Here's the video which, by the way, unironically uses Shirley Bassey:
And here's the comment:
So what does this video tell us? It tells us that norms of masculinity are still reserved for white men. And that, I cannot support. The videographer, while talented, continues to perpetuate a false dichotomy that seems to have little relevance in an increasingly multicultural world.
The video was made by 'TennysonJMcKinney.' Can you guess who made the comment?
Update 01-27: As Beverly from Will and Grace might say: Well, well, well, well, well!
Turns out our friend, Mr. McKinney, didn't take very kindly to any views that go against his construct of male sexuality. In fact, my friend deleted not only his response but a follow up response from'RemoSurfer.' Luckily, I don't have that short of a memory. In a rather, um, blunt response, the gentleman first wrote:
"@menofcolor Sorry for kicking you off your soapbox, but there is a 'manofcolor' in this video. Also Shirley Bassey is a "womanofcolor!" One LAST THING - while your "race-card shaded" opinion is well-stated, it is also INVALID!"
That was followed by this:
"@menofcolor WTF are talking about! This video is NOT ABOUT MASC/FEM men! It is about SEXUALITY! Sorry for kicking you off your soapbox, but there are quite a few "men of color" in this video. While your "race card-shaded" opinion is well-stated, it is also INVALID!" I AM NOT A RACIST! And for Chrissakes get that EFFIN BOULDER OF YOUR SHOULDER!"
I let his videos - and his responses - speak for themselves. There's too much...blockage going on. But I was heartened when 'RemoSurfer' added:
"@menofcolor this is the narrow-minded view of male beauty of tennysonjmckinney's and those who approve of this video. I say leave them to their narrow-mindedness to become the lonely old guys sittingin bar corners wanting ANYBODY of beauty of ANY age and color to talk to them. For their number of companions has done just like their skin - DRIED UP. THEN their view of beauty will be widened, but by that time, it will be TOO LITTLE TOO LATE."
Obviously this doesn't merit a response, but since 'terrysonjmckinney' deleted all these comments, I, with a record of it on my G2, felt it important as a historical record.
© 2012, Victor Hoff. All rights reserved. Menofcolor.blogs.com
Oh my...where to begin? I am unendingly entertained by people, who've likely never carried a "boulder" on their back for a single day, are so quick to tell others to take the "boulder off [their] shoulder.
I'm sorry to say I'm almost inured to this kind of imagery -- not that I don't enjoy it or find it sexy, etc. -- but it's such a pure expression of a generally unconscious mindset. I would only disagree with Victor in that I don't find it's about perpetuating an image of white male masculinity -- rather, it exemplifies the white standard of beauty.
The very defensive reaction was also quite interesting. Well, yes, Shirley Bassey is a woman of color. So are a number of celebrities, which brings me to another topic: honorary whiteness. It's rather obvious, or should be, that celebrities of color are usually treated as honorary white people and become acceptable to non-whites as sex symbols, romantic partners, tastemakers, etc. A bit of a high bar for the rest.
And by the way, as for persons of color in the video (discounting those with acquired tans), I counted at most two.
We've got a long way to go, baby.
Posted by: Will | January 29, 2012 at 01:06 PM