Pop Empire

Good observations, Kacey.

2012-01-26T16:24:34.406-05:00

Good observations, Kacey.

"It also makes me wonder what other things ar...

2012-01-26T16:21:53.112-05:00

"It also makes me wonder what other things are stereotyped about other groups of people." Good thoughts, Kacey. The language issue you note is a good example of a "subversive" practice.

Good observations, Chad, especially about the iron...

2012-01-26T16:19:37.926-05:00

Good observations, Chad, especially about the ironic makeup line: Origins.

Thank you for your thoughts, Chad, and to kwoww fo...

2012-01-26T16:17:35.664-05:00

Thank you for your thoughts, Chad, and to kwoww for pointing out the need to be careful when speaking for "us." It's disturbing to note how, at every stage of filmmaking, the stereotype being portrayed was in the interest of the dominant culture in some way, without suggesting the dominant culture's complicity in oppression and marginalization--until very recently with the rise of some excellent independent film making.

Thanks for your comments, Kate. Why do you think ...

2012-01-26T16:12:23.242-05:00

Thanks for your comments, Kate. Why do you think it's so scary to have credit card companies tracking your moves through your purchases? I agree that it's disconcerting. What are the potential misuses of this information?

Thanks for sharing your observations, Kate.

2012-01-26T16:09:29.220-05:00

Thanks for sharing your observations, Kate.

Thanks for your observations, Matt. What is the c...

2012-01-26T16:08:14.498-05:00

Thanks for your observations, Matt. What is the consumer's responsibility to be discerning when it comes to these ads? Are the advertisers and the retail stores more powerful than the average consumer or is it a level playing field?

And why in the world don't schools teach kids how to be savvy and discerning when it comes to this sort of thing so that they won't be captive to the false images of happiness? Is it because schools have an interest in upholding the status quo of consumption?

Good observations, Matt. I appreciate your critiq...

2012-01-26T16:03:18.361-05:00

Good observations, Matt. I appreciate your critique of Moore's methods. It sounds like they were so overwhelming to you that you weren't able to see through to any of his (potentially) legitimate critiques. Do you think Moore's films convince anyone or is he just preaching to the choir?

"As statistics show, many Native Americans ar...

2012-01-26T15:58:10.822-05:00

"As statistics show, many Native Americans are in fact poor or suffer from alcoholism. But is it ethical for a filmmaker to portray them that way? Do filmmakers need to show a positive view or just the truth?" Good questions, Kendra. My initial response is that it's irresponsible to reinforce these stereotypes without asking WHY this is the case--what has happened throughout history to cause such widespread addiction and poverty in Native communities? And how is today's dominant culture complicit?

Good observations, Kendra.

2012-01-26T15:54:48.854-05:00

Good observations, Kendra.

"It seemed the only place the theme of fitnes...

2012-01-26T15:53:08.352-05:00

"It seemed the only place the theme of fitness was not being observed was in the food court." Ha! Sometimes the best response to the Empire's come-ons is to laugh at it in mockery. Thanks for a nice post, Josh.

Good observations, Cole.

2012-01-26T15:46:17.699-05:00

Good observations, Cole.

By the way, here's an interesting series of co...

2012-01-26T15:45:16.336-05:00

By the way, here's an interesting series of commercials about corn syrup--the first two are serious, and the third is a spoof from the King Corn guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl9vZYj-aJ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W40yHDFxkAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRicUInkYQM

I wish the King Corn web site weren't under co...

2012-01-26T15:39:45.735-05:00

I wish the King Corn web site weren't under construction because they did have some good action ideas there. Which of the documentary films we watched do you feel achieved that balance of informing and giving a good direction for action? I think that's a tricky tension for filmmakers to navigate. How much do you "preach" about a solution at the end? In the case of making the film, do filmmakers usually find the problems they're addressing to be too complex to give easy answers?

It's interesting to note that King Corn doesn't use some of the devices other documentaries used to be "emotionally manipulative"--the scary narration voice, the dramatic music--and yet they did make a convincing case that the state of things with corn today is not just an accident, but was intentionally crafted by generations past for political and economic purposes.

It's interesting to notice the spacious feel, ...

2012-01-26T15:35:47.307-05:00

It's interesting to notice the spacious feel, but also to pay attention to what it would take to get to the back wall of a store. Retailers arrange stores so that there are "obstacles" (displays) that you have to move around (and hopefully look at) as you move from point A to point B. As a retailer myself, I know this is a common practice. :) And in larger department stores, the paths that you're intended to take are clearly marked by tile walkways moving you through a series of carefully arranged displays.

I'm glad the film and the reading caused you t...

2012-01-26T15:30:22.492-05:00

I'm glad the film and the reading caused you to see the mall in a new way, Brandon.

I appreciate the perspective that this review adds...

2012-01-26T15:27:57.167-05:00

I appreciate the perspective that this review adds. Why do black women feel pressure to have more "natural" hair? For that matter, why do women of many other races feel pressure to achieve beauty as defined by white culture, including soft hair, fair skin, etc.? And what is the responsibility of a white male with an issue like this?

"The mall always seemed like an innocent way ...

2012-01-26T15:24:35.950-05:00

"The mall always seemed like an innocent way to spend my time but buying all my clothes and gifts for relatives didn't seem so innocent after this past visit. Now I know that the feeling of, 'I want to buy something' isn't coming from within, it's coming from the surroundings." Good observations, Kassie.

Wow ... I hadn't seen the video for "Run ...

2012-01-26T15:22:25.379-05:00

Wow ... I hadn't seen the video for "Run the World" yet. I have to say, it's pretty disturbing and you're right to notice that it has a significantly different spirit about it than "Single Ladies." And the song isn't particularly strong, either.

It seems like Beyoncé is suggesting that women rule the world by using their sexuality to persuade men to do what they want. I guess that's one way to do things, but it's a road that leads to an understanding of women as only good for sex -- which has disastrous consequences.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ali. You might ...

2012-01-26T15:20:46.976-05:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ali. You might be interested in this interview with a Christian fashion designer in which she talks about what's good and God-honoring about being creative with what's on the outside:

https://www.catapultmagazine.com/school-of-dress/feature/beauty-will-save-the

Interesting observations, Daniel, but I'm curi...

2012-01-26T15:16:35.098-05:00

Interesting observations, Daniel, but I'm curious: how did you enter the mall through Kohl's? Kohl's is in a separate building from Woodland Mall.

Great quote from Adele! I imagine, though, that t...

2012-01-26T15:05:18.546-05:00

Great quote from Adele! I imagine, though, that there's a lot more to her than her appearance. In fact, when we only talk about an artist's looks or dating life, we turned the human being who is the artist into a product themselves -- instead of primarily looking to their art as the cultural artifact they're creating.

"Like you were walking through a garden, cont...

2012-01-26T15:04:13.689-05:00

"Like you
were walking through a garden, contemplating life’s finer points, when really
you’re contemplating the better sales between stores." Nice.

Fascinating way to frame your observations in term...

2012-01-26T14:57:15.661-05:00

Fascinating way to frame your observations in terms of a "friendship" with the mall, Jessica!

Thanks, Sam. I especially appreciate your observa...

2012-01-26T14:54:31.408-05:00

Thanks, Sam. I especially appreciate your observations that "the process is impersonal. The Corn is inedible. It needs processing to become food-like." You're a fine writer.