Race, the Floating Signifier: Featuring Stuart Hall
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=...
http://www.mediaed.org Arguing against the biological interpretation of racial difference, Hall asks us to pay close attention to the cultural processes by which the visible differences of appearance come to stand for natural or biological properties of human beings. ...
(In response to Andrew's piece on interracial identity)
(WARNING- THIS VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC ARCHIVAL IMAGES FROM THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES SHOWING LYNCHING AND VIOLENT ACTS, AS WELL AS SWEARING. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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The lecture and presentation by Stuart Hall covers issues of racial discrimination, and defines race as a "floating signifier" and disconnected from biology, but (loosely) connected to society and culture.
Interesting that at the end of the lecture, Hall argues that race is simply there- we see it because we have defined it so well. I believe that we have picked apart the definition of race so much and as a result, we will always question what it is, rather than just live with it. Clarence Thomas says that he is "First & foremost a citizen of this country (U.S.A), [he is] a man, a black man".
The problem with identifying race is that there is not one definition, so until that happens, it will always be an issue. This is what people yearn to find most: the answer. The definition doesn't really matter, because we are all people. But until we find a definition, it will matter. Then, I think we will move forward to seek to define another word.
"What is race?"
"Race is this, that, them, you."
"No really, what is race? What is the answer to my question?"
"Keep looking for it."
~Bryn
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