Hey lucky readers. I am all about transparency. So you can read my emails! From a defensive journalist...yawn.
One thing that no longer surprises me is the quickness of reply you get from journalists. They either a. have no life or b. love getting mail.
Here is the response I got from my Dessa letter minutes after I emailed him:
You should read the Artist of the Year package in yesterday's newspaper, for which Dessa was a runnerup -- and not to mention all the earlier things i've written on her (I think she'd count me among her earliest supporters) -- and then get back to me.
Her wardrobe change at the Blowout was significant and noteworthy: it symbolized the switch from her harder-edged hip-hop to the jazzier more songwriterly material on her album. I know she'd agree it was a noteworthy thing, or she wouldn't have gone through the unenviable task of changing clothes in First Ave's puny, musty backstage area.
Thanks for the comments, and for reading us ... there's a lot more to read on Dessa, though.
And a few minutes later:
Also, the thing that ran in vita.mn was a shorter, edited version of a review I wrote online, which had more detail.
Ok. So.
1. Any previous and future writings he does on Dessa negates anything questionable he writes in the present.
2. No, I did not remind him of previous critique he got.
3. This sort of response is so typical of the privileged getting called out. Instead of engaging with me and discussing the many things I brought up, he shoved his latest article in my face as a way to signal he is ok. Look! I wrote about Dessa again. Thus, I am awesome and not sexist.
4. Readers are not expected to make judgement about an article by reading everything else a journalist has written. That's like me asking my professor to read my previous work in case she doesn't like the way I write this month. Look! I am so much better when I write in the spring! I am not sure how reading more about Dessa will absolve my query. Reading more of his writing about Dessa? Or just anything about Dessa? I am confused.
Overall, I was not shocked by his defensive response. Especially when I had another writer's response to compare it to. Ok, full disclosure: in my feminist rage blackout, I sent the letter to a writer at the wrong publication (I know, I know). But she was very cool. Although she figured out I messed up, she took the time to explain that she was a feminist and took that sort of critique very seriously. She then went on to explain that her coverage could have been better. And I wasn't even talking about her writing!
In summary, women journalists are better at emailing me.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
What I have done with my winter vacation: Day #1
Like my free-formed summer, this winter I have three weeks to do a lot or a lot of nothing. Blogging may help keep things moving. Plus my friend asked me if I had a blog; something about liking my usual snarky banter. Well, yooouuuuu got it.
Today I want to post a letter I wrote to a writer at Vita.mn. If you are in Minneapolis, pick up the print copy with the winter bicyclist on it to see what I’m talking about.
My letter was in response to the coverage of Dessa who played the Doomtree Blowout show at First Avenue. For you non-locals, let me interpret. Doomtree is a crew of hip hop artists who are very popular in Minneapolis (we have a famous hip hop scene to begin with) who played at a big venue in downtown Minneapolis. Dessa is a woman hip hop artist. If you know anything about the music industry, or androcentric society in general, you may guess where this is going.
I will let you read the damn letter. Here you go:
Hi Possibly Sexist Writer Who has been Called Out for This Stuff Before,
I was disappointed in reading your Vita.mn version of "Doomtree spreads its wings for Blowout IV." My disappointment comes in how you (did not) cover Dessa. What is interesting about the coverage is you discuss what she is wearing more than what she performed. I note no discussion of what the men were wearing. The focus on them is all about the music. In fewer words, that is not fair (and from looking through pictures of the event it is obvious the men had on some threads worthy of reporting, too). And to say “well she was the only one who changed clothes!” is not newsworthy enough to take space away from reporting on her music (which is desperately needed in hip hop).
In all seriousness, I am wondering what is so significant about Dessa wearing a slinky dress and a muscle shirt all in one night. And what makes her outfit symbolic of being “butt kicker?” Is it because she was wearing clothing that is usually reserved for men in the hip hop scene? If you were attempting to make a feminist statement about her ability to transcend gender boundaries, then some clarification would have been nice. What is left, though, is a very sparse discussion of her actual music. This is dangerous because women in hip hop already get the shaft, and to perpetuate that by writing about what she was wearing is not helping any. Even words used to describe Dessa’s backup sits funny with me. While you refer to the men’s backup as “hyped up” and “auxiliary,” you refer to Dessa’s backup as a “cool little live combo.” I know this may seem like nonsense to you, but even subtle descriptive words like “little” pressed up against more powerful descriptive words used for the men can send powerful messages. Moreover, the image used in the Vita.mn print coverage is interesting, too. Note how the men on stage are in powerful and engaged positions, reaching out to the crowd. And Dessa stands further back, disconnected from the action. That sends a very powerful message too.
I just wanted to point out the power your writing has in perpetuating sexist stereotypes. These stereotypes need to be actively fought against. One easy way is to employ the press to start covering hip hop differently. Perhaps you could use your power for good. Feel free to write back, I would love to discuss this with you further.
In all seriousness, I am wondering what is so significant about Dessa wearing a slinky dress and a muscle shirt all in one night. And what makes her outfit symbolic of being “butt kicker?” Is it because she was wearing clothing that is usually reserved for men in the hip hop scene? If you were attempting to make a feminist statement about her ability to transcend gender boundaries, then some clarification would have been nice. What is left, though, is a very sparse discussion of her actual music. This is dangerous because women in hip hop already get the shaft, and to perpetuate that by writing about what she was wearing is not helping any. Even words used to describe Dessa’s backup sits funny with me. While you refer to the men’s backup as “hyped up” and “auxiliary,” you refer to Dessa’s backup as a “cool little live combo.” I know this may seem like nonsense to you, but even subtle descriptive words like “little” pressed up against more powerful descriptive words used for the men can send powerful messages. Moreover, the image used in the Vita.mn print coverage is interesting, too. Note how the men on stage are in powerful and engaged positions, reaching out to the crowd. And Dessa stands further back, disconnected from the action. That sends a very powerful message too.
I just wanted to point out the power your writing has in perpetuating sexist stereotypes. These stereotypes need to be actively fought against. One easy way is to employ the press to start covering hip hop differently. Perhaps you could use your power for good. Feel free to write back, I would love to discuss this with you further.
Now, a few clarifying remarks.
One, the print version is published online through our local paper, Star Tribune. Overlapping ownership, obvs.
Second, the photograph that was printed is not available online. It was a pretty bad picture for many reasons, but I wish you could see it in all its subtle sexist glory. But the picture that is posted online is not the best either.
Third/to be clear, I am not against women wearing whatever they want on stage and being sexy or crazy or cool or all of it or butch or drag-kingy. Whatever. What bothers me in this instance is that the majority of the coverage on Dessa was about her clothing. Not about how she has fought through a horribly sexist hip hop community and crafted some of the best hip hop in Minneapolis.
Fourth, for all you skeptics out there, thinking this analysis is way over the top, let me tell you that this writer has been called out before for his word choice and coverage of Dessa (Which, FYI, I did not know about until after I wrote the letter/got angry).
And finally, flipping through some photos posted on City Pages, my eyes were opened to the fashion show that was the Doomtree Blowout. No offense Sexist Writer, but P.O.S. had on a DOPE shirt that said “Gamble & Gamble & Gamble & Die.” And Cecil Otter looks to be more like a hipster white douchebag that is BFF with Jason Mraz than a fresh hip hop star. There is so much fashion to cover!
Anyway, I just had to say something because a. that’s my job in life and b. I am so sick of women being trashed in the hip hop industry. I hope you all can be more aware, too, when reading music reviews about artists. It takes a minute to notice, but once you do, it will never go away. Oh the torture.
If you want to read more about gender, hip hop culture, empowerment, sexism, and so on, check out Homegirls Make Some Noise: Hip-Hop Feminism Anthology, by Gwendolyn D. Pough, Elaine Richardson, and Aisha Durham
Also, on a posi tip, I will leave you with The Grio’s list of the Ten Least Misogynistic Lyrics of 2010 (Eminem and Drake? You know it).
That is all for this edition of what I did with my winter vacation. Toodles!
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