nothing but pudding

The Hell fire around Stereotypes

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:02:24 -0400

It seems like no matter where I turn, someone is getting verbally torn another one due to stereotypical actions. As far as I’m concerned, stereotypes can be taken too far and have negative effects, but if people seek to rid the media of them doesn’t this also suggest we have to rid entertainment of actors? After all, characters are built up on stereotypes or against them (thus creating new stereotypes, in my opinion). All I seem to see is people attacking a reality in our society that is far more expansive and ingrained than anyone is willing to discuss for fear of conflict, misunderstanding, and pure trolling.

Just recently, I walked into my politics class expecting another stimulating discussion on world relations and global politics. However, Youtube was open with a video loading. After a brief, ambiguous introduction, my professor played the notorious Volkswagen Superbowl commercial in which a white actor takes on a Jamaican accent (though he’s supposedly from the “Goffah State”) and proceeds to spout out what some may consider motivational statements in the workplace. While I didn’t find the commercial particularly funny, it didn’t effect my opinion on the car company (although i did wish they had come up with a better commercial. Like, really? Your car is supposed to make everyone that happy? I’d really be happy if I didn’t have to go to work…) Yet, the moment the commercial ended numerous classmates erupted in sarcastic laughs and angry comments.

As a disclaimer, I do not deny their right and reason to be upset or annoyed by the commercial (I was). However, why did they have to be so ferocious and uppity about it? While some students looked baffled and lost, others simply insulted the company saying “That’s ridiculous! How dare they!” “This is all that America does. Stereotype.” Again, while this might be true, students who dared to ask the reasonable question “Why is this bad?” were lashed out at as if they were the ones directly responsible for the offensive ad, when all they wanted was a through explanation and a solid understanding (except one girl who may have honestly just been a supporter of stereotypes). Although I’ve lost myself in a bit of ranting, my problem was and is this: No one, not even the professor, seemed to want to have an open and honest conversation about how the commercial was laid out and where it went wrong. I actually asked ” How could the commercial be altered to get the intended message across?”. No one said to remove the Jamaican accent!!! Rather, some said to replace the actor with a black actor or say the current character is actually from Jamaica or THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND OFFENSIVE, IT INSULTS ANYONE THAT SEES IT, I CANT BELIEVE THEY AIRED THIS AWFUL etc.

Someone said in class ” If one person is offended by the stereotypes in a commercial, then the commercial IS racist”. But where do we go from that statement? I’m frustrated and at a loss.

twitterthecomic: *bear in scrubs walks into waiting...

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:43:30 -0400

twitterthecomic:

*bear in scrubs walks into waiting room*”Sorry to be the bear-er of bad news but I’m a bear and your son died cause bears can’t do surgery”

— Joe (@lazy_joe_)

May 12, 2013

anythingphotography: Mind-Bending Photo-Manipulations by Erik...

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:15:08 -0400

anythingphotography:

Mind-Bending Photo-Manipulations by Erik Johansson

Erik Johansen’s pictures are worth more than a thousand words. The German born, Swedish based photographer enjoys nothing more than manipulating the mind with his tantalizing visual imagery. His vivid imagination and surreal forms create brilliant pictures of surreal moments, all with a hint of the believable. Originally a computer engineering student, Johansson currently works on personal projects as well as commissioned ones.

(Continue Reading)

carpentrix: “The cure for anything is salt water — sweat,...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:46:56 -0400

carpentrix:

“The cure for anything is salt water — sweat, tears, or the sea.” -Isak Dinesen

Photograph by Robert Frank.

So I get a 4.0 my freshman year while working towards a B.A in Chemistry, but it’s funny that...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:39:13 -0400

So I get a 4.0 my freshman year while working towards a B.A in Chemistry, but it’s funny that I want to learn carpentry? I see value in what my hands can make and where my creativity can take me.

I will build walls up and tear them down if I want to.

I will hang doors perfectly on their hinges and slam them shut.

I will construct a bookcase and never put a thing on it.

because I’ll use the skills I learn as I see fit, in chemistry and carpentry. There’s nothing funny about it. It is my education and my life.

gaywrites: Brought to you by the United Nations. Very...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:23:46 -0400

gaywrites:

Brought to you by the United Nations. Very impressive.

Beginning my apprenticeship with a carpenter soon…hard...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:20:31 -0400

Beginning my apprenticeship with a carpenter soon…hard work will pay off

tyleroakley: buzzfeed: George Takei responds to “traditional”...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:19:22 -0400

tyleroakley:

buzzfeed:

George Takei responds to “traditional” marriage fans.

George Takei is flawfree.

I've been home three days

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:39:00 -0400

and I’m already starting to consider buying an apartment near school. Home just isn’t what it used to be.

Breakfast before the French Exam

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:22:38 -0400

“Voulez-vous coucher avec moi”

“With a croissant?”

“You can’t sodomize me with a pastry!? It’s too early for that. Good luck on your exam!”

I Want to Go to New Hampshire Where My Heart and Soul rest at Home

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:46:24 -0400

Photo

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:40:23 -0400

willyoumakeartwithme:

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:21:51 -0400

willyoumakeartwithme:

twitterthecomic: “dead space more like dad space” dad gimme...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:12:37 -0400

twitterthecomic:

“dead space more like dad space” dad gimme back my xbox “more like call of daddy” get out of my room “more like grandfather auto IV” stop

— 808s&Human Sacrifice (@CRIMEGOLEM)

January 21, 2013

i-dobelieveincommas: destructs: Christopher JonassenDevour,...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:11:25 -0400

i-dobelieveincommas:

destructs:

Christopher Jonassen
Devour, 2013

At first glance, these objects may look like planets but they are actually photos of the bottoms of frying pans.

I’M SO MAD RIGHT NOW

Revealing marks and still being used.

123lee: Banksy.

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:07:17 -0400

123lee:

Banksy.

"The fact that you’re struggling doesn’t make you a burden. It doesn’t make you unloveable or..."

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:05:02 -0400

“The fact that you’re struggling doesn’t make you a burden. It doesn’t make you unloveable or undesirable or undeserving of care. It doesn’t make you too much or too sensitive or too needy. It makes you human. Everyone struggles. Everyone has a difficult time coping, and at times, we all fall apart. During these times, we aren’t always easy to be around — and that’s okay. No one is easy to be around one hundred percent of the time. Yes, you may sometimes be unpleasant or difficult. And yes, you may sometimes do or say things that make the people around you feel helpless or sad. But those things aren’t all of who you are and they certainly don’t discount your worth as a human being. The truth is that you can be struggling and still be loved. You can be difficult and still be cared for. You can be less than perfect, and still be deserving of compassion and kindness.”

- Daniell Koepke (via loveyourchaos)

If you laugh, we should be friends. (Meme Credit to George...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:22:00 -0400

If you laugh, we should be friends.

(Meme Credit to George Takei, of course)

Summer Soundtrack

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:57:00 -0400

Summer Soundtrack

Only three weeks until summer break and the end of my first year...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:28:55 -0400

Only three weeks until summer break and the end of my first year of college.