This comedy Youtuber, Chaz Smith, is always dropping words of wisdom on youtube and Facebook. Just discovered him today and enjoyed looking through this posts. This one stood out to me.
Month: November 2016
My love-hate relationship with Netflix’s Chewing Gum.
I love quirky television shows. Especially when the quirky television show happens to feature a strong, female lead. It is even better when the quirky female lead happens to be a black girl, because there are so few television shows that show black women in all of their messy dimensions instead of making them into a trope or stereotype. Black women are not just strong and sassy side characters, we can be awkward and insure and brave and fearless and strong and weak and all of this can be inside of the same person.
Chewing Gum gets and embodies that. Plus, its a British comedy and my love for British television is never ending (Thank you Doctor Who and Merlin). When I discovered this show on Netflix I tried to love it, I really did, but I could not get over certain aspects that make me do a double take.
As I said earlier, I’m not a fan of shows that make an entire race or people group into a trope. One of my issues with most comedy is the need to shrink a person into a stereotype in order to make something funny.
What I disliked about Chewing Gum was the same thing I disliked about the Christian movie Gods Not Dead: its ability to turn an entire complex belief systems in a stereotype. In Gods Not Dead, all nonbelievers are seen as evil, ridiculous, or naive. In Chewing Gum, all of the Christian characters act like complete idiots.
There is the (secretly gay) jerkish boyfriend who is verbally abusive to his girlfriend. There are the religious sisters who are afraid to leave the house in fear or being contaminated by the “evil” in the world. There is the rebellious main character who feels that her belief system is oppressive.
In the same way that I like to believe most atheists have come to there belief systems for legitimate reasons and are not all evil college professors trying to fail the one Christian student, I think most Christians believe what they believe for legitimate reasons as well. My point is, most people would agree that you do not need to target an ethnicity to be funny. In the same way, you should not target a belief system.
The inability of Chewing Gum to paint Christians as full, complex, intelligent and driven people who have doubts, fears and insecurities as well as joys, hopes and love is the one downfall of an otherwise great show.
Fun times at Punch Bowl Social/Charlestons
Think Dave and Busters for adults. It had amazing artisan food and drinks and great entertainment options. I went to do a food review for work, but I am thinking I need to go back with a group of friends, order a punch bowl and do some karaoke.
I also recently went out with some friends from college to Charlestons. I had never been before but its a nice quaint little restaurant that would be perfect for a date night or something of that sort.
That Peace Open Mic
I recently went to an Open Mic show to do some photography for my job and to do a word on the street interview for Thanksgiving. That Peace Open Mic located at Fletcher Place Art. That Peace Open Mic takes place every third Thursday of the month and costs $5 to attend. Really enjoyed this event and would go again. For more click here.
2016: A lot to be thankful for
The year of 2016 is coming to a close soon. I just got done celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. I have to say, I have a lot to be thankful for. 2016 is the year I got married. It is also the year I decided to follow my dreams and step outside of comfort zone and find a job in my chosen field (I am now a writer at a local paper!). There were a lot of smaller milestones, such as moving into my own apartment (even if for only a couple of months before Justin moved in with me after the wedding) and the independent feeling of having my own place, as all of my past places were with roommates. This year has not been perfect, but I am thankful for the good that has come out of 2016.
It can be very easy to take things for granted or compare your life to others. Its easy to think, if I had this or that of it i was like this or that things would be so much easier. Its much better to count your blessing and focus on your own growth. If you have people in your life who love you never take them for granted. Happy Thanksgiving!
Irvington Halloween Festival 2016 bigger than ever
I’ve always loved Halloween. I think I loved seeing the costumes the most. What other day can you dress ridiculous and play the part of someone you are not? Though my last minute costume seems to always consist of a black dress from my closet and something added to it from the dollar store (witch hat! cat ears! cape!) some of the people at the Irvington Halloween Fest went all out on their creative costume ideas. I think the 2016 festival was bigger and better than ever with live music and a parade of costumes. More of my photos can be found in NUVO.
Keshia McEntire 