My 2 Cents

The idea of 50 Cent's music, regardless of his authorial intention, operating as "empowering nihilism" is not something I would have come up with on my own. The discussion in class on Thursday was fascinating to me, and still not crystal clear. As I understand it, in the context we were discussing, empowering nihilism is destroying the textual identity imposed on someone to reappropriate power. So, in terms of 50 Cent, by embodying a highly exaggerated version of negative black male stereotypes that have been imposed on him (and his ancestors) for centuries, he is doing two things: regaining power by making his imposed persona powerful instead of subjugated, and reflecting that persona back onto those who imposed it on blacks so that they voluntarily adopt it and therefore alter the connotations of it. This interpretation of aggressive, often violent and sexist, rap music has certainly changed the way I think about some music, and even other forms of pop culture. Although what confuses me is where to draw the line in interpreting the effects. Is this empowering for anyone other than 50 Cent? Is the empowerment as a black man more important than the negativity in the sexist, violent, materialistic messages that are part of the package?

Also, how is this different than the feminist rappers we listened to in class? Is it less empowering for them to rap because they are not necessarily (I don't actually know) from the black community and rap is rooted in black culture? How does what Britney Spears does in her ultra-sexualized, objectified performance differ from this? If she is also acting out an hyperbolized version of imposed ideals of women as sexual objects, why isn't her performance empowering nihilism? It is arguable whether or not Spears is gaining real power from her performance. Could the same not be said for 50 Cent? Perhaps this is reductive thinking, but I'm not sure I can separate for myself the difference at this point. Does anyone have an explanation for this?

Uneven Development or Bumpy Progress?

The concept that really caught my attention in the readings and class this week is 'uneven development'. As I understand it, this postmodern/poststructuralist idea is exactly what I am looking for to make sense of my feelings about feminism and the culture I live in. I think the idea that there is an ebb and flow of ideas between the past, present and future provides a very useful context for me to think about why I do not relate solely to one school of thought on feminism, or anything else for that matter. Of course, this is one perspective on the subject, and not necessarily the explanation. There I go perpetuating a lack of certainty, which is exactly what I am talking about.

For example, I have been reading a great deal about third wave feminism recently. I am admittedly drawn to the bold, effervescent, and sexy shade of hot pink that is the cover of every Bust magazine. It makes me wish I were eighteen again so that I could wear ostentatious clothes and travel the world as a radical cheerleader. At the same time, though, I am the daughter of three (long story) second wave feminists, and I cannot shake the notion that some of this lipstick and sexual innuendo is less about regaining women’s power and more about gaining male attention. In the context of uneven development, though, I can see the different threads as they weave together in my mind. I may not know what makes a true third wave feminist (although I am fairly certain that Britney Spears is not one) but I can chart my own course negotiating space somewhere along the fluid lines of feminism within and beyond my own lifetime.

Reading is Sexy

This is the bookstore in Victoria that I am going to be running starting in February next year. I've been working with books for the past six years and I feel like I've found my calling. I've been told many times that "print" is soon to be a thing of the past (http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=969) but I hope they're all wrong. I love books and print culture in general. I also love the Internet and all things digital, but I think there is room in this multi-faceted world for both.

I think that writing and words have always been a source of power for women, and a way for me to find myself. I think women right now have an incredible opportunity with blogs and other devices on the Internet to trancend gender and typical power structures because we can operate without being identified and judged, or restricted in our space for discussion.

This blog exercise is the first time that I have posted information on the Internet on a space that is entirely my own. It's like having a journal, which I've always loved, but with the added stakes that it's in a public place where everyone can read what I have to say. It's much riskier, of course, because it's public, and because it's more permanent than a conversation or class discussion. I think this blog is going to challenge me to take risks and not worry about what other people think. I'm looking forward to it!