Norms of embodied behaviour for males and females; as promoted in mainstream Western public arenas of popular culture and the everyday; continue to work; overtly and covertly; as definitive and restrictive barriers to the realm of possibilities of embodied gender expression and appreciation. They serve to disempower and marginalize those not inclined to embody according to such dichotomous models. This book explores the ramifications of the way our gendered; sexed and culturally constructed bodies are situated toward notions of difference and highlights the need to safeguard the social and emotional well-being of those who do not fit comfortably with dominant norms of masculine/feminine behaviour; as deemed appropriate to biological sex. The book interrogates gender inequitable machinations of education and performance arts disciplines by which educators and arts practitioners train; teach; choreograph; and direct those with whom they work; and theorizes ways of broadening personal and social notions of possible; aesthetic; and acceptable embodiment for all persons; regardless of biological sex or sexual orientation. The authorrsquo;s own struggles as a performance artist; educator; and person in the everyday; as well as the findings of empirical fieldwork with educators; performance arts practitioners; and high school students; are employed to illustrate and advocate the need for self reflexive scrutiny of existing and hidden inequities regarding the embodiment of gender within onersquo;s own habitual perspectives; taste; and practices.
#839048 in eBooks 2014-06-01 2014-06-01File Name: B00OXWCTLE
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I Read What I LikeBy Mari-DjataWhat does our colonial oppressors fear the most? Unsanctioned thought and behavior. This is the main point that Jared Balls new book; I Mix What I Like: A Mixtape Manifesto; pounds into the readers skulls. The book documents how the fourth arm of the military; mass media; is truly the tool for the power elite and how all that is popular is fraudulent. Mass media; internet included; with its goal of limiting the range of acceptable thought in order to limit and destroy the idea of revolution is both meticulously scripted and forced down the throats of every watcher and listener into a submission that the vast majority simply does not recognize and indeed scoff at when opined by those who do.And that is one of the major points of the book for me. The fact of the matter that colonialism strives to be so encompassing in its theft of both culture and material (through mass media) that the language to even explain African predicaments is threatened. The perception of humanity to our threatened existence and lack of sovereignty in any land or even our own lives is what needs to be limited or destroyed by the colonial elite who wants the access to culture/material and the ability to reap and define the wealth accumulated from their thievery. The mass media is a bomb that kills more consciousness than any nuclear explosive can kill bodies.On constructive criticism: the book is highly repetitive. While that may very well be the point; after a while the concept of limiting ideas/actions should be a given. Likewise; chapter 13; which was the actual chapter Ball used to defend is concept that the mixtape was the tool to use against the powerful was sorely disappointing. Who uses a failed attempt as an example of a successful theory? Dr. Ball could not even find one example of a likeminded attempt that had better outcomes than his own? Not one other African centered hip-hop enthusiast tried using the mixtape as a libratory medium? Simply put; that chapter was subpar is relationship to an awesome book and awesome activist concept of mixtape radio.In the end; I Mix What I Like is indeed a continuation of great scholarship in the same vein of Franz Fanon; who Ball uses as a guiding torch in this book. It makes colonial theory important to the US and Africans within this country. Indeed; as Ball tells us; if we accept that the US is a colonizing force within itself and around the world; then we would also have to accept that it cannot and does not create; or even attempt to create; democracies outside itself; but empires abroad and subjects within. I appreciate this book; Jared Ball for writing it; and his other venues such as Black Agenda Report; Voxunion; and WPFWs The Legacy Addition to We Ourselves. And I would be remiss to not shout out all of the political prisoners who will benefit from all of the proceeds of this book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great for Grassroots MovementsBy Terry L. HardinDr. Jared Ball has a finger on the pulse of everything that is relevant to grassroots movements all over the country. Legitimate questions and legitimate common sense solutions. Excellent writing and a refreshing read from a brilliant thinker.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Independent ResearchBy Marquita JohnsWe had to read this book for my independen research class at NC AT. It was a very good book!
