I encourage everyone to watch the entire discussion with bell hooks before saying anything...

[Gravitycollapse]

I watched it a few days ago and it was overall very, very good. I was at The New School last summer for a menstruation conference and I am very pleased with what the school chooses to host in general.

I'm not sure I agree with hooks on the specific claim that Beyonce is a terrorist. I think that may have been hyperbolic. And you will note that the other participants in the round table discussion take issue with it. However, the context of her argument is what is more important. She is arguing that Beyonce is not utilizing her power to counter--and in fact is complicit in furthering--the capitalist, patriarchal, white power structure.

Anyway, watch the video. Even if you don't like that one comment she made, the rest is worth seeing.


http://new.livestream.com/TheNewSchool/Slave

http://new.livestream.com/TheNewSchool/Slave/videos/50178872

[LittleBlue]

1. The one who bashes Beyonce as a terrorist?

She says Beyonce is a destructive influence on girls because she's successful and rich.


Nah, seen enough of her. A good example of someone who lives in la la land.

[Gravitycollapse]

2. bell hooks is a Marxist. Although she may protest against such a label...

Regardless, she is expressly against the capitalist power structure and thus sees symbols of wealth as an expression of the oppressive class. That is why she does not see Beyonce as a worthy idol. She sees her as a tool, and ultimately a member, of the Bourgeoisie.

[adirondacker]

3. Thanks for posting! bell was the commencement speaker for my graduation.

The theme was "Live life with passion". She was Awesome! It was one of the most heartfelt and motivating speeches I've heard and witnessed. I'm profoundly grateful to my alumni for selecting her.

[BainsBane]

4. That hooks is a major African American feminist and intellectual

is itself enough for some to refuse to learn anything about her. The point is to have a talking point about the evils of feminism, not to actually understand anything. Some are particularly adept in making sure they never, under any circumstances, exposes themselves to any thoughts or ideas that challenge them in anyway. Think how some people use the world "education" in derisive terms around here. They prefer to keep their minds closed, particularly when it comes to paying attention to the voices of women and people of color.


Bookmarked for later. Thanks.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. That's not at all what she asserted.

As the OP notes, it's instructive to watch the whole discussion to understand the point hooks was making.

[KittyWampus]

6. reducing her argument to that one superficial observation= didn't bother listening

to the whole thing.

Typical.

Seize on the one superficial statement fed to you by some lame media outlet and react to it.

[Gravitycollapse]

7. Not that this is new to hooks, I'm sure. She's an incendiary figure even among many feminists.

She basically came to fame calling second-wave out on its bullshit. I don't always agree with her, but I listen to what she has to say.

I really find academic inquiry so different from the atmosphere of much of politics. In the academe, argumentation, especially among critical theorists, is an art and you listen to what your peers have to say regardless of whether or not they are your "ally." Really, the point is to break down the barriers between friend and foe to ultimately make them obsolete identities. That's a concept almost totally alien to politics. In fact, the political world is all about listening to as little as possible that someone has to say simply to gain the minimum amount of evidence you desire to condemn them. It's totally ass backwards.

[jberryhill]

8. A discussion of Beyoncé at a menstruation conference?

I'll take "what the fuck?" for $200, Alex.

[Gravitycollapse]

9. You misread. I was at The New School last summer for a menstruation conference...

The Beyonce discussion occurred at a different time. I was simply commenting on my approval of the school venues in general, not stating I was at the discussion in the video. I've unfortunately never met or seen live bell hooks.

[jberryhill]

10. I gather "Bell Hooks" is a person...

...and not something hanging in the belfry, as suggested by the lack of capitalization. Or does this person find that the division of proper nouns and common nouns to be elitist?

I gathered you weren't at this one, but I assumed the menstruation conference might be a regularly recurring event of some kind.

[Gravitycollapse]

11. Her name is not capitalized at her own request. Something I very often forget about, actually.

I even had to edit this OP.

Yes, the menstruation conference is an annual event.