Re: [-empyre-] Fwd: ayo should go byo

["tobias c. van Veen" <tobias@rhizome.org>]

To pose a question perhaps already asked .. is this a problematic of people
simply "not getting the humour"?

If so, what does this say about the production of "humour"?
 

I noticed that this comment parallels the comments & debates amongst the
readers/viewers on blackpeopleloveus.com -- which makes me wonder if a
byproduct of such art is the creation of a "third clique," perhaps neither
black nor white dominated (it seems about equal on the site-- although I
would be curious as to what Damali [sorry for the 3rd person.. this is
addressed to the list] has received via email, what the response ratio is
like, and how often people identify their race in response...), that then
espouses how they all "get it," and make fun of those who "don't," like the
person below, thus recreating another type of exclusion based upon
"understanding" the role of satire-as-political (humour).

For whatever reason, this well-meaning "whitey" doesn't "get" the humour or
the role of provocation.

If the art is meant to transact politically, should other tactics be
considered that differ from satire, so this situation is somehow
deconstructed as well .. ie this "third clique of I-get-it satire"?

Is this the next step?

These are all massive questions & I don't have any answers... just
continuous twists of the brain trying to follow what happens when this type
of work--difficult work, serious work, yet funny work--is engaged. And to
that I bow to the artist with all gravity.

best, tV



> someone earlier on the list asked me what kind of responses i
> receive. here is something that arrived today. i'll leave it at that,
> without commentary.
> 
> yesterday i got five messages with choice language calling me a
> series of names. let me know if you all are interested in reading
> those or any other responses.
> 
> damali
> 
>> 
>> 
>> Though race does play a large part in one's everyday life, it seems
>> you have let race become your entire life.  I am proud of my
>> heritage, that is a part of me, it is my bloodline, however it does
>> not control all of my daily actions and thoughts.  You seem to be
>> over zealous and perhaps blinded by your own intelligence.  I am
>> white, and  I went to your website rent a negro .com.  How do you
>> expect racial tranquility when you promote such an idea.  Yes, many
>> white people do not know anything personal about black people,
>> however the same is true on the other side of the coin.  You claim
>> that this service helps white people to understand blacks.  In fact
>> i would argue the opposite.  By having this service where human
>> beings are rented out, you are making blakc people seem like an
>> exotic delicatessent for white people.  Blacks are made into an
>> exihibit.  "Touch her skin" Touch her hair" $25.  AFter reading the
>> price list, and all of the quotes which refer to the black person as
>> "her", I wonder whether this is an actual cultural service, or are
>> you running a black prostitution ring.  How are you helping the race
>> problem when you are allowing white people to pay blacks to vouch
>> for them as not a racist?  All in all, I believe that you have a
>> skewed view of white people, perhaps you should try rentwhitey.com.
>> I live in evanston, il, just north of chicago.  I went ot a high
>> school that was about half white and half black.  people learned to
>> get along withouth using racial escort services, which is what you
>> are.  I don't think that most white people, the majority of whom
>> diod not get to experience such a diverse deducational environment,
>> are sitting around in their house wondering what a blakc person's
>> hair feels like.  In closing, you seem to be anti-white, making you
>> practically the same as the racsits you despise.  YOu are not
>> helping the race situation in America, in fact you are prolonging
>> it.  Reading about you onyour website, it seems that you are a
>> fairly intelligent person, which is a same that such a gift was
>> wasted on you.
>> oh by the way if i fucked up on the spelling in this email, just
>> know that I was typing fast because I was looking at black porn on
>> the computer, wondering what a black woman feels like.  Oh iknow,
>> I'll just call rent a negro .com
> 
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tobias c. van Veen -----------
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