Portlandia is a Minstrel show?
January 20, 2012 2:59 PM Subscribe
Is Portlandia somehow racist? Josh Gross of the Boise Weekly has written an Op Ed piece that characterized Portlandia as " ...the white subcultural equivalent of a minstrel show". Yes he's serious.
The comments on the BW page are surprisingly lucid. I almost felt like I was reading MeFi. Then I thought, hey, post that shit to MeFi!
The comments on the BW page are surprisingly lucid. I almost felt like I was reading MeFi. Then I thought, hey, post that shit to MeFi!
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is two identical links to the same brief and rather insubstantial op-ed. -- restless_nomad
The comments are indeed very lucid. This one in particular:
posted by mullingitover at 3:03 PM on January 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
Indeed! Look I'm quoting one of the comments! "did you read that article on boise weekly did you read did you read"
posted by user92371 at 3:03 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by user92371 at 3:03 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've seen Fred Armisen actually riding his bike around Brooklyn, wearing a similar hat to the one he wears in the bike rights clip.
Talk amongst yourselves.
posted by weinbot at 3:03 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Talk amongst yourselves.
posted by weinbot at 3:03 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
...has in fact drummed up a sentiment best summarized as "it's about damned time someone put those weirdos in their place."
Oh, yeah, I'm sure that the fucking Independent Film Channel is an epicenter of anti-Pacific-Northwest-hipster sentiment.
posted by griphus at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh, yeah, I'm sure that the fucking Independent Film Channel is an epicenter of anti-Pacific-Northwest-hipster sentiment.
posted by griphus at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I read the article. "Minstrel show"? Jesus, what a pompous moron.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by KokuRyu at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
I have to ask myself, am I laughing at this article for the right reasons?
posted by gurple at 3:07 PM on January 20, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by gurple at 3:07 PM on January 20, 2012 [4 favorites]
With tight editing, clever writing and a total lack of fear in its satire, Portlandia can be funny. Very, very funny. But when laughing, it's important to stop and ask yourself if you're laughing for the right reasons. And there's a good chance you aren't.
Nothing the author typed to arrive at this conclusion justifies the thrust of this statement. How is the original blogpost anything other than link-/troll-bait?
Even his (mis-)appropriation of the concept "minstrel show" to describe Portlandia as its "White subcultural equivalent" strikes me as far more potentially blasé about its (inherently racialized) source material, and therefore far more troubling than sketch comedy depicting two young adults getting sucked into, e.g., an obsessive BSG marathon.
Lazy writing. Lazy analysis.
posted by joe lisboa at 3:07 PM on January 20, 2012 [4 favorites]
Nothing the author typed to arrive at this conclusion justifies the thrust of this statement. How is the original blogpost anything other than link-/troll-bait?
Even his (mis-)appropriation of the concept "minstrel show" to describe Portlandia as its "White subcultural equivalent" strikes me as far more potentially blasé about its (inherently racialized) source material, and therefore far more troubling than sketch comedy depicting two young adults getting sucked into, e.g., an obsessive BSG marathon.
Lazy writing. Lazy analysis.
posted by joe lisboa at 3:07 PM on January 20, 2012 [4 favorites]
No dis on Adam. Hi Adam!
posted by joe lisboa at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by joe lisboa at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012
There are actually some very good quotes in the comments. My favorite:
You're right. This show is EXACTLY like all those decades when African-Americans could only work in Hollywood if they were willing to play racist caricatures of their own people. You're not exaggerating at all!
Sheldon Cooper could tell this was sarcasm.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [8 favorites]
You're right. This show is EXACTLY like all those decades when African-Americans could only work in Hollywood if they were willing to play racist caricatures of their own people. You're not exaggerating at all!
Sheldon Cooper could tell this was sarcasm.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [8 favorites]
Well it sounds like somebody's sweater vest is rumpled.
posted by trunk muffins at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by trunk muffins at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
But when laughing, it's important to stop and ask yourself if you're laughing for the right reasons. And there's a good chance you aren't.
TERRIFYING.
posted by chococat at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [6 favorites]
TERRIFYING.
posted by chococat at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [6 favorites]
The problem is that much of the humor functions with a structure similar to racist jokes, in which viewers are encouraged to despise the characters...
Total misread. Fred and Carrie didn't make a show about Portland because they hate it and want us to join them in a hatefest. They obviously love the city and identify with most of the characters at least in some way. How is the show framed? "Come with me Carrie to a city that someone lived up to the wild-eyed dreams we shared of the '90s." And, rather than being our knowing guides to hipster city, all the characters are then played by Fred and Carrie.
posted by 2bucksplus at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
Total misread. Fred and Carrie didn't make a show about Portland because they hate it and want us to join them in a hatefest. They obviously love the city and identify with most of the characters at least in some way. How is the show framed? "Come with me Carrie to a city that someone lived up to the wild-eyed dreams we shared of the '90s." And, rather than being our knowing guides to hipster city, all the characters are then played by Fred and Carrie.
posted by 2bucksplus at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [3 favorites]
... Except for the fact that the show is incredibly self-referential (Carrie Brownstein was in Sleater-Kinney, fercryingoutloud) and the very people it mocks are the people who love it the most. Apparently the feminist bookstore they film in, for instance, finds the feminist bookstore sketches really funny.
This is just so silly.
posted by lunasol at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
This is just so silly.
posted by lunasol at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
The jokes pretty much write themselves.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
By labeling the show Portlandia, instead of Hipsterville U.S.A., it gives the erroneous impression that these are isolated phenomena and the hateable characters portrayed are somehow representational of all Portlanders.
I think we've been over this one before, but Portlandia exists within small boundaries of Portland: Mostly east of the river, but only to around 60th or 72nd Ave. Not much further south than Woodstock. Includes parts of NoPo, mainly Mississippi/Albina and maybe St. Johns. Downtown and NW included, but the majority of SW is definitely not Portlandia. Also: Portlandia only exists between July and early October as it never rains in Portlandia.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 3:09 PM on January 20, 2012
I think we've been over this one before, but Portlandia exists within small boundaries of Portland: Mostly east of the river, but only to around 60th or 72nd Ave. Not much further south than Woodstock. Includes parts of NoPo, mainly Mississippi/Albina and maybe St. Johns. Downtown and NW included, but the majority of SW is definitely not Portlandia. Also: Portlandia only exists between July and early October as it never rains in Portlandia.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 3:09 PM on January 20, 2012
The problem is that much of the humor functions with a structure similar to racist jokes, in which viewers are encouraged to despise the characters.
Both Armisen and Brownstein have said quite the opposite in interviews lately.
posted by jimmythefish at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2012
Both Armisen and Brownstein have said quite the opposite in interviews lately.
posted by jimmythefish at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2012
I hadn't thought that it might be trollbait. But it's so stupid that it might actually be. For the record, it's the comment that Celsius1414 quotes that reminded me of reading commentary on the blue.
posted by asavage at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by asavage at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2012
So you're saying Portlandia is Brigadoon?
Suddenly everything makes sense.
posted by winna at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Suddenly everything makes sense.
posted by winna at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Apparently the feminist bookstore they film in, for instance, finds the feminist bookstore sketches really funny.
Do you have a link for that? It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that I'd love to see what the feminist bookstore people think about those sketches.
posted by gurple at 3:11 PM on January 20, 2012
Do you have a link for that? It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that I'd love to see what the feminist bookstore people think about those sketches.
posted by gurple at 3:11 PM on January 20, 2012
I thought Mr. Gross was going to call the show racist because it's all about white people (and not, you know, other races). I was quite surprised. So good job, guy, I guess.
posted by muddgirl at 3:11 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by muddgirl at 3:11 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
The jokes pretty much write themselves.
But are they writing themselves for the right reasons?
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:12 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
But are they writing themselves for the right reasons?
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:12 PM on January 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
Chang: How do you pronounce "racism"?
Josh Gross: I don't.
Chang: Come on.
Josh Gross: Portlandia.
Chang: Ugh. You're the worst.
posted by Errant at 3:14 PM on January 20, 2012
Josh Gross: I don't.
Chang: Come on.
Josh Gross: Portlandia.
Chang: Ugh. You're the worst.
posted by Errant at 3:14 PM on January 20, 2012
The swipe on Harajuku Street culture was certainly derogatory, but the aging hipster/bike fanatic bits are more classist than racist. The big issue with Portlandia is that it's replayed so many riffs for the sake of continuity that it's more of a collection of tics and spasms, and less of a critique of affected/co-opted angst.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:14 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:14 PM on January 20, 2012
Having grown up in Seattle and gone to school in Portland, oddly Mister Fabulous' comment has made me suddenly miss Portland more than anything else in the intervening, uh, ... numerous years.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 3:17 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 3:17 PM on January 20, 2012
Though it still hits its stride better than other sitcoms/sketch shows.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:18 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:18 PM on January 20, 2012
The swipe on Harajuku Street culture was certainly derogatory,
Actually, the biggest cultural crime of that particularly segment is that it is misrepresentative: loose-socks girls haven't been around for 10 years now! These days they're all wearing Uggs while they take their 10-year-old daughters to the nail salon.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:18 PM on January 20, 2012
Actually, the biggest cultural crime of that particularly segment is that it is misrepresentative: loose-socks girls haven't been around for 10 years now! These days they're all wearing Uggs while they take their 10-year-old daughters to the nail salon.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:18 PM on January 20, 2012
Do you have a link for that? It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that I'd love to see what the feminist bookstore people think about those sketches.
gurple, here's a great quote from the co-director of the feminist bookstore that was in the NY Times:
posted by lunasol at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2012
gurple, here's a great quote from the co-director of the feminist bookstore that was in the NY Times:
“When it makes fun of the aggressive bicyclists and things like that, well, that’s stuff I complain about, too,” said Amber Rowland, 27. “But then I’m part of what it’s making fun of as well. There’s a kernel of truth in it, and it’s O.K. to roll with it.”Also, apparently Carrie and Fred appeared at a fundraiser for the bookstore, which is pretty awesome of them.
Ms. Rowland is a co-director of In Other Words, a nonprofit feminist book store and community center that is the setting for a scene in the first episode. Yet while the humor of the scene is rooted in the rude righteousness of the store clerks, Ms. Rowland and her colleagues like to laugh, and they are in on the joke. Of course, they still measure the show by a Portland standard, its localness.
posted by lunasol at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2012
Since I was an extra in Season 1, does that mean I'm the white subcultural equivalent of an Uncle Tom?
posted by wcfields at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by wcfields at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've only managed to watch about an epidode an a half because they are so fucking annoying.
Anyway. Dave Chapelle said something a long the lines of "There is a fine line between taking on stereotypes and reinforcing the stereotypes you are taking on"
I'm sure the white folks of Portland can take a little ribbing, and many would say is is actually impossible to be racist against white people, but really is the show using humor to tease apart any of our notions of portlands white people? Or is it just pointing and laughing.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Anyway. Dave Chapelle said something a long the lines of "There is a fine line between taking on stereotypes and reinforcing the stereotypes you are taking on"
I'm sure the white folks of Portland can take a little ribbing, and many would say is is actually impossible to be racist against white people, but really is the show using humor to tease apart any of our notions of portlands white people? Or is it just pointing and laughing.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
the white subcultural equivalent of a minstrel show
Man, if he ever sees a Fox News segment, his head's gonna explode.
posted by ShawnStruck at 3:20 PM on January 20, 2012
Man, if he ever sees a Fox News segment, his head's gonna explode.
posted by ShawnStruck at 3:20 PM on January 20, 2012
Then I thought, hey, post that shit to MeFi!
Put a bird on it!
posted by The Tensor at 3:20 PM on January 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
Put a bird on it!
posted by The Tensor at 3:20 PM on January 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
You wouldn't understand my oppression.
It's pretty obscure. You probably haven't even heard of it.
posted by straight at 3:20 PM on January 20, 2012 [7 favorites]
It's pretty obscure. You probably haven't even heard of it.
posted by straight at 3:20 PM on January 20, 2012 [7 favorites]
Fred Armisen hands-town wins the award for the worst stand-up show I've seen.
The entire show consisted of impersonations and impressions. While Armisen's impersonations are mildly offensive on TV, they're obscenely offensive and racist in person. I'm honestly surprised that his yet hasn't had a Michael Richards moment, where he goes way over the line, forces the crowd out of the room, and the whole thing gets uploaded to YouTube.
I was part of the group that hired him to perform (this was a college show), and we were pretty upset with the way that the performance was going until, 40 minutes into the performance, he turned on the projection screen he asked us to provide, turned his back to the audience, and proceeded to play Guitar Hero for the remaining 20 minutes that he was contracted to perform, because he'd run out of material. It was almost surreal.
The show wasn't a total bust. We hired a then-unknown gal from Texas named Amy Clark to perform some songs before the performance. These days, she performs as St. Vincent. It was a great show.
So, yeah. No love for Armisen here, and absolutely no surprise that others have picked up on his far-too-casual racism. The Chapelle quote above hits the nail right on the head.
posted by schmod at 3:21 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
The entire show consisted of impersonations and impressions. While Armisen's impersonations are mildly offensive on TV, they're obscenely offensive and racist in person. I'm honestly surprised that his yet hasn't had a Michael Richards moment, where he goes way over the line, forces the crowd out of the room, and the whole thing gets uploaded to YouTube.
I was part of the group that hired him to perform (this was a college show), and we were pretty upset with the way that the performance was going until, 40 minutes into the performance, he turned on the projection screen he asked us to provide, turned his back to the audience, and proceeded to play Guitar Hero for the remaining 20 minutes that he was contracted to perform, because he'd run out of material. It was almost surreal.
The show wasn't a total bust. We hired a then-unknown gal from Texas named Amy Clark to perform some songs before the performance. These days, she performs as St. Vincent. It was a great show.
So, yeah. No love for Armisen here, and absolutely no surprise that others have picked up on his far-too-casual racism. The Chapelle quote above hits the nail right on the head.
posted by schmod at 3:21 PM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm from Portland. I find Portlandia hilarious and delightful and it makes me want to move home. I have relatives who are even more like characters from the show than I am, and they are all like big freaky Portlandia fans who are constantly and proudly linking to new clips of it on Facebook and are probably organizing a fan convention or something.
I'm not sure if that means that Portlandia is totally okay and not racist, or if we are all self-hating white people who have internalized the dominant paradigm, which is that white people are terrible.
(?????)
posted by thehmsbeagle at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2012
I'm not sure if that means that Portlandia is totally okay and not racist, or if we are all self-hating white people who have internalized the dominant paradigm, which is that white people are terrible.
(?????)
posted by thehmsbeagle at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2012
I was rather taken aback when I saw the cover on the City of San Luis Obispo's semi-annual Guide to Events. I honestly have never seen anybody riding a bike dressed quite like that, and the road I'm on is a major bike route. But then, for a city already willingly called "SLOtown", maybe "Portlandia South" might be considered an upgrade
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:25 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:25 PM on January 20, 2012
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