SURVIVOR: THE RACE ISSUE
Photo c/o the official Survivor website.
Off to a good start. I was drawn right into it. Just how I like my reality TV shows….
The division of the tribes by race is fascinating. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong. I’m not quite sure what I think of it yet, actually. I’m just amazed by the interesting questions it evokes. Is this morally acceptable? Is it promoting stereotypes or deconstructing them?
In the end, I think today’s debut itself demonstrated both the pros and the cons of dividing the tribes by race. (Racial issues aside, I’m loving the return of Exile Island and all the great shark cameos. Beauty!)
Some of the Pros:
*Players are more ethnically diverse. We have more than just the two token African
Americans, one token Asian person, etc. So, this is a better representation of the
American population — making it a more effective social experiment.
*Deconstructs stereotypes by emphasizing the differences among individuals within a racially determined group. "We are the Caucasian group," states Jessica (aka "Flika"), "We’ve got, like, a jock, and then we’ve got the sorority type, you’ve got the steady type, you know, you’ve got
the family man, and then you got me who’s like the alternative option." Similarly, Jenny says, "Our tribe Puka is comprised of 5 Asians: I’m
filipino, Yul is Korean, Becky is Korean, umm…Brad is mixed filipino,
Hawaiian, and Cau Boi is Vietnemese. We’re a mixed group ourselves, you
know, within the Asian community." Having studied Asian American literature in university, I know how important it is to many Asian people to be identified specifically within the Asian community. Here, Jenny is able to assert this essential point to a wide North American audience.
*Deconstructs stereotypes by enabling individuals to use stereotypes to their advantage — and, in doing so, to empower themselves — and to voice their own unique standpoint. An example of this is when Cao Boi observes that the
Asian tribe is "actually at an advantage. We fly under the radar.
Nobody suspects these little people with slanted eyes to see anything
or to be strong enough to do anything or
maybe…don’t even speak English. People always…underestimate the
Asian."
Some of the Cons:
*Risks blending race and identity, so that people are identified solely by their race. This can be dangerous. It is certainly occuring within the game already, for example, when Jonathan explains why he was chosen to go to Exile Island: "I think it was because … I took the Asian guy’s chicken that
the African American guys chose me … that’s all they said."
*Even I — totally unable to remember the names of each of the tribes — am guilty of naming the tribes "Caucasian," "African American," etc.. Defining a group by its ethnicity. I don’t feel all that comfortable doing this. But Survivor has made it okay….
*Promotes stereotyping. I shudder at what some of Survivor‘s viewers will say each week — encouraged as they may be to judge and identify players based on their race.
What some of the contestants themselves had to say about it on tonight’s show:
"My first thought when I saw the tribes were split right along racial lines was: Oh God, this is going to be hard…Just Because I feel like as a people that have the same ethnicity, maybe we’ll kind of clash on things" — Ozzy (Hispanic [also a hottie…!])
"I could care less about divisions by ethnicity, when it comes to surviving, it’s a human effort." — Sundra (African American)
"I honestly was stunned. I mean, this is … crazy. I mean I…you know, on one hand I think this is a great opportunity because I think it’s wonderful that there are more minorities. Uh, at the same time I’m a little bit worried because it may play out to characatures and stereotypes. So…I don’t know, it’ll be interesting to see how things play out" — Yul (Asian Americans)
"Different ethnic groups. I mean is that [*pauses*] kosher? I don’t know. But, it’s a cool social experiment, I think." — Parvati (Caucasian)
"When the tribes were divided, I thought, what an advantage for the Hispanics. The Hispanics all come from Caribbean or South American backgrounds. To where we’re used to being in this tropical setting." — Billy (Hispanic)
"The tribes are uh obviously divided by ethnicity. But, it doesn’t matter to me …. The issue is what kind of people you have in your tribe. What kind of personalities, and how you get along with them." –Adam (Caucasian)
"This is a unique opportunity to represent our community in a positive way. I mean we just show that we work hard, and we play hard. I think we’re going to go pretty far. –Cecilia (Hispanic)
"It makes me feel like, because we are divided by race, now, we have to step up to the plate and show that, yes, black people do swim; black people do know how to get up on the boat and paddle. I mean, (*laughs*) we don’t just run track!" –Rebecca (African American)
"It is going to be a truly social experiment. It’s going to be fascinating to see how it plays out. But, I don’t believe that just because these groups have cultural similarities that that will make them more specifically cohesive. This is Survivor. Somebody’s going to win a million dollars, and they’re gonna have to cut the throat of the guy next to them at some point." –Jonathan (Caucasian)
ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA — AND, THE WINNER IS….
Lucas won. I’m not a fan. I wanted Dilana to win. But, at least a
CANADIAN WON AGAIN this season! Sahweet! Besides, Dilana didn’t really
lose. She clearly wasn’t suited to the band: she’d totally overpower
them; it’d be all about her. And, Supernova doesn’t want that. So, they
choose the more innocuous of the two and offer to help the real star
write and produce her own record, and invite her to tour with them!
Awesome. In my mind, Dilana’s the clear winner!
Photo c/o the official Rock Star: Supernova website.
GOSSIP GOSSIP GOSSIP!
Here are some of the things the intergossips are talking about. But, first things first. Still no name for Brit Brit’s baby. I’ll let you know as SOON as I hear anything. It should be interesting….
SELF-TANNERS GONE WRONG
Who is responsible for these tans?? This is getting ridiculous. I mean, don’t they know this isn’t remotely attractive? Not remotely human-looking? Healthy glow? NO WAY. And, by the way? These are two reasons why I’d rather stay fair as a ghost than use a self-tanner.
Photos of Jess by Jonathan Friolo, and photos of Posh by Richie Buxo. Both c/o Splash News Online.
WHITNEY FILES FOR LEGAL SEPARATION FROM BOBBY!
Can it be? Has Whitney finally seen the light? We are ecstatic here at Cheaty’s Celebrity Gossip that Whitney has, after what seems like 14 years from HELL, requested a legal separation from Bobby Brown, and full custody of her 13-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina (with visitation rights for Bobby). Hallelujah. Now, maybe she’ll get singing again. Not liking this latest choice of hairdo and colour, though. I’m requesting that she legally separate from it pronto…! But, legally separating from Bobby is a good start. I’ll take it!
Photo of Whitney by Anna Shanks, c/o Splash News Online.
THE HAPPY BRANGELINA FAMILY
Check out the beautiful family on the cover of the German magazine Gala. As our awesome fellow Canuck and pro Intergossip, Lainey Liu, quips, "these pics look pre-arranged and those
photographers HAD to be tipped off. So now the question becomes: what
is Brad’s brilliant media machine after this time?…Is it a Suri counterstrike? Is it an early Babel push? And holy
coincidences of ALL coincidences…was Jennifer Aniston *just* named
People Magazine’s Best Dressed Celebrity? Is boring the new black?" Okay, so Lainey’s not an Aniston fan. I can forgive her for that. But, she makes a really good point. These photos — including full-on Shiloh! — are coming right after Vanity Fair released the Suri photos. I dunno. What do you think? In any case, it’s cool to see that unique family together. Very cool.
Photo c/o Gala’s website.
So, got comments? We loveses the commentses! What do you think of Survivor‘s division of the tribes across racial lines? Do you use a self-tanner? Does your skin turn out like that? And, hey? Anyone into Canadian Idol? If so, who do you want to win? How ’bout just say hi?
And, please do fill out the Survivor poll below! It’ll be fun to see what you all think! I’ll let you know what the results are next post.
…Finally, I’d love to see you over at my other blog, The Cheaty Monkey, hint hint…!
Okay, off to march down the aisle at my brother’s wedding (this Sunday!). Got a speech to write still and everything! Wish me luck!
1) I’m intrugued by the Survivor twist. At the least, it’s getting people talking about stuff they don’t usually talk about openly.
2) Lukas Rossi. Eww.
3) Self-tanner gone bad on Posh Beckham? More like tanning on Ibiza gone waaaay bad. And boob job gone worse (keepin’ ’em small doesn’t make ’em look any more real.)
jessica simpson is way way too tanorexic.
she always looks a really awful orange-y color. it’s totally unattractive.
i’m liking survivor. i like that this season there’s more than one or two “tokens” it’s diverse, even within the tribes. i like that. i’m not sure how that’s going to play out, but we’ll have to wait and see.
I didn’t even watch Survivor. I always hate the first episodes. And I was out. But, anyway, I think it’s all just a big PR thing because Survivor is kind of going down hill.
And … the fake tans. Gross. I’m super pale, and I don’t tan even if I try. I’ve just given up on tanning. It’s not worth the effort. And self-tanning … who has time?
Oh, and your wedding speech. At my best friend’s wedding her sister did a speech. She hadn’t been to a lot of weddings, and wrote it just like she wrote speeches in grade 7 – she added dramatics, told stories. It was so NOT a wedding speech and it was fantastic. I, however, tried to speak and cried. It was awful! (I was drunk though).
I have never watched Survivor…weird. But the fake tans? GO.AWAY. Seriously. Victoria just keeps looking weirder – not just the tan, & nothing I can really put my finger on…but weird.
Hay – I think the Survivor thing will give everyone a chance to prove their mettle and buck the stereotypes. I used to Mystic Tan, and I don’t THINK it turned out like this – maybe I’ll post a pic and let you decide. When I tan for real, I get all freckly and it tans underneath the freckles and looks so great! But a fake tan just looks obvious against the freckles. I saw a shirt for sale that said, “Pale is the new tan” and that’s the thought I’m trying to internalize. Nicole Kidman is with us! Now I want a slinky little cami with “Pale is the new tan” in sequined script. Do we know anyone who can help us be pasty and chic at the same time?
Yup, I got sucked into Survivor again despite promising myself nothing would bring me back and…yup, despite the smart PR that sucked me back in with the racial division of the tribes, it was exactly what I expected and…yup, I was bored! Why do I do this to myself?!
I have always wondered about VBeck’s tan…what IS she thinking?!