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Moonlight shines a light on society

Moonlights portrayal of society is very realistic. The struggles with not only race but with poverty, hypermasculinity and sexuality. I would like to begin with race and poverty. I saw the reaction of the mother when she saw Juan. at first seeing her attire I believe she was wary do to his race or clothing but as you continue to watch you see that she herself is slowly falling into drugs and prostitution. The assumption i had reminds me of a quote from “Six Decades of Social class in American television Sitcoms” by Richard Butsch. He states “thus, the process of class construction seems difficult to document given unspoken guidelines, the indirect manner in which they suggest class and the absence of overt class” (Butsch 512) using this quote I want to frame how well the director mislead us. We assume that the mom is merely afraid to have Chiron around a man that is Juans race and clothing choices. As we learn later Chiron’s mother is a drug addict from Juans men. You notice they only suggest class with Chiron's mother, coming home in scrubs as if she is in the medical field which is likely she could've been but just by her scrubs we label her as a working class single mother. Which also combines the effect drugs have on a person. This reminds me of a quote from “The White of Their Eyes” by Stuart Hall. “Occupation-and by inference, class-are an important part of these description, identified for 84% of male characters.” (Hall 20). People are often defined by what their class or occupation is causing an assumption like i did about the mother at first. As Chiron gets into teenhood you see the affects his mothers drug use has done to his financial situation. He has moved into a lower class neighbor, the usage of landry lines indicates some can't even afford a dryer thus taking a more natural way of drying clothing. Not only that but the scene his mother threatens him for money since she doesn't have any for her fix.

The stereotype of a man being hyper masculine and sexuality. You see in the movie people call chiron “small” and “soft” using that to get under his skin. He is taught this from a young age, the quote in Empire of Images by Susan Bordo she implores the reader by stating “the postmodern body increasingly fed on fantasies” (Bordo 2). I believe this quote relates to Chiron a lot in the fact when he grows up after the bullying he really tries to look masculine but as we know that's not Chiron. I found a quote from an online article called “Why hypermasculinity is toxic for black men’ by Richey Collazo, he states that “Let little black boys be soft, let them cry, let them have feelings without criticizing them as being weak or not a real man so they can grow up into a black man who doesn't run away from all of his feelings and responsibilities.” (Collazo). I use this quote to solidify my idea maybe if Chiron didn't hit that boy with a chair maybe if that boy didn’t bully him for what he perceived as weak. Maybe Chiron wouldn't have to prove to himself and others of his masculinity. Chiron may have become a more open and work in a more stable and safe job. The unreasonable expectations of masculinity are everywhere in this film. Chiron being called soft till he finally fights Kevin to prove otherwise showing that he needs a push to be pushed over the edge.Chiron was told by Juan that he should not let people call him a faggot enforcing and inferring to beat up who ever says it to him. The addon that he shouldn't feel sad about it but instead feel angry and then take it out on others. With sexuality in the movie obviously he was call a faggot for his timid behavior. They also make fun of the way he dresses, making a comment about his tight jeans. A sly way of saying he's gay and he doesnt fit in with everyone else who has baggy pant. Then he begins to have dreams of Kevin specifically wet dreams and after this he becomes a lot more awkward around kevin. In an article titled “My experience as a gay, black man” by Jamel he discusses his trials as gay black man but one quote that reminded me of Chiron was “I had nothing in common with the gay men represented in mainstream media. Not only was I not white, I also didn’t possess the effeminate and ‘camp’ mannerisms that the men on these shows displayed, and were so loved for. Any feminine qualities I once possessed, I had been taught to hide. I think that black men especially, have always felt the need to act manly, dominant and sometimes even, aggressive. Maybe this is down to a long history of mistreatment and repression; maybe we feel there is a need to assert our strength and authority in a world that has constantly tried to put us as unequal. However, this mentality directly opposes the general stereotype of homosexuals, as people who embrace their femininity. As a black, gay man I suffered an identity crisis.” (Jamel). I believe Chiron had an identity crisis and instead of working through it to find himself he went to the easy path and pretended to be tough. It's not till the end you see Chiron finally coming to terms with himself and his sexuality.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m2zxYx7sxJI

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=93cyiK1vhXM

Citions

Palmer Gareth. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition An American Fairytale.” edited by D.Heller,London I.B Taurus, 2007,pp 51-53.

Jamel. “My Experience as a Gay Black Man”. Ditch the label, August 1 2018, https://us.ditchthelabel.org/experience-gay-black-man/

Butsch Richard. “Six Decades of Social Class in American Television.” pp 507-515

Hall Stuart. “The Whites of Their Eyes”. Edited by G. Bridges and R. Brunt, Lawrence and Wishart Ltd London,1981, pp 18-22.

Collazo Richy. “Why Hypermasculinity is Toxic for Black Men”. Affinity Magazine, 2016, http://affinitymagazine.us/2016/05/22/why-hypermasculinity-is-toxic-for-black-men/

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Woman in sports

Women’s soccer was founded in 2012, only 6 years ago. Which is astounding seeing has the men’s has been around since the 90s this is still very much insane seeing as soccer was never big in the US anyway. But still it’s more astonishing that the women’s league, still in such modern times was created roughly 20 years after the fact. Showing even now we don’t think about women in sports, to the sport Industry women are just an afterthought.

The women’s league won the World Cup in 2015. Which is strange you would think after winning such a huge event they’d be paid in the millions but sadly this is not the case

After looking up the wages

Women 37,800 and that’s the highest paid player

Men the highest paid is about 3 million

The clear difference between the salaries is unreal to me.

“Men are foregrounded in commercials”

Every time I’ve seen soccer on tv it’s mostly the men’s team but when I see t-shirts and other products for soccer I see only the men’s names. Women are always brushed to the side as if to say “your not important” which is very devastating for young girls who want to be athletes. The commercializing of only male players give a mindset that female players don’t exist.

Marriage in the athletic world is also very odd seeing as the women the men married are mostly models but that’s a lie seeing as a lot of player either marry normal woman or marry someone from the woman’s sports league. Which they are never talked about or come up at all. The media like to get the sexy girl with the hot athlete a form of hyper masculinity in the media that people project on the kids who watch their heroes. Not only that but treating women as a prize to be won.

It’s scary how hyper masculine the sports industry is, and is the main cause for such behavior toward the women’s league. The men are always Pretrade as tough and aggressive on the field guys. Giving this odd way of being “a man” people push this aside and state that women’s leagues are “not interesting enough” do to a lack of violence which is untrue women are quite brutal in attacks. Especially in soccer. Why do we have such a stigma against women in sports? Well it’s the media portrayal or lack there of. With a staff that only focuses on male sports people either don’t know about women’s sports or think it’s not interesting simply because they never hear about it. Which a shame since the women on these teams work twice as hard as the men for not even half the pay because enjoy the sport.

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Gender of sports media

Honestly this reminds me of the a woman in the UK told that she wouldn’t be able to talk as fast as male commentator. She was told this by most people and other male commenters so she ended up having a male commenter and had them compared. There was no difference, but there’s this weird stigma around women in sports. If it’s not sexy then it doesn’t exist the quote

“ more in depth women sports stories was often a gag feature” (chapter 4 )

Like a female football team only exists as a sexy football game where the girl have no clue what there doing

It’s like the puppy bowl mindset like “hey that’s so ridiculous and cute we should do that” but in the context of the sexy football it’s “hey that’s so ridiculous and cute we should over sexualize it” how belittling is that? Making a “sport” (if you can call it that) just because some men find it funny and hot

Its interesting when the author states from king

“Sure, good looking get more endorsement, but the difference in men’s sports is that the ugly ones get their share too” (4)

Its funny how in sports if your a guy whether your a guy you can still get endorsement but as a female you are stuck trying to find a way to be endorsed if your not conventually beautiful. You’ll work extra hard but there will never be a guarante.

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“In that world we, momentarily, whatever we wanted to be” (Hook 1)

“The substances of man is such that he has to satisfy the needs of life with all his senses. His very being cries out for these sense to appropriate the true riches of life” (Hook 4)

Our capacity to value art is severely corrupted and prevented by politics of visual that suggest we must limit our responses to the narrow confines of a debate over good versus bad” (Hook 8

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Subculture

Subculture influence the time they were established. During the 70s “hippies” were introduce to the world and during Vietnam which is one of our most morally corrupted war. The hippes has a understanding of empathy and took away the blind nationalism that caused rose colored lenses. This resulted in a lot of government distress which was placed at the time. Also how the robot was “Exclusively to punk gatherings” (hebdige 4) punks brought a new age of rebellion just as other subcultures did causing chaos in the more “calm” times they were seen in. Changing the standards of rebelling and giving the world expression through their acts of rebellion. I think now a subculture is emo, emo was needed to express the depression of our youth thus showing a eye to how bullying effect us as a child. Giving us a link to depression and anexity as mental disorders.

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Pretending to be post racial, race in reality tv survivor

Survivor is and interesting show but then they believed they were passed racism (post racial) which of course is untrue in many ways. Because as you can see the when Emily Drew speaks about how the African American contestants who were segregated into race like all the other contestants were on the particaluar season this happened they were described as

Having “no feeling of awkwardness about being separated along racial lines and did not seem bothered by being black together” (Drew 168)

The quote states “no awkwardness about being separated” it makes you wonder how they had become that way. I can answer this, African American people are often pushed to the side and separated to their race. There was also a “brotherhood” in this group. Which to me makes me think about how kinship is made In race and I believe it’s from oppression and being constantly reminded of your race. Finding those who understand what you are going through can make a kinship.

I relate this to the office and how they comidically talk about race in the work place and how micheal In particalluar treats everyone. Micheal becomes harder to watch as he fight to take control from the speaker. When micheal feels like he needs to prove himself after the speaker confronts him about his clearly racist jokes (aka his Chris rock routine)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-N-lix79zuk

Micheal begins having everyone put on races and treat eachother as a stereotype that is posted on there head and as he talks to kelly (who is not participating and is Indian) he begins to make very race remarks

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PLp8pjqwlsc

I believe this episode really imbodies how people will think like micheal that we’re passed racism or that if they “don’t see color” that’s not avoiding the problem of racism in the first place. Media just often times glorifies race to be stereotypes, and believing we don’t have a problem just makes it more problematic in the end.

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Race in the whites eyes

They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. They never said that race was in the eyes of the white men who control it throug media. Just like lgbtq, you must imbody the fundamentals of freedom in order to be see. Which are masculine, white, conservative norms. The social norm for your race. I believe this article puts it up front when hall calls out language and ideology and explains the difference

“Language and ideology are not the same since the same linguistics term can be deployed within different ideology discourse” (Hall 18)

He make this a clear statement because language can form ideology but ideology does not form language. People of different races are show to either have the ideology of the social norm or are evil or cunning. An underline racism that has been shown in media far to often. Then there’s the misconception that we are now pass racism that causes people to think that segration of races is okay, which obviously it just adds nothing but fuel to the fire To those who are less naive.

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https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-dna-ancestry.amp.html

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/warren-releases-dna-analysis-on-native-american-heritage-firing-back-at-trump-attacks

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Blackmirrors attempted for us to be self-aware

The economic class in the episode and the gender and their insecurity due to its drive on social class from media causes an outlook on our future that is beyond terrifying. People of a 4.5 and above are meant to represent the wealthy and 3.0 to 4.2 is middle class and under 3.0 is the poor. These constructs and similarities how we treat others in these categories is exemplified in this episode. Even in the symbolism and lighting. For example when Naomi calls Lacie to uninvited her. The lighting in both sides of the phone call are drastically different. Lacie is in the “dark” side of society while we see Naomi in a bright room with everyone. I think it symbolizes how we view class, the rich are always in this bright world while the poor are in the dark and we don’t pay attention to them. Also Lacie is a great example of that thought process how she interacts with Naomi being fake and nice. The only way to grow her popularity was to befriend the rich and famous. In contrast how she interact with the truck woman with a 1.8, Lacie is apprehensive and wary of the woman due to her status and how people ignored people who were under 4.2. I also noticed the lower numbers were mostly minorities. Like how the car Lacie rented to get to the wedding was in spanish and how it was just assumed that it would be a Hispanic family or person to take the car. Also that a lot of the people we saw in the lower class were African Americans like the taxi driver and the man in jail. Yes there was a few in the middle and high class but that was very few. It also shows how businesses and the hospitals treat those who are under by a bit even get pushed aside for someone richer than themselves. These examples all relate to the article Extreme Makeover: Home edition an American fairytale “the divide between the classes ensures that working class are always receptive and thankful for the good taste bestowed upon them by the middle class” (Palmer 52) I relate this sentence because the class divide is used as a social media but always a goal for people to be like the wealthy like Lacie and her obsession with her rating.

The funny thing is the symbolization of rags the doll and how it symbolizes innocence when your a child and have no idea of status or race or gender but also memories we tend to gloss over just like Lacie did with Naomi. Even though Naomi treated Lacie like trash, Lacie just because Naomi was popular and looked at her with rose tinted glasses. Just like how its stated in Empire of Images by Susan Bordo she implores the reader by stating “the postmodern body increasingly fed on fantasies” (Bordo 2). The quote i used describes how women today think about their bodies and have a high expectation like a fantasy that's been ingrained in our heads. To relate to the episode the females in this future seem very focused on their looks. Most likely from the boom in the media and wanting to be of a higher class but the only way to do that is through beauty. Lacie jogs every morning to keep in shape, always with make up even in her home. Naomi also you can tell she is very insecure, like when she calls Lacie she’s in a bikini and facing the camera at her chest. A way of saying “look at me aren’t I perfect?”.when she calls Lacie again about the speech she’s doing yoga to impress or show off to Lacie and others. She needs the validation to feel worth. When Lacie talks to other higher class woman she’s always with this fake laugh and tone. She hide herself behind her screen and always keeping this face of perfection. It’s not one sided with the woman every man especially in the middle and high class are ripped, abs and muscles. When you look at the lower class men there a little more chubby or no muscle at all. Ryan, Lacie brother is actually in okay shape but he’s not ripped like the men in the higher classes. Most likely because they have the time to work out. The two high class males Paul, Naomi’s husband to be and Andrew are very jock stereotypes they act all tough even at Paul’s wedding but I do think that Paul and Andrew are a lot closer than friends. No one touches the neck so sensually and you would want to be hugging and praising your wife not your best friend at the wedding. They are perfect examples of hypermasculinity and how it’s associated with the wealthy. The saddest part about the episode is that i can see the situation presented happening in real life give or take a few things.

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Six decades of social class in American TV sitcoms

This article goes through sitcoms and the family dynamics within these shows. What caught my attention, was in the shows the woman was always a stay at home mom like in family guy, the simpsons and American dad. Of course they’d may get a career but it’s played for laughs like this one episode of American Dad with Stan’s wife Francine. She becomes a doctor but Online because her daughter doesn’t respect her

She’s played for laughs because of being clearly hoodwinked. Then she gets involved in the handicapped mafia (I’m not joking that’s the name) and begins to help them with with things like gun shot wounds which she is not at all qualified to do.

“The few middle class buffoons were usually in the form of the ditzy wife” (Butsch 508)

The thing is this is an obvious parody of those old sitcoms just like the daughter Hailey who is a feminist, “hippie” character type that’s rebellious to her father far right wing stance being the left wing. Both are made to the extreme for comedic purposes. Always giving a satire to the government policies. She’s always treated as annoying or ugly but I take this as the creators basically showing how the right treats the left as just a bunch of “hippies” that are young teens that don’t know what they’re talking about

What Seth (creator of family guy and American dad) tried to convey was done fairly well but he tried with family guy with brain being the more “left wing” but that was unsuccessful because unlike hailey Brian slowly became insufferable to audiences

These parodies are what I grew up on so seeing how the family interactions are clearly a commentary on sitcoms. The media’s way of showing the “family values” of America. Is quite a interesting and this article really made me realize the tropes Steve used in his show to show this pattern of family and just like in the article it’s pointed out. It’s not gone and still runs rapid in media.

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An American fairytale

This article talks a lot about class and how tv glosses the higher class. Giving us in the lower or middle class to look with awe in hopes we may one day have what they do. The difference is the people are treated as if they are the working middle class. A delusion that they don’t make millions.

“ this divide between the classes ensures that the working class are always receptive and thankful for the “good taste” The stowed upon them by the middle class” (Palmer 52)

This act gives a wide range of audiences that can relate. But just like all reality tv all cannot be real no matter the word “reality” being induced. They add this family act in order to be relatable to the audience. Where as we watch the Kardashian‘s because their rich, we watch Extreme makeover because we relate. A key difference between the two.

Family orientated fiction is more relatable because most have a family and have a high expedition to how a “loving” family and the American dream of a family should be.

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Unholy marriage to capitalism

The monopoly put on the media today and even in the beginning of tv is very present in the internet. From having ads suspicious catered to your tastes. To one company owning most of the internet. There is no “actual competition (...) but, instead when new application avoids being conquered (...) creates another new monopolistic power house” (Foster 47) even in the small companies who claim to be innocent. Go down a path of corruption. Always wanting more, a flaw in the government. The unbalanced power that infect us like a virus. Slowly and silently taking over, under our noses. Till there nothing but scraps. Eventually we will be taken over by the people we trusted to give us the internet freely. Soon we will be constantly monitored and given new way to just become another “customer”. So big business can leach off us for every penny we have and if no one stops it we’ll really be nothing but another country controlled by a business.

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Ads

My ad is on how bodies are portrayed in media. I put a speckled background in dark to show the business behind the ad is looking to not impower you but cause insecurity. So you’ll buy their product and they can make money. Showing the truth behind the ad. Then i put a line of models who are in bras and underwear. To show the standards society and big business has for everyone. Also i put the women in the ad are white 5/7 to be exact, showing the sly racism in business. I made the girls black and white in filter because i believe that's what it is just a black and white concept that is hardly given any difference. It doesn’t stray from the status quo. Each woman skin and bone, having A cups with a push up bra to appear a little bigger but we know the truth that shows the shame that many women feel about their chest size. Which woman is also in an uncomfortable pose of sorts. Like the girl in the middle is holding up her leg having them slightly open in order to show seduction but in truth its uncomfortable position that does nothing but attract the eye thus making woman with their partner feel insecure and try to be more sexy for their partner. The title “dare to be unique” is there for purposes of comedy. Since the model are the same body type and in black and white as mentioned before. I put it in red because compared to the black and white background it stands out a lot more and red is a color an eye is drawn to. That's to show how if you look you first only see the word so you don’t think anything of it and you mind processes the words and accousaites the picture with the words.

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News in media

Media is constantly changing and rearanging to fit with the status quo. Making people more untrusting of media.

“The depiction of gays and lesbians on prime time television.”

As the times change so does media like how when lgbtq was introduced to tv in the 80s as Same sex couples began to emerge more. The process slowly gained a way to society. Media help develop a new thought process.

All of this is to make a profit and as normal news becomes more boring. Fake news becomes more interesting thus making more money. But this causes more bad than good

It gives others the wrong idea about people as they spread lies. The integrity of the news is out the window especially today. This is mostly to help politicians gain and loose traction but as they say “bad publicity is good publicity”.

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Tim drake the frontier

Tim Drake was the 3rd robin and the most intelligent out of the robins. Unlike the other Robins Tim Drake was known for his intelligence and his amazing ways to out wit villains.

Tim Drake noticed the violence Batman began to do after Jason Todd’s death and believed it’d be better if Bruce had some kind of support telling him when to stop.

Unlike the robins before tim Drake was less physically fit than dick Grayson and Jason Todd. Frontiers are hardworkers but humble.Tim Drake worked has hard as he could to become strong but acted like he still wasn’t as strong as the others. When in fact he was, if not a little less.

Tim Drake was giving a lot more rules than the other robins due to Jason Todd’s death. Tim Drake understanding

Tim Drake has strict morals. In one issue batman is severely injured by a villain and the position of Batman is taken over by John Paul. A violent and ruthless man who took Bruce’s mortalities and flushed them down the toilet. By killing and using unnecessary violence towards others. Using the Batman “fame“ to fuel his narcissism. Tim Drake defiant of John’s ways he would always fight with him

Even when his girlfriend, who was severely vunlarable and distressed. Was asking for sec after almost being raped. He says no because he knows it’s not right for them to do such a thing.

Later on Tim Drake would become the leader of young justice

He was a strong and smart leader who turned the others to the right path. But he isn’t always right but it’s never that he grays the lines. he never makes you think about the decisions he makes as Robin. If there good or bad because it’s always the good.

I think Tim Drake is a frontier hero

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American myth

Now since reading the passage, I’ve come to think about how much media shows the “American dream”. It’s interesting to still see this in media. How the media give this

“Country Ideal”

Vs the reality. Unlike in many stories good and evil is not just black and white. Good can also be wrong and bad can also be right. Let me explain, your fundamental morals are not the same as another individuals. Media constantly shows you “ideal” of a country hero such as iron man. But this doesn’t immediately say you are a hero. Media puts rose tinted glasses over things all the time. To make someone seam in the wrong or someone else to be in the right always depending on the bias at hand. Always putting a shine on our country giving into blind patriotism. Patriotism in theory is not a bad thing but still truly love your country you have to know what your country has done. We are not always a hero and we do bad things. Media can be used for this time, dare I say propaganda. We must learn to point this out before it affects us more.

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Gender

Gender binds us To set Standard that controls an aspect of our life. Often women are Objectified but told to be pure Judith Butler address the issue in many parts but this quote stood out the most paragraph 1 of section 1 sex/gender: feminist and phenomenological views

“ The body in it sexual being “he takes issue with such account of bodily experience and claims that the body is “in a historical idea“

A body is just that, flesh. But exploration and stereotype feed into the toxic ideals of gender. Gender is misconstrued for whomever is in power even if now it’s a lot different it’s still plagued us to this day. These expectations of gender causes many feud between the sexes and other genders due to the long-standing stereotypes that still can’t go away.