Is it entirely possible to pick up a piece of literature, read it, understand, and digest it without relating and comparing it to the world around us? Human nature causes us to relate everything that we are confronted with to past experiences looking to relate it to something we know. We do this every second of the day, in a subconscious attempt to feel comfortable with the world around us. Like the first day of school, when one picks up a new book, it might seem very uncomfortable to them. But when something familiar is found that you can latch on to, this comfort level is drastically increased.
I would like to counter the initial question, with another. Is it possible to create a text without writing the world into it? Issues of race class and gender make a culture what it is. Most of the time these issues are not given a second look, but as hooks describes, it is very important to realize that these ideas of "Representation" and "Transformation" are happening and that popular culture is a major reflection of this occurrence. It is one of the easiest ways to “see” this in what we can relate to, and again are familiar with. It helps to see how we are represented, to relate it to our own lives.
In Peggy McIntosh's article "White Privilege" the idea of white privilege is illustrated with a series of ideas and statements that remind us of this "Invisible Blanket" white people seem to wear.
I would like to counter the initial question, with another. Is it possible to create a text without writing the world into it? Issues of race class and gender make a culture what it is. Most of the time these issues are not given a second look, but as hooks describes, it is very important to realize that these ideas of "Representation" and "Transformation" are happening and that popular culture is a major reflection of this occurrence. It is one of the easiest ways to “see” this in what we can relate to, and again are familiar with. It helps to see how we are represented, to relate it to our own lives.
In Peggy McIntosh's article "White Privilege" the idea of white privilege is illustrated with a series of ideas and statements that remind us of this "Invisible Blanket" white people seem to wear.
"46. I can chose blemish cover or bandages in "flesh" color and have them more or less match my skin."
i can honestly say that i never even considered this fact, and never, even when seeing a lighter toned bandage on someone of a darker skin color did i even interpret the fact that the bandage was made in mind for a person of light skin tone. i can see this as an example of how it is possible to have racial concepts still around us today, without us even considering it.
i am also interested to see what #17 is really talking about. is it? i see it possible that some of the lines in this list can be applied to ANY culture, color, race or identity.
"17. I can talk with my mouth full and not have people put this down to my color."
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