bell hooks: Cultural Criticism & Transformation

http://www.mediaed.org

bell hooks is one of America's most accessible public intellectuals. In this two-part video, extensively illustrated with many of the images under analysis, she makes a compelling argument for the transformative power of cultural criticism.

In Part One, hooks discusses the theoretical foundations and positions that inform her work (such as the motives behind representations, as well as their power in social and cultural life). hooks also explains why she insists on using the phrase "white supremacist capitalist patriarchy" to describe the interlocking systems of domination that define our reality.

In Part Two, she domonstrates the value of cultural studies in concrete analysis through such subjects as the OJ Simpson case, Madonna, Spike Lee, and Gangsta rap. The aim of cultural analysis, she argues, should be the production of enlightened witnesses - audiences who engaged with the representations of cultural life knowledgeably and vigilantly.

"The issue is not freeing ourselves from representations. It's really about being enlightened witnesses when we watch representations." -bell hooks

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• MEF
• Media
• Education
• Literacy
• Critical
• Mass
• Industry
• Educational
• Sut
• Jhally
• bell
• hooks
• Culture
• Representations
• Activism

[BrandonEM09]

even King was dissatisfied with the progress he made toward combating racial oppression, you would know this if you actually looked at Kings later speeches and work...but that's beside the point, the effectiveness of any attempt to change the world is TOTALLY DEPENDENT on how accurate your interpretation of the world is, social-psych and cultural critique are tow of the most powerful tools to obtain this...

[wolfhalen]

she is buying into the assumption that "popular" culture is something meant to purely entertain you.

NO it is meant to control your worldview, and get you obsessed with buying more shit you don't need.

also meant to spread division and hatred of oneself and others, all the while the ruling class continues to rob their underlings.

If you fuckers can't wake up to this by now, I have no pity on you.

go ahead, eat more processed food and argue, plebs. :D

[alenblake38g]

Your video went viral on Chile

[ickieestes12r]

Your vid went viral on South Africa

[Bestboytoo]

We all need to wake up. We need to do good. Talk good. Feel good. Think good.

I have no respect for a female like this who is anti-men. Her anti-patriarchal teachings are just treason against family and society.

There will be no 'Cultural Transformation' unless we all play our roles. Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters.

If we just keep on with all this wise ass 'Cultural Transformation'' crapola; we are going to choke on our own sewage. In fact if you look real hard; it's happening now.

[babs22hh]

@wolfhalen thank you hun!!!1 Preach!

I'm glad someone else sees this!!!! people need to wake up!

[CityOfTheGo411]

@wolfhalen I believe if you were to watch the interview in its entirety you would realize that Hooks actually agrees with your synopsis. If you were to follow her teachings more closely, what she would convey through intellect to you is that she is an active advocate/teacher and finds it necessary to use the media as a tool to compare fact from fiction to her students. She enlightens her students and readers with logic, history, truth, and idealism.

[CityOfTheGo411]

@Creatiopoetic Thank you.



[GQ237]

Using media to enhance understanding and critical thinking skills for students is a great idea. I wish my teachers would do that more often, it would make class so much more interesting! She also said the goal at the Harlem school was to just give students the tools for survival, not critical thinking skills. I think both are necessary, and should be taught at all schools.

[cpthen007]

@wolfhalen Seguro que no conoces para nada el trabajo de Bell Hooks, sus posiciones politicas, su trabajo teorico... Y tal vez tampoco viste el video completo para luego empezar a "teorizar" sobre lo obvio. Por cierto... y antes de que digas otra estupidez: si no me entiendes, trata con Google Translate...o vete a aprender español. Saludos.

[Creatiopoetic]

@wolfhalen i'm under the impression you didn't watch this interview in its entirety..this is only a 6min portion of it. she does go over every point you brought up (division/manipulation.etc)