Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Antique Stores and Ethnic Mannequins



Tria Andrews, a graduate student at SDSU writes in with an extensive posting and semiotic safari for our galleryblog readers:

From: "Tria Andrews"
To: bnericci@mail.sdsu.edu

Professor Nericcio,

Today I went antique shopping in OB. I happened to have my digital camera so I took these photographs. Although I think these pictures speak for themselves--or more precisely speak for the puppeteers who created them--I did want to note that the pinup of the Mexican woman was in startling contrast to the other pinups available for sale. Most other pinups were depicted in primary or warm colors--not a deep, sinister purple--and as the center (if not sole focus) of the photograph. Notice in this pinup, the woman is an afterthought. The maracas and sombrero are prominently displayed, suggesting the fetish as more cultural than sexual.

Of course, there is the simple portrayal of the Mexican girl and boy or woman and man--which if woman and man is the case, is all the more frightening for this racist and childlike depiction. There is also the serving tray (telling in itself) with the depiction of the Mexican man selling flowers, though his Bogarted cigarette and sidelong glance suggest he is plotting something more--here, we the have Mexican as criminal.



Additionally, there is the display of the minstrel dolls--among them salt and pepper shakers--as well as the subservient 'Dancin‚ Minstrel' whose pointed ears conjure none other then Satan.





Please also note the Native American pinups--as if pinups weren't problematic in themselves--and how they are positioned. Of course one Indian has nothing more to worry about then her fellow Indian. She should have her bow and arrow positioned toward the artist and not her fellow comrade, but as you can see, this is not the case.

Anyway, I had a good time. Didn't buy anything, but was certainly entertained--though maybe not in the way the puppeteers intended I be...

Sincerely, Tria





the

5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7:50 PM

    I attempted to comment on Tria Andrews' post but it wouldn't go through. Here is the comment if you could post it.

    If the antique storehouse of minstrel images weren't enough to "entertain" or amuse the voice inside crying for more minstrels, have a dose of what one 21st century Jamaican does under the guise of erasing stereotypes of his country once and for all. Disgusting.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaedQloZvA

    Thank you,
    Bianca A. Chapman

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:43 AM

    I learned about such demeaning caricatures of blacks in my soc 355 class. I really am shocked that there are still interpretations like this available today. While there still are racial caricatures present today in other forms, they are usually not as blatantly derogatory and flat out wrong. Neither I, nor anyone i know has ever seen a black "minstrel" type in real life, jiggin' around in his/her ignorant bliss "pleasin the massa". It's a shame how wrong these depictions are.

    Peace and love
    Rory Tiedge

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous11:51 AM

    to me, it's interesting that these images that we now regard as disgusting and racist, were once art, and a natural image of folklore. i find myself almost ashamed to enjoy looking at these miniature sculptures and paintings, perhaps because i'm more fascinated than anything else, perhaps i am racist?

    it reminds me of disney films in a way as well. after an image and commnunication class i took a few years ago, i could never watch peter pan, the jungle book, or dumbo the same way again.

    i guess the question is, does it mean we have been raised with racist or stereotyped beleifs because we are a part of the disney generation? i don't necessarily think so.

    Courtney Yip

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous9:37 AM

    here's a posting assist for a graduate student in my ethnic mannequins e725 seminar!

    "Hi! I attempted to comment on Tria Andrews' post but it wouldn't go through. Here is the comment if you could post it: If the antique storehouse of minstrel images weren't enough to "entertain" or amuse the voice inside crying for more minstrels, have a dose of what one 21st century Jamaican does under the guise of erasing stereotypes of his country once and for all. Disgusting. Cut and paste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaedQloZvA

    Thank you,
    Bianca A. Chapman

    ReplyDelete