Review: Prussian Blue

Prussian Blue is one of the most controversial bands in America. It consists of two young twin girls, Lamb and Lynx Gaede, who sing catchy songs that appeal to other kids. The twins may seem like many other talented young stars that perform for crowds and take center media attention; however their music is controversial and to some, offensive.
The girls and their family are White Nationalists and much of their beliefs are in their music. Their music video “Victory Day” takes place in a picturesque open field where the girls are playing with their little sister. The setting and girls look so peaceful and innocent as they sing and play their instruments in dresses. However the realization of their message comes into focus if you pay really close attention to the lyrics of the song:

“Well sit down and listen, to what I have to say. Soon will come a great war, a bloody but holy day. And after that purging, our people will be free, and sing up in the bright skies, a sun for all to see...Times are very tough now for a proud White man to live. And although it may appear that this world has no life to give. Times are soon changing, this cant go on for long. And on that joyful summer's day we'll sing our Victory song...The women, they'll smile, on Victory Day. And the children, they'll laugh and they'll sing and they'll play. And the forests will echo our grace, for the brand new dawn of our Race...You are my brother and in war we proudly sing. Our Cause shall never tire. Our gift to you we bring: A holy creed of Racial purpose, A mighty Race to defend. And when we fly our holy flag their oppressive reign shall end...And when we finally conquer, our people will be free. And all across this great land, the bold Truth we shall see.So as we march together, to avoid catastrophe, let's remember always our sacred Destiny...”
( http://www.lyricstime.com/prussian-blue-victory-day-lyrics.html)

"Victory Day" is about a day in the future where there will be a war of the races. It is also a message of racial purification. As someone of color, the song is threatening and a little scary. Afterall, it is a tune that hopes for my demise. The song reminded me of Hitler's efforts to purify the German race from people who he believed were inferior. The song and lyrics have a patriotic style to it, which is meant to rally fellow members and create a brotherhood. It also appeals to members of all class and social statuses.

Their website contains content that most official fan website have: information about performances, downloads, pictures, and copies of their CDs. However, the most important part of their site to examine is their biography. It states that the girls were homeschooled by their mother from the first to seventh grade. From this, it is apparent that the girls were mainly influenced by their mother, who is a white natationalist. Also, there is a big chance that they rarely got any exposure to people who are of a different race from them.

Here is a link to their video, Victory Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZcGkISt7jE
Here is a link to their official website: http://prussianbluestore.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=6

"White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack"

AUTHOR: Peggy McIntosh


TEXT SOURCE: Independent School
YEAR: 1990
PAGES: 1-6

SUMMARY:
This article is about the hidden privileges of being Caucasian. The author explains how many whites are oblivious to these hidden tools and benefits that get them to the top because they are raised and molded not to see them. She then provides a lists of her privileges as a white person.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OF THIS AUTHOR? This author is concerned how she, as someone who does have white privilege, could help to equalize power and opportunities for colored people in the system and society.

WHY ARE THESE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES OF OPPRESSION, POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND RESISTANCE? It is important to understand these issues and have them recognized as a problem if we as a society want to progress. Having unequal opportunities will create a never ending pattern through generations.

HOW DO POSITION TO THIS ARTICLE? ARE THERE THREADS OF THIS PIECE THAT 'SPEAK' IN FAMILIAR WAYS TO ISSUES, EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES IN YOUR OWN LIFE? EXPLAIN.

I agree with this article because I believe most people who are apart of a dominant group don't see the hidden privilges and shelter that they have. During the news coverage for the Virginia Tech shootings, the media and public underlined the fact that the gunman's ethnicity was Korean. This was soon followed by an apology from the Korean governement and a backlash towards all Asians. In the Columbine shootings, no one underlined the gunmans' race as a factor of their actions or target others of their ethnicity.

HOW ARE THERE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GROUPS/INDIVIDUALS UNDER DISCUSSION AND OTHER MINORITIZED/OPPRESSED GROUPS?

This article represents the fact that many people who are apart of the dominant group don't see their hidden opportunities that they have. Not only does this article represent a concept for just race- it can go towards other groups like gays and women.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MAIN ARGUMENTS MADE? WHY OR WHY NOT?

I agree with the main articles made because it is apparent in everyday life and society.

Synpopsis of Review

I am hopping to review the website and music of Prussian Blue, which is a band that consists of twin girls. Their seemingly, inocent music contains messages of racist actions and oppressive remarks.
Here is their website : http://prussianbluestore.com/
and a video of their music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZcGkISt7jE

I think this is an interesting media to examine because the message is so subliminal and is delivered by young children.

Movie Review: Tough Guise

Director: Sut Jhally
Year: 1999

SUMMARY:

This documentary examined masculinity in U.S. culture and the media and how it affects people's oppinions and behaviors, especially for males. The mold of 'what makes a real man' is causing males to be violent and emotionally closed off. Men tend to believe that masculinity= invulnerability and this could cause covert depression. Also the fad is taking its toll on women. The combination of sex and violence in movies is starting to normalize this behavior in men. In fact, it is more shocking and outrageous when women commit violent crimes then when men do. Interestingly, men tend to be more violent against other men than women. Masculinity affects minority men in a different way because they feel like it is all they have to survive and seem powerful.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OF THIS AUTHOR?
Writers are concerned that masculinity is inflicting negative traits on society, especially males. He hopes males will be able to see that it is ok to express emotion and to be human.

WHY ARE THESE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES OF OPPRESSION, POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND RESISTANCE?
It's important to examine masculinity because its something that affects everyone. Males are going through this fad to fit into the status quo and it is having a negative impact on them and society. By looking at this fad and where it is coming from we have a better strategy of trying to defeat it.

HOW DO YOU POSITION TO THIS ARTICLE? ARE THERE THREAD OF THIS PIECE THAT 'SPEAK' IN FAMILIAR WAYS TO ISSUES, EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES IN YOUR OWN LIFE? EXPLAIN.
I feel like masculinity is a problem in our society. Many of the boys I know rarely show emotion when they are sad or hurt. In fact, a lot of the guys I know seem uneasy when they see someone crying.

HOW ARE THERE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GROUPS/ INDIVIDUALS UNDER DISCUSSION AND OTHER MINORITIZED/ OPPRESSED Mmasculine men and oppressed groups feel like they will appear weak and looked down upon if they express themselves.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MAIN ARGUMENTS MADE? WHY? WHY NOT?
I agree with the main arguments because I see it in everyday life and the media. I have to admit that it seems more rare to see a man cry.

WHAT ARE ASPECTS THAT THE AUTHOR DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT?
I think the writer should also examine how families and cultures influence masculinity. After all, I believe that consumers have some sort of influence over toys and movies.

Towards a Definition of Patriarchy

Author: Heidi Hartmann
Text Source: OPR
Year: 2004
Pgs: 143-147

MAIN POINTS and ARGUMENT:

Hartmann's article examined the different levels of patriarchy and how it is organized. Men, dispite racial or class differences, control women by banding togeather. They are able to control women's resources and sexuality at home and in the work place through our society and traditions. This theory is called the sex/gender system which is "the set of arrangements by which a society transforms biological sexuality into products of human activity, and in which these transformed sexual needs are satisfied". (pg 144) Meaning that this system difines the roles of men and women for generations.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OF THIS AUTHOR?
Patriarchy has existed in many cultures and political systems for a long time. Can we even recognize the different forms and influences of patriarchy in our lives?

WHY ARE THESE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES OF OPRESSION, POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND RESISTANCE?
Understanding the complexity of patriarchy is one of the keys to solving it. As a woman, I want the same opportunities and treatment as men.

HOW DO YOU POSITION TO THIS ARTICLE? ARE THERE THREADS OF THIS PIECE THAT 'SPEAK' IN FAMILIAR WAYS TO ISSUES, EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES, IN YOUR OWN LIFE? EXPLAIN.
One of my family's flaws is that they take part in patriarchy. My grandparents favored their sons over their daughters. My mom told me stories how her brothers were punished less when they misbehaved, how my grandparents bought them their first cars, and how they recieved better treatment. When my grandparents wrote out their will, they made sure that my uncles had more land then my mom and my aunts because my grandpa explained to me that "they're boys".

HOW ARE THERE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GROUP/ INDIVIDUALS UNDER DISCUSSION AND OTHER MINORITIZED / OPPRESSED GROUPS?
I believe that partriarchy exists in all class systems and societies across the glob, especially in the family institution.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MAIN ARGUMENTS MADE? WHY? WHY NOT?
I agree with the main arguments made because the differential treatment of men from women is appparent in most institutions and settings. Today, men make more money then women. Also men and women have different roles in our society.

"Something About the Subject Makes It Hard to Name"

In this chapter, Yamato explains racism in terms of how regular people, both white and color, see it and approach it. She believes racism is something that cannot be dissolved in one workshop session, or in one day; it is something that will take a lot of time and effort. People take the following actions in dealing with racism: ‘aware/ blatant racism, aware/convert racism, unaware/ unintentional racism, and unaware/ self righteous racism’. (OPR 2004, pg 65) The first step in dissolving racism is to acknowledge
that it exists. Yamato goes on to explain how racism is best handled on two levels: ‘personal and societal and emotional and institutional’. (OPR 2004, pg 67)

My thoughts: I was in full fledge agreement about the first step in attacking racism, is to acknowledge that it exists. Many Americans today believe that racism is something of the past. Yes, we might not have lynching and other blunt forms of racism like ‘white only’ signs, but it still exists in places like schools and the media.

I also agree on Yamato’s analogy of how different people deal with racism. When I hear ignorant comments regarding race or culture, I wonder: is that person really that shallow or do they not know better? I understand that some people are not exposed to different races or cultures, so I try to be patient.

Sexism in the Gaming Industry

I enjoyed reading this article because I am a female that likes to play video games sometimes. The author makes a point of identifying how video games portray women as sex objects that are inferior to the male characters. He believes that much of the video gaming industry appeals to mostly men. His argument reminded me of those who have an issue with Barbie as a role model for young girls. Toys and video games that a child uses to entertain themselves for a few hours of the day could have alot of influence on howthey see themselves and others.

I beleive that the aouthor makes very valid points. However, from the video games that I have seen, many of the character's body, including males, are over exaggerated or made to look extremely attractive. Also, some video games might not reflect American ideals because they are created in other countries. Still, it would be nice to see more video games with females as the main characters.

Encountering the American Holocaust

I enjoyed reading this chapter because it touches upon a huge part of history that is rarely told or known about. Ward Churchill believes that Native Americans went through a Holocaust that .
The Native American population took a serious plunge since the arrival of European settlers by diseases, squeamishness with settlers for their land, and murders. Their stories remain untold in American classrooms and history books. Only a few authors write American history in the Native American point of view. Churchill makes an interesting point by comparing the Native American holocaust to the Jewish Holocaust that occurred in Germany. The settlers can easily take the place of the Nazis and the Native Americans the place of the Jews. The justification for the stealing of land and mass murders was to ‘end barbarism’ and set up a land of liberty and civilization. Personally, I do not know how that can even pass off as a humane excuse. How do you measure the worth of a human life? However, after examining the early American ideals, anyone who was not white was considered to be not fully human or of a lesser human. I believe that many Americans refuse to see what happened to the Native Americans as tragic because that would go against the country's pride and image. How can the U.S. fight a war against the Nazis when at home there were mass murders of Native Americans and wishes and laws that wished to 'purify' the land?

This chapter reminded me of native Hawaiians and their fight for their land. Like the Native American populations, their numbers plunged with the arrival of foreigners. They too went through reeducation camps which divided their communities. They too face a history that is untold.

Racial Fomation

This was a very interesting segment which addressed the formation of race. According to Omi and Winant, racial formation is “the sociohistorical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed.” (Helkde and O’Conner 2004, pg 117) There is a brief historical analysis of racial awareness in the states. When Europeans arrived in North America and encountered Native Americans, they began to question who was fully human, who deserved the right to own land, and have rights.

It also looks at race in both a micro and macro level analysis by using examples of programs that attempt to solve the racial gap and how people tend to deal with race. Omi and Winant mention how some white Americans are tired of racial projects or programs that benefit people based on their race. Many people believe that this is racism in reverse. However, I have to disagree with those who are against Affirmative Action and that their belief that it is a racist program. It is shown that those who benefit the most from Affirmative Action are actually white females, because women are a minority. Another interesting point that this chapter examined was who can be racist and how.

This segment was a very good read because it examined many aspects that make up race. However, I like how they mention how categories and labels contribute to the formation of race. I believe that stereotypes are a huge contributor to racial formation.The media is a huge institution that shapes peoples perceptions of those who are different from them. Some examples are cartoons about Japanese Americans during WWII and negative stereotypes of Latinos in movies. The media is an important segment to look at because sometimes the only exposure that a white American receives of a minority group is through the media. I would also like to hear their thoughts of racial formation through the family.

Five Phases of Oppression

The preface contained information about what issues the book will present and what the book is not. The next section examined oppression. According to Heldke, the axis of oppression is racism, sexism, heterosexism, and homophobia. She then goes on to explain the five faces of oppression: exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence.

I agree with the issues raised in the chapter and how it relates to United States history. Much of the countries wealth was derived from the oppression of someone, which in most cases is the minority. Native Americans, African slaves, immigrant workers, were exploited for either their land or labor. This caused generations of poverty and lack of social mobility. Also many people in the United States were denied the right to vote or own land, so did not have a voice to protect themselves and their interests. There were also laws that prohibited people from attaining citizenship and the choice of who they can marry. Cultural imperialism occurred when the United States imposed western culture on those who they thought were inferior: Native Americans, Hawaiians, and the Philippines. Children were sent to reeducation camps and were forced to give up practicing their religion or culture. Violence was used as a tool to control the minority groups. Aside from the general public enforcing rules and ideals that they believed in by violence, the federal government also sent out troops to remain in control.