Ridicule and race in social media

Post Civil Rights Movement, race was a term used to incite competition amongst Americans. Socially things got a little (or a lot) confusing and weird depending on which team one stood for. In the 21st Century, race is asinine and always will forever be.

In the 1980 film Stir Crazy, the story of two inter-racial friends, are set up to define racism as it pertains to humanity. What better actors to delineate the vile base of the racial divide than Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor? The beauty in their performance is how upon eternally entering the jail system Wilder’s character, sensitive and humane, translates how most ordinary white people would if they were innocent. On the contrary, Pryor’s character, wide-eyed and street smart, is prepared not to react how most ordinary civilized people would knowing full well that his chances for compassion are slim. Hence, blacks weren’t accustomed to being treated with civility.

Director Sydney Poitier brilliantly paints the polarized race identities of the 1980’s. Trading Places carries a similar theme of race and power. When actor Eddie Murphy’s character, a black homeless man, is transported into the elite rich culture he slowly begins to acclimate to his new and comfortable environment. The point is disarray. Race divide and power divide serves no one and hurts all.

If comedy is pain then there is no wonder why Dave Chappelle is so funny. His sensitivity as a comedian is his strength. He could feel how his audiences were not taking his material to heart but instead exploiting him. Chappelles’ deep appreciation of the tragic loss of young people to the crack epidemic is profound.

Forgiving Rachael in Rachael Getting Married

In the film Rachael Getting Married poses an original American drama. This story gets it right. A modern couple of the 21st Century which happens to be inter-racial, exchange their wedding vows over a weekend celebration at the bride’s father’s estate in Connecticut. It just happens to be the place where tragedy occured. Naturally, this sets the audience up for a dark journey into the light.

What’s so wonderful about this experience is how exacting the characters are, good or bad and how this elevates the audience into predisposition of thought. In other words, the story is told like a narrative which invites the audience to enjoy in the festivities while simultaneously appreciating the unspoken problem. And talking about the problem doesn’t necessarily solve anything. It is the protagonist’s choice to deal with all the family’s guilt in her own way. So the mood is moot.

Like any holiday where family members gather and their pasts are represented, spotlighted with nuances and innuendos, it does behoove them all to face their challenges together like a knot in a tree that refuses to untwist. It does not inhibit the plant to grow but rather take form in a new shape despite the surface debauchery of it. It’s easy to deplore beauty as something deep and unfounded but in nature, thus technology, life is way too complicated to construct like a clean sheet of paper. Sometimes the only wisdom is in the reluctant belief in allowing art to compose life from within.

Anna Deavere Smith, graduate of Master of Fine Arts at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco stars in this praised creative document of film art. Go see it.

Clay Theater beaming character of perfection

Gutsy little movie houses like The Clay Theater at 2261 Fillmore Street need more than a standing ovation. They need masses of fans adoring their every nuance, gesture, sigh. They deserve it because they’ve been around for so long. No one argues with Great Grandma Matilda when she’s had too many glasses of eggnog at Christmas. So why resist the wisdom of The Clay Theater.

She’s probably seen many many stories, too many to share now. But there is no doubt that she is grateful and honored to have housed so many moments close to the human heart. Why, she’s been a home to many teenagers searching for a dark corner to cuddle without shame. She’s certainly heard many a roaring laughter and equally puddles of tears. She’s definitely endured earthquakes and aftershocks with a palpable fear that this may be the very last time standing but then miraculously she’s still here.

To what do we owe in lieu of the American myth that bigger is better? Everything. Go see a film at The Clay Theater where life will feel different like an old-fashioned telephone booth. Take your kids and let them bask in the refinement of the way things used to be although sensibly that way is still very much loved and needed today.

Magritte’s dreams lives on in Gondry’s reality

At an early age, infamous painter Rene Magritte lost his mother to suicide. His work suggests a conversation between very real objects and unreal situations or environments. Perhaps, more is being said here. He spoke often about surrealism which merely means dreams. When someone describes a moment as being surreal they usually mean that though they know they’re alive they cannot believe their dream is coming true, hence the shared cry, ‘Pinch me!’

Similarly, in the French 2006 film Science of Sleep (or La Science des reves) a young artist played authentically by Gael Garcia Bernal consumes bereavement through his childhood bedroom and dreams. As if his unconscious and conscious were blurred his dreams seem so real that he forgets he’s sleeping but not exactly sleepwalking. One of the most important film contributions of the 21st Century, Michel Gondry directs this story realistically and emphatically. Even the tale revolves around speaking in different languages naturally so as if reality we’re indeed a dream.

The beauty in all of this surrounds the fact that humans have the ability to create and so they may. It becomes crucial that they do every day in some little way. It’s only natural. At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rene Magritte is featured online in Making Sense of Modern Art and Language and Perception. The point in dreams could be just as simple as taking an active part in envisioning one’s life. If not, there will be dreams banging down the door in your sleep, haunting the daylight hours or worse nightmares not understood. Choose to dream, especially awake.

Wedded and winging it

The fear about getting wed is simple: being stuck with someone who’s no good. It’s like standing on stage performing a play when one of the co-actors drops the ball. They forget their line. And they’re frozen rock solid.

The audience begins to stir. The director is pulling out her hair. The other actors all know the line but it would be out of turn for anyone but said actor to deliver it. The play would not make sense. In a moment of panic, the play is saved because someone improvises the scene.

The audience buys it. The backstage resumes their positions. The scene is saved for the time being. And for the sake of the play, the actors put the mistakes behind them to carry on. It’s the only professional thing to do.

But after the performance is complete is another story. Depending on the dynamics of the players is crucial. If they are close and trusting and more importantly if they like each other then perhaps it’s water under the bridge. If they learned and adopted fair tactics while growing up in all situations then perhaps, the offended may forgive the offender. On the other hand, if there are underlying problems then the play may suffer.

On stage everything has to be rehearsed but the true magic is in the moment. If a married couple can reach the other in the moment then life will be good. It’s when they can intuitively know when to act and deliver their thoughts (or lines) then a marriage works. Some marriages should last a very long time if there are no wasted words.

A woman’s quick guide to being sultry for her man

In the 21st Century men need not go out looking for a good time when they have a wonderful woman keeping the fires burning at home. With the right combination of love, friendship and hot romance the recipe for sex is complete. Women not need to be afraid anymore about expressing their sexual desires. Not only is sex natural, it can be safe, fun and an opportunity to deepen the intimate bond between partners.

Whether you’re married, married with children, cohabitating in sin or single and dating this is for everyone. No need to waste good hard earned money on strippers and booze. No need to get wasted either. No need to encourage the misguided dreams of little girls who one day wants to dance around showing off their God-given (or made) goodies. Nope, none of that is required.

Ladies join the progressive unraveling of base undignified post-feminist garbage. Pole dancing is in! Yes, even Oprah thinks it’s cool. And who doesn’t love Oprah? If she told Americans to jump off the bridge no one would do it but pole dancing was featured on her show, so there. And this is what men really want at home. They want their wives, girlfriends and lovers to strip like a professional whore (ahem, exotic dancer) and titillate their sexual appetite right after work, or before the game, or maybe even throughout it. Well, it’s a thought.

Internet conflicts and emotional intelligence

In response to a few comments made about recent articles, the point of contention is not with beliefs but rather with ethics or lack thereof. On the internet as with any other social forum it is imperative to be civil at all times. Discussions need not get heated with homophobic slurs and erroneous remarks. Respect for interpersonal-communication is paramount and anything else is intolerable.

In regards to women taking their husbands surname is certainly a personal choice. The article, The name game is lame and tame provides new information based on the documentary film Journey of Man. Specifically, it points out how men have a significant biological role in the survival of humanity. The fact that they carry the Y-chromosome indicates, in the era of socialized modern feminism, that their contribution is misunderstood. In the event of a marital union it would be socially cognitive to represent said qualities in the family by adopting his surname.

In contemporary society many women are educated and have successful careers before settling down in matrimony. Therefore, it is practical for women to adopt her husband’s surname as well as maintain her maiden name. Having nothing to do with politics, this would enable continuity if her work is closely related to her name but include her husbands, thus reflecting their union when in social situations.

Open anger in society has unethical implications unless it is reared toward protecting those who cannot speak for themselves like children. In internet forums, the written word fueled by anger is unleashed by anonymity. These concerns won’t be taken seriously unless self-control is practiced. It is a joy to bestow the natural anthropological observations and the hope is to encourage fruitful exchange of ideas.