I've seen this cultural appropriation both in the Persian culture and in movies (watch "Ma Rainy's Black Bottom" too, if you want. It's about Ma Rainey, a Black female singer and her band singing a song, to be then recorded in a studio. One of the younger characters insists that she sing in an "appropriate" voice so that the white audience approves her singing. He and Ma Rainey will have a fight over this (i don't know which one of them succeeds at the end because i didn't watch it completely).
About my own culture, i've seen that those singers who sing sad songs are more likely to be approved than those who sing happy songs. Also, rappers (like Toomaj Salehi) and those who criticize the government in their songs (like Shervin Hajipoor) have a harder time living as singers than other singers. I can talk a lot more about this, but i don't want my comment to be too long.
I think there’s something similar with the movie based on Colton Whitehead’s “Erasure.” As usual, and in a good way, it’s usually the culture in question and the intellectuals within who are the best presenters of this dynamic. I haven’t seen Ma Rainey but I should—George Wolfe directed it, and I think that was Chadwick Boseman’s last film before he passed away.
Yes, i totally agree with you. Yes, "Ma Rainey.." was Chadwick Boseman's last movie before he passed away (his passing was a bit unbelievable for me both because he was a skillful actor and that he was only 43 when he died).
Same here. I felt the same for the death of Donald Sutherland recently (i believe no one could play the role of Cornelius Snow in "The Hunger Games" better than he did).
I've seen a lot of discussions of cultural appropriation before, and this is certainly one of the more nuanced and evidence based. It's a very different view of rap music in particular.
"Are we completely surrendering the discussion of actual quality, technique, relevance, contexts, and commentary?" - Yes and no, because we already have.
I've seen this cultural appropriation both in the Persian culture and in movies (watch "Ma Rainy's Black Bottom" too, if you want. It's about Ma Rainey, a Black female singer and her band singing a song, to be then recorded in a studio. One of the younger characters insists that she sing in an "appropriate" voice so that the white audience approves her singing. He and Ma Rainey will have a fight over this (i don't know which one of them succeeds at the end because i didn't watch it completely).
About my own culture, i've seen that those singers who sing sad songs are more likely to be approved than those who sing happy songs. Also, rappers (like Toomaj Salehi) and those who criticize the government in their songs (like Shervin Hajipoor) have a harder time living as singers than other singers. I can talk a lot more about this, but i don't want my comment to be too long.
I think there’s something similar with the movie based on Colton Whitehead’s “Erasure.” As usual, and in a good way, it’s usually the culture in question and the intellectuals within who are the best presenters of this dynamic. I haven’t seen Ma Rainey but I should—George Wolfe directed it, and I think that was Chadwick Boseman’s last film before he passed away.
Yes, i totally agree with you. Yes, "Ma Rainey.." was Chadwick Boseman's last movie before he passed away (his passing was a bit unbelievable for me both because he was a skillful actor and that he was only 43 when he died).
I loved Donald Sutherland. He was totally unique.
Yes, indeed. He was.
I feel the same way. I was completely shocked and I really emjoyed his work.
Same here. I felt the same for the death of Donald Sutherland recently (i believe no one could play the role of Cornelius Snow in "The Hunger Games" better than he did).
I've seen a lot of discussions of cultural appropriation before, and this is certainly one of the more nuanced and evidence based. It's a very different view of rap music in particular.
I take my 80's and 90's rap music VERY seriously! And then I just started listening to folk music and never came back.
You are an educator. Heart and soul.
Oh, Theater Camp. I’ve just promoted it to my watch list. And will be rotflol-ing with my son later today. 💖
Please please tell me how this goes! I laughed so hard.
"Are we completely surrendering the discussion of actual quality, technique, relevance, contexts, and commentary?" - Yes and no, because we already have.