emmie-kuzulka

[emmie-kuzulka]

Multicultural America: Muli-Media Blog #3 (Social Media[Tik Tok])

Social media has been prominent in American culture since it was first introduced to the mainstream in the early 2000’s with Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. From there, social media has opened the doors to various careers based around social media, commonly known as influencers. Influencers are contacted by brands who see their content and following and then give them products to review and promote, often with additional financial composition for advertising the products. One of the most popular social media platforms today is an app called Tik Tok; known for its short video clips ranging from a few seconds to a couple of minutes showcasing topics on news, pop culture, fashion tips, life-hacks, and more. Tik Tok started what are known as a “TikTokers” who follow similar roles of typical influencers, except they participate in popular lip syncing challenges and dances to top songs. TikTokers allowed for many to venture into different areas of work such as creating their own brand, acting, and music. Although Tik Tok is a growing platform for creativity and sharing of content, it can at times come at the expense of others. A large issue that became a growing problem for content creators, was the issue of copyright and lack of correct recognition deserved within the African American community of creators. TikTokers of color that were lesser known to the public would create choreography to trending songs for their accounts which would spike in popularity enough for well-known mainstream white influencers to see. From there they would copy the dance and perform for their account with no credit given to the original creator to show that it was theirs initially. This led to growth in their following and in turn their money accumulated, while the individuals who choreographed it got none of these benefits. An example of this is the viral dance “Renegade” that jump started the prolific careers of Charlie D’Amelio and Addison Rae, both white. From this they went on to receive hundreds of millions of dollars as well as Rae’s music career taking off and D’Amelio getting her own reality TV show, furthering their financial profits. The issue is, neither of them or other popular TikTokers, all predominantly white, credited these dances and instead it was a African American teenager Jalaiah Harmon, who is one of many black TikTokers that were overshadowed and taken advantage of for their choreography and original ideas. Charli D’Amelio was again called out in the summer of 2021 by a news host accusing her of “misappropriating” black TikTokers dances. Facing constant public criticism, eventually the star along with others gave public apologies and began crediting the original choreographers, yet the damage was already done for many. One of our class readings that I felt connected to this topic and growing issue showing micro-racism occurring on Tik Tok was Richard Dyer’s “On the Matter of Whiteness” which talked about what it means to be “white” and have white privilege. These Tik Tokers show an example of white privilege as they are able to build their platform and gain popularity without having to be held accountable until people dig into the history of the dances and force them to apologize. It also shows how audiences are quick to follow who they deem fits the beauty standard and typically are drawn to white celebrities showing the racial hierarchies coming into play that Dryer mentions. Dom Apollon’s “Don’t Call Them ‘Post-Racial.’ Millennials Say Race Matters to Them” also allows for a reflection on issues such as these lack of representations in media that happen. The article challenges how society views racism today versus decades ago, and tends to think we are in a post-racial society when in fact there is racism still prevalent today. This topic also generates a topic of race because the dances stolen are often from those of the African American community, so it begs the question is it intentional? Is it negatively appropriating African American culture and dance?

Works Cited

Colombo, Charlotte. “Charli D’Amelio Was Criticized by the ‘View’ Host Sunny Hostin, Who Accused Her of ‘Stealing’ Dances from Black Creators.” Business Insider, https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-charli-damelio-sunny-hostin-the-view-black-creators-dances-2021-6. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Don’t Call Them “Post-Racial.” Millennials Say Race Matters to Them - Colorlines. 7 June 2011, https://colorlines.com/article/dont-call-them-post-racial-millennials-say-race-matters-them/.

Fusco, Coco, and Brian Wallis. Only Skin Deep: Changing Visions of the America Self. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, 2003.

Norman, Lea Zora Scruggs and Arlissa. “Black TikTokers Are Tired of Not Getting Paid for the Moves You Stole.” VICE, 1 Dec. 2021, https://www.vice.com/en/article/black-tik-tok-tired-of-stolen-dances/.

[emmie-kuzulka]

Multicultural America: Multi-Media Blog #2 (Film)

A film that reflects racial tension and the unjust treatment many people of the African American community face is the movie Get Out (2017) by Jordan Peele. The movie revolves around the character, Chris, who is a photographer and African American man. His girlfriend Rose, who comes from a wealthy white family, invites him to meet her family for the weekend. Chris finds out that her parents are unaware that he is a person of color, and settles into a state of unease with his guard up. Once he arrives he is subjected to uncomfortable, offensive, and stereotypical treatment and verbal confrontation. From there on the movie pans out with Rose's family having a horrific sinister agenda, and Chris must escape the inhumane violent racism. This movie correlates with the topics and readings we have reviewed in our course, because it reflects on the violent actions and indescribable treatment African Americans and other demographics have been faced with throughout history. Artwork from the “30 Americans” website, the photograph of Emmet Till, and Karin Higa’s “Toyo Miyatake and ‘Our World’” are examples of readings that present relevant connections with Get Out. When it was released, critics and audiences could not stop talking about the movie not only for its unique take on the horror genre, but also because of the brutal reality of society in America in regards to racism and varying demographics. Get Out generates talk for the stereotypical associations white people often make and prejudice displayed nowadays in the form of micro-racism. Chris has to endure an uncomfortable get-together at Rose’s house with all of their family friends, also all white, and the varying blunt racists comments each make. Some guests commented on his physic, some on how they “know a black person, and even as far as outwardly staring. “30 Americans” showcases artwork by African Americans, and one of the pieces displays a similar example of something stereotypical being presented. Kehinde Wiley’s Triple Portrait of Charles I shows a black person wearing a stereotypical hooded outfit, and is made of oil and enamel on canvas. Another example I noticed after watching the movie again was how Chris’s photography was pivotal in his realization that he was in danger and that their passive rudeness towards him had a deeper meaning. In Karin Higa’s “Toyo Miyatake and ‘Our World’” there is information and reflection on how interned Japanese-Americans had their ability to take photographs restricted and they were not allowed to. In one scene, Chris takes a picture of the only other African American man present because of his odd behavior, which in turn causes the man to break down and become aggressive, disturbing the party. The parents are upset and ask him to delete the pictures and to refrain from taking more, unknown to Chris that it is because it would expose their agenda. Lastly, the picture we studied from the beginning of the semester, a photograph of a brutally killed Emmett Till, shows a similar violence that Rose’s family places on African Americans they lure to their families estate. They take away their lives, cutting into their brains and modifying the person that they are to make space for who they want. 

Work Cited

Fusco, Coco, and Brian Wallis. Only Skin Deep. Harry N. Abrams. Inc., 2003.

Get Out. Directed by Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures, 2017.

NA. “The Power of a Photograph: The Lynching of Emmett Till.” UMBC, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1956, https://fatwts.umbc.edu/the-power-of-a-photograph-the-lynching-of-emmett-till/.

Wiley, Kehinde. Triple Portrait of Charles I. Oil and enamel on canvas, 2007, https://nbmaa.org/pdfs/Wiley-K_Text.pdf.

[emmie-kuzulka]

Multicultural America: Multi-Media Blog #1 (Television Show)

When looking at entertainment in today’s time, we have the largest archive of media at an easier access to us than ever before thanks to the internet, growing online streaming services, and physical libraries. Top contributors to this access include Netflix and Amazon, in which they also produce their own content as well to contribute to their astounding collection of tv shows and movies. These high amounts of content also provide a variety of various genres of media that can provide the viewer with new insight, stimulate the brain, and have personal relatability to what is viewed on screen. Netflix’s original show Ginny and Georgia premiered in 2021 and has since gained popularity, leaving its imprint on pop culture in the years since. Fans have connected on different levels because of its realistic portrayal of teenage adolescence, diversity in today's ever-changing society, and its exploration of controversial topics. The show centers on teenager Ginny and her mother Georgia as they navigate their relationship dynamic and the harsh reality of Georgia’s con-artist past and fitting into their new community. The show represents racial and ethnic identities well because it examines common stereotypes and shows the many trials that can come from being of a mixed race or minority group. Ginny is shown struggling to find a group that she fits into at school because she feels she looks too different from others in the predominantly white school she attends, yet doesn’t know as much culturally for her African American roots. This draws parallels to Susan Saulny’s article, “Black? White? Asian? More Young Americans Choose All of the Above” in which she talks on the challenges of the confusion and societal pressures that arise from being of a mixed race in America; and having the feeling that a distinct “side” needs to be chosen for their racial identity. Georgia, who is white, struggles with understanding and supporting her daughter when faced with bullying, racism and prejudice from teachers, and her mental health that is further affected by her hardships. A screening our class looked at was U.S.: Young and Mixed in America, which coincides with the topics and feelings that the characters are going through in the show. Ginny’s boyfriend, Hunter Chen, is Asian-American and they end up having an argument surrounding the topic of their race. In the episode, they fight over the severity of stereotypes associated with both of them and debate who is “more white” ending with a large strain in their relationship. Orr and Saulny’s video Young and Mixed in America features real interviews with college students that are mixed race that similarly direct conversations about identities in a safe space and environment. The students explain how other perceptions of themself from others have altered their actions and affected them on an emotional and psychological level. Netflix has announced a third and fourth season for the show, which will hopefully develop these ideas and continue to show realistic experiences that happen in our society for individuals that are mixed race. 

Works Cited

Aronauer, Welland, producer. Ginny and Georgia. Television show, Netflix, 2021, www.netflix.com.

Orr, Matthew, and Susan Saulny. - YouTube. The New York Times, 31 Jan. 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLnO1--sRow.

Saulney, Susan. “Black? White? Asian? More Young Americans Choose All of the Above.” The New York Times, 29 Jan. 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1325201161-0WLSzQrLgmzDj6181OKvwg&pagewanted=print.