Let's Talk about Race

As I began class with last night, there has been much furor over The New Yorker's current cover featuring the Obamas in their full militant, Muslim, anti-American regalia.  See here and here for some of the responses to The New Yorker's provocative choice of imagery.  (see here too! and here for responses around the blogsphere)

Not only have both Obama's and McCain's campaigns criticized The New Yorker's choice, but there has been a broad-based backlash from liberals across the nation: the cover is racist, in poor taste, bound to be misused in the wrong hands, bound to be misunderstood by the majority of the population, sends the wrong message.

If you looked back on the covers of The New Yorker over the years, you would find a vast supply of political satire--we might say, the magazine has come to be count on for some searing cultural critique through its cover art.  Why has this recent piece of satire apparently fallen flat?

How does race and racism factor into the satire and the overwhelmingly negative responses?  

Brothers & Sisters

These are loaded terms, as we began talking about tonight.  In their worst light, they insinuate exclusivity like the sort produced and reproduced by sororities and fraternities; in their best light, they suggest solidarity across barriers, like that created by women's movements, civil rights, abolitionist, gay rights, and all sorts of other collectives.  I'm curious to hear your experiences with solidarity and what brought whatever group you feel or have felt most connected to--and trusting of--into your lives.  In the absence of any such experience, perhaps you can shed some light on that BSU (big southern campus) of ours--who do you see forming groups, informal or otherwise?

Did our discussion of the Greek system resonate with your own impressions? What do you think most troubling?

Do you feel a part of "third wave" feminism?  

Open thread here folks to begin our chatting--go to town!  Post comments at will.

Dr. Fem

And so we begin

A proper introductory post is to come but I at least wanted to say welcome to Women's Studies, check out the links on the side to begin with, and let me know (for now) in the comments section about other blogs/newslinks/sites you think relevant to our discussions and course.

Happy Readings--

Dr. Fem