that although some of these movies were voiced by African Americans the characters they portrayed were not human.

The current princess monopoly has diversified yet there are still issues that probably wont go away but The Princess and the Frog is a step in the right direction flaws and all. I personally look forward to the debut of the American princess Tiana which we have not seen the likes of since Pocahontas. Think about it, these two princesses are the only ones that are blatantly American.

Yes, I want to see the revival of the classic 2D, hand drawn musical but I also cringe at the reappearance of the formulaic stereotypes that are bound to pop up. Disney... a love/hate relationship.

take a look at the trailer for The Princess and the Frog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6DmEgtibOg

for a look at the 9 most racist moments in Disney movie history check this out,
http://www.cracked.com/article_15677_9-most-racist-disney-characters.html

if your curious take a look at the newest edition to the princess monopoly, note that Princess Kida of Atlantis is not included
http://disney.go.com/princess/#/home/

alisha_lee

21sturbaneasel.blogspot.com

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My art

To kick off the 21st Urban Easel here is a selection of my own art.

My philosophy is that everyone may not like the art I make, or it may be somewhat offensive but I try to make people laugh in the process.

The King of Pop, may his legacy live

The definition of an artist is wide and varied, from painters and sculptors to dancers and musicians. Recently the art world has lost an innovator of music, Micheal Jackson. Jackson's impact on music is undeniable. Nearly every contemporary pop or r&b performer has to reference Jackson as inspiration. Singers such as Usher and Chris Brown in the U.S. to Rain (Bi) and Se7en of Korea have all been influenced by the stylings of MJ. His popularity spans continents, languages and religions. The King of Pop may have passed away, but his legacy is immortal. may you rest in peace MJ 1958-2009

The King of Pop