when imagination fails…

0 Comments

1. 

   susan

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   Yes. Zetta you write some of the most compelling and insightful social criticism. You illustrates what it means to be an critical thinker/reader and that is why I read everything you post.

   Thanks.

2. 

   elliottzetta

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   I could say the same about you, Susan, though you're a bit more of a fire-spitter than I am (wink)...we're a good team b/c you always bring up points I miss and you don't hesitate to tell people 'bout themselves...!

3. 

   susan

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   Thanks, Zetta.

4. 

   Laura

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   Thanks, Z, for pointing to this blog post (and for the shout out as well). It's tricky, isn't it? On the one hand, something was achieved here with Bloomsbury changing the cover at some expense. Their explanation was not enough, they didn't acknowledge the deep problems with the initial selection. And to be honest, I don't expect mainstream publishing to start putting non-standardly beautiful women on their covers. Ugh - but still, small successes deserve a slice of cake and cup of tea.

5. 

   elliottzetta

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   Hey, Laura! The success was that people spoke out and Bloomsbury listened. I don't think $7000 is actually considerable expense for a big publisher, and I do think we MUST expect more from the industry...I'm not clear why everyone keeps insisting on "baby steps" when this is the 21st century. If folks objected to Obama's election, citing the need to take "baby steps," we would have smacked them silly. Drastic change happens when people INSIST upon it. We need to seriously analyze this culture of accommodation whereby we simply make space for others' BS. I'm not sure if it's a woman thing, or what...but there's no reason for us to make excuses for them. When we teach, we hold the bar high and expect our students to rise to meet our expectations. Why do we lower the bar for wealthy white-owned corporations?

6. 

   Laura

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   I agree, Zetta, there are no excuses. I'm thinking more about taking a moment to acknowledge the power of the people, of the internet. The outcome is definitely flawed, but a lot of people spoke out and the publisher made a change as a result. Let's call them to task, shout out when there is something that needs changing. But let's be sure to give ourselves some credit for the power of voices coming together. The more we shout, the more things may shift. Or so we hope....

7. 

   elliottzetta

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   It's hard to relish the power of the people when the goal was to have a cover that looked like Micah and Bbury still didn't comply. Yet most of "the people" are content with the new cover, and most of *those* people aren't black...I'm not sure our voices truly came together at all...Bbury responded to the loud reaction of bloggers, but not to an organized movement of people who mobilized around shared goals and values. I guess that's how I see it. You know as well as I do the tradition of radical action and reform in this country; relative to *that*, I'm not inclined to back-patting in this moment, I guess...