From: jcharles-AT-computer.org
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 95 11:34:23 est
Subject: Re[2]: Toni Morrison and survival


     
I'm sure everyone will be happy when I say that this is the last time I will 
make this rather small point. I liked LWFC overall, and thought the movie 
presented several interesting and positive women. I am not contesting that. I 
only wanted to point out that the author/director (I havn't read the book, so I 
don't know if the director made changes in the original text) implied that the 
reason that the red-haired sister is a good dancer is because she is of African 
descent. I also thought it was worth pointing out that she is also the sister 
with the *most* uncontrolled sexual desire, another demeaning Western stereotype
for people of African descent. I think the author/director (un)consciously 
attributed these particular qualities to the red-haired sister's racial origins.
 She is otherwise a strong and interesting character. Drawing attention to her 
race seemed like a useless detail that depended on thoughtless and racist ideas.
I can only assume that it was meant to explain a few of her personality traits, 
as it is never mentioned again. It bugs me because it is so typical. The rest of
the movie was fine. I am not speaking to her other positive and unusual 
qualities or her spirituality. I think your thoughts on these issues make sense.

I'm the one on shakey ground when I point out the unconscious motivations within
in a text. But hey, quite often racism emerges unintentionally and in an 
otherwise enjoyable text/film. It is our job, I believe, to draw attention to 
oppressive and misleading assumptions when we see them. If we do this enough 
then these lies/assumptions/false stereotypes will no longer retain their status
as being the Truth simply because we hear them so often. Repetition makes Truth.

Hey, let's talk about some other books/films.

jc


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Toni Morrison and survival
Author:  postcolonial-AT-jefferson.village.virginia.edu at INTERNET
Date:    7/12/95 8:16 AM


JCharles,
I know I am on shaky ground here but what I am suggesting is that stereotypes 
such as the red-haired girl in the LWFC movie, (and red-haired girl is 
certainly another stereotype for a strong willed hot tempered female) may be 
seen as a positive in postcolonial literature.  The Hogue quote was 
commenting on Morrison's book Sula and Morrison, herself has remarked that 
"people talk about the friendship of women, and them having respect for  each 
other, like it's something new. But Black women have always had that, they 
always have been emotional life supports for each other."
What I am trying to delve into is the idea that with colonialism, the 
emotional, spiritual, (place any word you think fits) bond that all humans 
had, has been fragmented.  Cultures were made to assimilate with the Colonial 
power and with that came a loss of identity and a separation from each member 
of the preculture community which in many cultures centered around the female 
members social bond.  
In the postcolonial world women  , it seems to me, by media influences 
especially, are made to be suspicious of other women.
I do not want to be stereotypic and suggest that men are not also exposed to 
this suspicion of other men but I believe it is on a more economic level, a 
competition.  Of course, I believe that men can and are and need to exist on 
a spiritual level also to survive.  
It seems though, that women recognize the power of spiritual strength more in 
the postcolonial novels I have read.  As I read more I am sure I will find 
male survivors who have also found their own voice through pursuit of this 
spiritual link to the rest of humanity.
Who is the writer, that you refer to who is not of African descent?
     
Linda E. Neville
Ladydonut-AT-aol.com
     
     
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