I really appreciate what you and Sophia Chang say about the state of media in this clip. This is exactly why we need writers like you to create complex characters that truly represent our working class roots. You always amaze me Sof!

I especially give Sophia dap because it's hard to admit publicly that you're not a fan of Crash. Remember how people looked at you as if you were anti-American if you refused to join the lovefest. I even toyed with the idea of creating a website --www.ihatecrash.com -- or more accurately www.fuckcrash.com -- so that folks like us could commiserate and unload on the movie under the safety of anonymity, LOL.

Thanx, Stellaa. It was annoying to watch the Oscars that year as the wealthy Hollywood elite congratulated itself on being so liberal and making a social drama. For a great collection of critical essays, go back and click on the link I just added after the video.

When we saw Crash, we were struck by the sexism in it. The violence against women was described only in terms of how it affected the men. I haven't seen any discussions on that angle of the movie.

Wonderful discussion; it was great to hear you speak; you're quite eloquent. A few points: Chang comments that her family fit "stereotypes". She mentions a love of food, of education, musical instruments. I would ask, how is this a "stereotype"? What she describes is I am certain quite common among a vast number of ethnic groups.

Additionally, I wonder how many negative stereotypes are perpetuated by non-white artists. It's not always "The Man" creating the film, the video, the CD, the fashion.

BTW, M., you're also right that some of the things that Sophia alluded to overall are not particular to Asian culture. The very definition of "culture" encompasses things such as music and cuisine. I do think the pecularities of hers, however, is what she's describing as a stereotypes.

It reminds of, I kid you not, of a scene in an episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." Carlton found himself chatting up a Jewish fellow at a bar mitzvah, and he starts to point out all the things that African Americans and Jewish have in common. If I remember correctly, he said something like, "A rich historical legacy, a strong value of education... curly hair..." ;)

Monsieur, there's no denying that some media makers of color are eager to traffic in stereotypes of their own people to make a buck. Indeed, the most prolific ones do little else. Now this may not be well known outside of the Black community, but within it there are many who abhor and denounce BET for precisely that reason.

With that concession, I submit to you for consideration that (1) there is no nor has there ever been a single person of color in Hollywood -- male or female -- who can greenlight a project and (2) those who are in power -- for whatever reasons -- WANT the stereotypes.

Hence, we have a plethora of gangsta in da 'hood films with none of the complexity, quality of craft or subtle social commentary of movies such as Set It Off or Juice and very few movies such as Girlfight, I Like it Like That, Raising Victor Vargas, etc. When people of color want to create stories of the latter variety about our own communities, we are denied regularly access to opportunities and resources. We are repeatedly told that such stories are not realistic and will not "crossover" (code for "appeal to White moviegoers"), and therefore, will not make money.

In fact, chances are that if you look behind, say, the average Sundance favorite set in a community of color, 9 will get you 10 the auteur is a White man. Thus, producers are much more likely to get behind a story of complexity about people of color if it doesn't come from a filmmaker of color. When we pitch such a story, it is deemed "too specific." It's immediately niche, and therefore, financially risky. If someone outside our community wants to tell our story, however, it is presumed to be "universal." Anthropology. Human. Worth the risk of investment.

As a result, the best "Latino" film is rarely written or directed by a Latino. (And by Latino, I don't mean Latin American. In the words of a fellow author, there are no Latinos in Latin America. But this is a topic for another blog.) This is NOT because there are no Latinos who have the desire or skill to tell that story. The anecdotes that I and my friends in film, TV and even publishing can tell are endless, ranging from the disheartening to the racist. It is worse if you are a woman. Forget it if you bring a social consciousness to your work.

Meanwhile, our “peers” get the opportunity to make film after film revel in making the stereotypical fare. Defend it even. And when you examine the poor quality of their craft, I would hardly call them artists. Nevertheless, Hollywood has an endless well of faith (and financing) in these folks. But let them fail at the box office because, heaven forbid that we refuse to support such awful depictions of ourselves just because one of our own is behind it (e.g. Chasing Papi and Soul Plane), you can be sure that it is held against all of us, makers and audience alike. “The last time we made a film like that, your people stayed home.” Our communities are repeatedly threatened with having no representation in popular culture if we are not willing to support the most deleterious images with our consumer dollars. Yet no one says, “Kevin Costner’s film tanked this weekend so I guess we’d better pull the George Clooney project.”

I'm sure I'll be blogging more about this in the near future.

Biblio, I do recall seeing one or two critiques of the film's sexism floating around the internet, but I don't remember how they deconstructed the violence against women. If I should find any, I'll comment again with the link. I do know that Sylvia Chan and Jeff Chang wrote a critique about the film's treatment of Asians at Alternet. org. http://www.alternet.org/movies/23597/

There is so much great stuff in this post! I plan on using this in my Mass Media class when we get around to discussing race. Thanks for contributing thoughtfully and independently to the conversation!

Hey, Dave! I'm glad you found this useful enough to teach. I think the entire video is available from the Center for Communications, if you're interested. But I agree... they chose a compelling 10 minutes to place online as a teaser. If you watch nothing else, it's provocative and insightful. I wish all panels I sat on were so, LOL!