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Art? Or Offense?
Dec. 2nd, 2013 12:35 pmSo having survived the kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaziness of Thanksgiving and far too many activities packed into one weekend (yah… what else is new in my life?), I am now coming to grips with the fact that it is now Monday, now December, and the insanity of “busy season” quickly approaches. Between the holidays, and social obligations and SCA events, and guests, and really monumental activities and projects, etc., etc., I foresee quite a bit of exhaustion in my near future. It’s all good. But yah… busy! And I gotta say, after the HORRIBLE time I had last year around this time, it is really nice to be able to go into the holiday season feeling enthused about the season, and feeling good and perky. So as we approach that time of the year where we remind ourselves to be more charitable, contemplative, and embracing of brotherly love; I need to get just one little thing off my chest – there’s enough REAL offense out there in the world. Please quit making mountains out of molehills!
This subject comes up time and again, but most recently came up with the airing of the American Music Awards. Specifically, I saw quite a lot of discussion the day after Katy Perry performed one of her songs to an Asian-inspired presentation. Personally, I thought the performance was absolutely beautiful, tasteful, and respectful. But in reading some of the critics, it was like a third bomb got dropped over Japan. Seriously? A racist performance? Equivalent to wearing black-face? OH PAL-EASE!!!!!
I’m sorry, but I have a hard time taking seriously anybody who makes such a stretch as to compare a white girl wearing a kimono to that of blatantly and intentionally racist mockery. Seriously! There is a huge, huge, HUGE difference between doing something as an intentional insult and somebody choosing to be offended. If a white man wears black face, that is considered intentionally offensive. If a white man performs a negro spiritual, it is not. Sorry, but I refuse to be driven into an incensed state of offense over something that is not. If some passer-byer screams “FAGGOT” at me, I will take offense. But I’m not exactly going to go protest the local performance of Priscilla Queen of the Desert under the pretense that it makes fun of gay stereotypes.
I’m not really trying to convince anybody of anything here. Each of us is going to think what we think and believe what we believe – especially when it comes to gray areas or lines in the sand. But for my part, I don’t intend to go looking for offense or to pick battles where there is no need. So please, for this holiday season, let’s just all relax and take a chill. After all, ‘tis the season to be jolly. So let’s all try, ok?
This subject comes up time and again, but most recently came up with the airing of the American Music Awards. Specifically, I saw quite a lot of discussion the day after Katy Perry performed one of her songs to an Asian-inspired presentation. Personally, I thought the performance was absolutely beautiful, tasteful, and respectful. But in reading some of the critics, it was like a third bomb got dropped over Japan. Seriously? A racist performance? Equivalent to wearing black-face? OH PAL-EASE!!!!!
I’m sorry, but I have a hard time taking seriously anybody who makes such a stretch as to compare a white girl wearing a kimono to that of blatantly and intentionally racist mockery. Seriously! There is a huge, huge, HUGE difference between doing something as an intentional insult and somebody choosing to be offended. If a white man wears black face, that is considered intentionally offensive. If a white man performs a negro spiritual, it is not. Sorry, but I refuse to be driven into an incensed state of offense over something that is not. If some passer-byer screams “FAGGOT” at me, I will take offense. But I’m not exactly going to go protest the local performance of Priscilla Queen of the Desert under the pretense that it makes fun of gay stereotypes.
I’m not really trying to convince anybody of anything here. Each of us is going to think what we think and believe what we believe – especially when it comes to gray areas or lines in the sand. But for my part, I don’t intend to go looking for offense or to pick battles where there is no need. So please, for this holiday season, let’s just all relax and take a chill. After all, ‘tis the season to be jolly. So let’s all try, ok?
