CliffyByro
Active member
this is a couple of months old but i just found it yesterday, and i thought some people might find it interesting. it's an open letter concerning tyler, the creator written by sara quinn of indie band tegan and sara and posted on their website. i'm no OF expert, but i still think she is way off the mark with her arguments and accusations. i'll let you guys make your minds up though:
"A CALL FOR CHANGE
When will misogynistic and homophobic ranting and raving result in
meaningful repercussions in the entertainment industry? When will they
be treated with the same seriousness as racist and anti-Semitic
offenses? While an artist who can barely get a sentence fragment out
without using homophobic slurs is celebrated on the cover of every
magazine, blog and newspaper, I’m disheartened that any self-respecting
human being could stand in support with a message so vile.
As journalists and colleagues defend, excuse and congratulate ‘Tyler,
the Creator,’ I find it impossible not to comment. In any other industry
would I be expected to tolerate, overlook and find deeper meaning in
this kid’s sickening rhetoric? Why should I care about this music or its
“brilliance” when the message is so repulsive and irresponsible? There
is much that upsets me in this world, and this certainly isn’t the first
time I’ve drafted an open letter or complaint, but in the past I’ve
found an opinion – some like-minded commentary – that let me rest
assured that my outrage, my voice, had been accounted for. Not this
time.
If any of the bands whose records are held in similar esteem as Goblin
had lyrics littered with rape fantasies and slurs, would they be labeled
hate mongers? I realize I could ask that question of DOZENS of other
artists, but is Tyler exempt because people are afraid of the backlash?
The inevitable claim that detractors are being racist, or the brush-off
that not “getting it” would indicate that you’re “old” (or a faggot)?
Because, the more I think about it, the more I think people don’t
actually want to go up against this particular bully because he’s
popular. Who sticks up for women and gay people now? It seems entirely
uncool to do so in the indie rock world, and I’ll argue that point with
ANYONE.
No genre is without its controversial and offensive characters- I’m not
naive. I’ve asked myself a thousand times why this is pushing me over
the edge. Maybe it’s the access to him (his grotesque twitter, etc).
Maybe it’s because I’m a human being, both a girl and a lesbian. Maybe
it’s because my mom has spent her whole adult life working with teenage
girls who were victims of sexual assault. Maybe it’s because in this
case I don’t think race or class actually has anything to do with his
hateful message but has EVERYTHING to do with why everyone refuses to
admonish him for that message.
It is not without great hesitation and hand wringing that I enter into
the discourse about Tyler, the media who glorifies and excuses misogyny
and homophobia, and the community of artists that doesn’t seem remotely
bothered by it. I can only hope that someone reading this might be
inspired to speak out. At the very least, I will know that my voice is
on record.
skq"
discuss.
also i searchbarred and nothing came up, so i apologise if this is a repost.
inb4 tl;dr
"A CALL FOR CHANGE
When will misogynistic and homophobic ranting and raving result in
meaningful repercussions in the entertainment industry? When will they
be treated with the same seriousness as racist and anti-Semitic
offenses? While an artist who can barely get a sentence fragment out
without using homophobic slurs is celebrated on the cover of every
magazine, blog and newspaper, I’m disheartened that any self-respecting
human being could stand in support with a message so vile.
As journalists and colleagues defend, excuse and congratulate ‘Tyler,
the Creator,’ I find it impossible not to comment. In any other industry
would I be expected to tolerate, overlook and find deeper meaning in
this kid’s sickening rhetoric? Why should I care about this music or its
“brilliance” when the message is so repulsive and irresponsible? There
is much that upsets me in this world, and this certainly isn’t the first
time I’ve drafted an open letter or complaint, but in the past I’ve
found an opinion – some like-minded commentary – that let me rest
assured that my outrage, my voice, had been accounted for. Not this
time.
If any of the bands whose records are held in similar esteem as Goblin
had lyrics littered with rape fantasies and slurs, would they be labeled
hate mongers? I realize I could ask that question of DOZENS of other
artists, but is Tyler exempt because people are afraid of the backlash?
The inevitable claim that detractors are being racist, or the brush-off
that not “getting it” would indicate that you’re “old” (or a faggot)?
Because, the more I think about it, the more I think people don’t
actually want to go up against this particular bully because he’s
popular. Who sticks up for women and gay people now? It seems entirely
uncool to do so in the indie rock world, and I’ll argue that point with
ANYONE.
No genre is without its controversial and offensive characters- I’m not
naive. I’ve asked myself a thousand times why this is pushing me over
the edge. Maybe it’s the access to him (his grotesque twitter, etc).
Maybe it’s because I’m a human being, both a girl and a lesbian. Maybe
it’s because my mom has spent her whole adult life working with teenage
girls who were victims of sexual assault. Maybe it’s because in this
case I don’t think race or class actually has anything to do with his
hateful message but has EVERYTHING to do with why everyone refuses to
admonish him for that message.
It is not without great hesitation and hand wringing that I enter into
the discourse about Tyler, the media who glorifies and excuses misogyny
and homophobia, and the community of artists that doesn’t seem remotely
bothered by it. I can only hope that someone reading this might be
inspired to speak out. At the very least, I will know that my voice is
on record.
skq"
discuss.
also i searchbarred and nothing came up, so i apologise if this is a repost.
inb4 tl;dr
