Im Heading to Austin...and some other stuff

Yippee!

I wasn't sure if my panel proposal would make the cut, but it has. So here's the deal:

I will be moderating a panel at SXSW 2007 entitled, "Bridging The Cultural Divide Online." Here's the working panel idea:

There have been some complaints in the blogosphere from women of colour that there is friction that exists online in relation address issues of race and racism on women's networking sites, which deter the purpose of providing a space to learn about issues that affect various cultural communities. Do social networking sites help with understanding people from various cultures, or do they inadvertently exclude the experiences of others?

The sad - yet kinda interesting - thing in the blogosphere, which will hopefully make this panel more relevant to the attendees. Now I have to find people for the panel.......

And I wish I could get a travel grant for this. That's another story....

So anyway, within the next couple of months I will be asking my faithful readers their opinions concerning this topic. The subject might alter a little bit, depending on the panelists, but I want to incorporate reader's feedback into the panel. Just let me think of a few questions.

The K-OS Saga Continues

In the last issue of NOW Magazine, a letter to the editor about his review caught my attention:

I've been on the sidelines dying to butt in for weeks. I feel I have to say something. I think k-os is a whiny bitch for objecting to your negative review of his new disc and dragging this whole issue on.

Now other NOW readers are jumping on his bandwagon, saying it's not just k-os but the overall genre of music that's misunderstood and under-represented in your magazine. What he and other hiphop artists need to be told is that a good majority of current hiphop/rap music releases are mediocre, and your writers should not be afraid to say so because of some kind of supposed loyalty to their scene or to "black culture."

I am a musician personally involved in heavy metal, noise and punk, which are not only musical scenes but deep philosophical lifestyle choices (as is the hiphop lifestyle).

Like other members of outsider cultures, I don't cry foul when mainstream publications deny us good reviews or even minimal coverage of our music; I fully expect it.

If hiphop/rap culture fans think they get the shaft, just try being fans of any number of the fringe genres of music operating in Toronto without the help of any TV/radio/news media. Look at how many venues, magazines, TV shows and radio programs are dedicated solely to hiphop culture. You've got it made, guys.

Appreciate what you've got, because a lot of us in other scenes know more accurately what it's like to be excluded

First, last week one person wrote in and supported K-OS and chastised NOW for it's lack of Hip-Hop features - which I think that in comparison to the lack of ethno-cultural issues in the altera-weekly, their coverage is pretty damn good. I mention that only one person wrote in because the above commenter is making some rash generalizations. It is safe to say that not every Hip-Hop fan feels (or even reads NOW) the same way that K-OS felt about what he considered was a sub-standard review. Maybe I am blowing this out of proportion, but what concerns me is that whenever someone (black) voices a dissenting opinion, it is then perceived as the opinions of the entire community.

Hip-Hop has the advantage of having more mainstream attention because there are consumers who are interested in it. Yes, some of the music is crappy sexist shit, but hey, people are consuming the albums, the concerts,emulating the styles, etc. While it was once predominately perceived as an extension of black and Latino culture, is has grown from that. K-O'S opinion is simply that - his opinion, and I hope that this will not detract NOW from covering other Toronto-based Hip-Hop acts.

Comments

[George]

Congratulations, Laina! I'll see you there. I can't wait to see your panel.

[Lainad]

Hey J;

Thanks for your comments - I think the original panel idea could use some clarification before it goes live.What I think I need to do since I'm thinking of specific examples that have happened recently, is focus on those sites that are directed towards garnering an audience based on a shared political or social affiliation / interest - specifically liberal, progressive and / or feminist sites.
Are you planning to head down this year?

[j. brotherlove]

Kudos, Laina on the panel! Maybe it's me, but I had to re-read that panel description a few times to get where you were going. This is the part I pulled out:

"Do social networking sites help with understanding people from various cultures, or do they inadvertently exclude the experiences of others?"

And to that I say, social networking sites have the possibility of doing both (obviously) but the overall purpose of the site seems to drive this, in my opinion.

If the site is billed as "register and meet friends" there seems to be more acceptance of differences in thought, gender, race, sexual orientation, hair color, etc. When sites start to "specialize" in an area, they become cliquish and protective of the burgeoning popular opinion.

For example, on hip hop sites with comments, message boards, etc. How much tolerance/acceptance is there for subject matter or members who are women, gay or non-black vs. other music sites?

Also, I've noticed MySpace lends itself to the most disparate people making "friends" with each other. On the surface, I think this is a great thing. But I wonder how much of it is authentic vs. a numbers game ("you have 37645 friends").