I need div-ed remedial lessons

[mothwing]

"The majority of people are white, so what's wrong with them being on billboards in the majority of cases?"

A work/friend of mine recently showed her class extracts from Blue Eyed and subsequently discussed a scene in it in which a billboard with a good-looking white, middle-aged and obviously affluent couple are shown. Pretty much unanimously, the class came to the above conclusion. Now, statistically this seems to be true, but srsly. We'd like them to knoy what's problematic about that statement, but are at a loss on how to achieve that. What I could come up with on the fly was:

1.) To ask them if they think that these billboards should show people who represent the national average of what people look like (I'm assuming here that that'll not be a very good-looking, affluent, elderly white couple) and why this isn't on it if they want the majority represented.

2.) To ask why there has to be a couple at all on this product, and if this product is only for white married elderly people.

Basically to make clear that this is a constructed norm and make them think of ways in which this is harmful - because what happens if you don't belong to that norm? Maybe also showing them quote by Adrienne Rich might help a bit, too: 

"When those who have the power to name and to socially construct reality choose not to see you or hear you ... when someone with the authority of a teacher, say, describes the world and you are not in it, there is a moment of psychic disequilibrium, as if you looked in the mirror and saw nothing. It takes some strength of soul—and not just individual strength, but collective understanding—to resist this void, this non-being, into which you are thrust, and to stand up, demanding to be seen and heard."

So yeah, grasping a straws here.

Help, oh wise flist?

Comments

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

Oooh I like your idea, having students make racist decisions themselves, then call them out on it to drive home the point usually works best. Like, "Why did you choose the white supermodel for your cover? Is something wrong with the black supermodel? And what about this non-supermodel hispanic person? Why not choose them?"
Ooor you could also have them compare billboards and ask them towards whom they think this product is marketed. I'd imagine that they'd end up thinking that products picturing minorities in their ads would be marketed towards minorities specifically, while products depicting white people are targeted towards everybody. The problem with that is that people always go, "But it's just advertising! I don't take it seriously, either!", so this might have limited success.

[ysilme]

You are right, of course, this argument always comes. I once read a very wise answer to that argument, but typically, I can't remember it nor have I an idea where to look for it. It was very good in re: why we get influenced by by advertisement, whether we pay attention or not. The whole problem in a nutshell, it was...

[mothwing.livejournal.com]

That sure sounds very helpful, and should you ever remember or find it again, please do share. :)