✈ getaway girl.: The No Light, No Light Controversy

americaine:

Dudes, that video definitely has, whether intentional or not, overt racist undertones. The argument that the guy’s skin is painted black as symbolism or to represent darkness would maybe POSSIBLY be SEMI-valid if not for the fact that this man is a) also practicing what is clearly meant to be…

I still don’t necessarily find the video “offensive” and I’m Haitian. Still I find it unsettling, though I also don’t believe that Florence is racist or had racist intentions in any way. I mean why would she bit herself in the ass in that way? I also don’t think she’s so wholly ignorant not to see how some people would be offended. So what’s the answer here? I honestly feel she meant something completely different than what people are interpreting, and that they are interpreting the video a little too literally. I still would prefer to hear what she has to say about it before I pass any judgement. I DO find it unsettling…that doesn’t make me a enjoy the video any less though, because I DO understand the metaphor in relation to what Florence herself represents in the video.

Not to offend you, but I don’t see that you being Haitian has anything to do with it and this is a point I have seen (albeit much less eloquently) made all day in “I’m black and I don’t find it offensive!” or “I’m African and I don’t!” I’m black and of Creole descent and I do find it offensive. But I didn’t feel a need to point that out in my original post because it doesn’t necessarily mean everyone should or will or is obligated to be offended by the video and I don’t feel my racial or ethnic background should weigh into what should be an objective and unbiased discussion on the “symbolism” in the video. But, overall, I’m with you on this. I have not and will not pass any judgment on Florence herself until a statement is (or, after a certain amount of time, isn’t) released. I don’t think she’s racist, I don’t know whether the intent of the video was racist but, as many others have said, intent is worthless in the face of the final product. The largest part of the combativeness over this issue is from apologists and deniers who want to flat out deny that any part of this video could or should be seen as offensive, which is putting the people who DO find it so on the defense and creating a toxic atmosphere and making a lot of us on both sides of the debate more aggressive than will ever lead to healthy or fruitful discussions on the matter. I have, admittedly, fallen prey to that at several times earlier today but the hardline “I’m right, you’re wrong, shut the fuck up” attitude doesn’t contribute anything helpful so I’m going to let go of it.

Taken separately, I’m not entirely sure all the aspects of this video would seem as bad. Without the allusions to voodoo and the movements that bring to mind tribal dance, I am inclined to say I’d be willing to buy the body paint on the man as symbolizing darkness as representation of evil rather than race (though darkness being depicted as evil is, to be fair, viewed by many as a problem in and of itself). Without the blatant and familiar Christian imagery in contrast to the “evil” and “exotic” practices of the dark man, perhaps it would be less abrasive. But here we have fear and evil represented by this dark and savage figure versus innocence and salvation being quite literally depicted as young, white males who sing in praise of the Christian God and ultimately save this battered Anglo woman from the dark man by catching her in their arms and just. What. I can’t see any artistic merit in this video and I don’t know what metaphor she was going for with this particular approach that could not have been achieved in a much less stereotypical and more creative way.

edited to add: And I keep forgetting to make this point, but it helps absolutely NONE that this choir is solely of WHITE MALES. It’s not a mixed sex choir or, as far as I could see, a mixed race choir. Children weren’t enough to represent purity and innocence? No, it had to be little white boys and there is nothing wrong with that? COME ON, PEOPLE.

✈ getaway girl.: The No Light, No Light Controversy

ravenclaw07:

americaine:

Dudes, that video definitely has, whether intentional or not, overt racist undertones. The argument that the guy’s skin is painted black as symbolism or to represent darkness would maybe POSSIBLY be SEMI-valid if not for the fact that this man is a) also practicing what is clearly meant to be…

I still don’t necessarily find the video “offensive” and I’m Haitian. Still I find it unsettling, though I also don’t believe that Florence is racist or had racist intentions in any way. I mean why would she bit herself in the ass in that way? I also don’t think she’s so wholly ignorant not to see how some people would be offended. So what’s the answer here? I honestly feel she meant something completely different than what people are interpreting, and that they are interpreting the video a little too literally. I still would prefer to hear what she has to say about it before I pass any judgement. I DO find it unsettling…that doesn’t make me a enjoy the video any less though, because I DO understand the metaphor in relation to what Florence herself represents in the video.

Posted 6 months ago 36 notes