Real Art Ways was busting at the seams last night. When I showed up late, expecting to just miss An Unreasonable Man, I figured I’d stay around to hear Ralph Nader speak afterwards, but when I walked in, I found that I had a lot of company. Only minutes after the film started, the gallery was filled with a few hundred people who were unable to get seats for the movie. To accomodate, Nader gave a talk, followed by a question-and-answer session for this crowd. Later, when the film ended, a few hundred more people emerged from the theater to listen and participate in the discussion of the film.
March 2007
Monthly Archive
Sat 31 Mar 2007
Fri 30 Mar 2007
As quick as the racist little demon appeared, Señor Slant is no more.
It seems some “movers and shakers” were perturbed by the little mascot. As usual, whites involved in the act of creating the mascot seemed to be unaware of the racist stereotype.
Make sure you stop by tonight at Joe Blacks, 6-9pm. The glitterati of Hartford will be celebrating the launch CT Slant and drinking Slantinis. Get it!?!?
For more on Media stereotypes read this and this.
Thu 29 Mar 2007
As Josh warned, the yuppie glossy publications are actively occupying windowsills of restaurants throughout Hartford. Though Niche still has not followed through on their second issue, I can restock on my emergency supply of toilet paper because CT Slant just got dropped off.
There were two fantastic elements to this magazine. The first is that they included on page 37 a full-page display of Anthropologie wares for me to covet. The downside to this was that as I was wiping my drool off the page, I remembered that most of the people in my neighborhood, myself included, cannot afford to buy all three outfits priced around $125 each. Maybe one, if I were getting married. (more…)
Thu 29 Mar 2007
If George W. Bush suddenly got cancer, would we (should we) then all say what a fine president he is? My grandfather died of prostate cancer when I was a young teen. A man very active and energetic even into his 80s, I remember seeing him shrink inside himself as the cancer took over. Cancer is never funny or to be taken lightly. But, it’s also not a reason to exalt someone who need not be exalted. (more…)
Wed 28 Mar 2007
I previously alluded to how media can be complicit in feeding stereotypes and delivering straight-out bad journalism by allowing commentary on their sites to go unanswered by the owners. In this case, the Courant’s online comment feature is the offending party. There are a handful of people who respond regularly and with predictability. (more…)
Tue 27 Mar 2007
To get the new Hartford Undercurrent to the press on schedule in April, get any last-minute submissions you may have to us by Saturday, March 31st. The reformatted Hartford Undercurrent is a print journal featuring well-researched and crafted articles exploring the issue’s theme. This first issue will deal with urban renewal, with a focus on Hartford. (more…)
Mon 26 Mar 2007
Looking for something to do this weekend?
Begun in the spring of 2006, the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival and Conference was created and is currently one of the most effective, progressive, and creative ways to combat the disunity, segregation, and violence of this city. Through the historically education-oriented and politically revolutionary medium that is hip hop music and culture and from a global standpoint, the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival intends to unify and collaborate with the Hartford community, as well as the global International community in which we all live, in an educational, political, and social manner.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday promises performances, lectures, workshops, and films at the Trinity campus in Hartford. For more info, see the Trinity International Hip-Hop Festival website.
Sun 25 Mar 2007
DON’T MISS the new documentary about Ralph Nader’s life, “An Unreasonable Man,” premiering Friday, March 30 at the Real Art Ways at 56 Arbor Street in Hartford. (more…)
Fri 23 Mar 2007
If you are anti-war, and did not attend the March 17th rally at State House Square in Hartford, leave a comment explaining why.
I’m curious.
Fri 23 Mar 2007
The insult of the day toward “young adults” (under 35?) is that we get our news from Comedy Central. There’s a reason we get our news from the Daily Show. When the serious folks making serious decisions won’t dare evaluate what is going on, we have to rely on comedians to do that.
Looking at today’s Washington Post , certain words and phrases pop out. “Liberals relent on Iraq War Funding” explains why some on the left consider “liberal” to be an ugly word, signifying spinelessness. Using “liberal” to describe those voting in no such way serves to solidify the stereotype that being pro-life (anti-war) is something “conservatives” can’t be. It also moves the discussion toward ad hominem attacks, rather than useful debate. I spend a chunk of every semester explaining logical fallacies to students, hoping they can decipher this kind of language on their own. (more…)