White people have no conception of what their “whiteness” is because it remains their cultural default. Similarly, working class Black people in, say, Nigeria, have no conception of “blackness” though they do have a very strong conception of class. For them “whiteness” is exotic, amusing, and “unreal” to them, as Japanese or Chinese people are to working class Americans. The reason that Nigeria has a huge film industry is their audiences may enjoy the spectacular special effects of American films but for drama or comedy they want to see the local product.
You are such a role model to me as a critical writer* - this is exactly how I would like to be able to write about books, and films - the writing is lovely, of course, but also the way you're making a critical voice which is precise in its observation and flexible in its language and clear about its own situatedness and generous in its judgements. ALSO though I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT RECENT LITERARY FICTION BY WHITE PEOPLE**, thank you for nailing this.
* (I am an associate professor of English Literature, by the way, lol).
The first big love of my life in my 20s had told me he had *been* a heroin addict, and it wasn't till years later that I had to endure the "how could you know he wasn't constantly high?" It always helps me to read about someone else just thinking their lover was "mysterious" or "temperamental" or whatever, anything but constantly high unbeknownst to their partner. After a honeymoon period, he woke up one morning and said, "Good morning, asshole." I didn't know what had hit me. It was humiliating to learn that I'd taken such abuse in such ignorance of why. Anyway, thank you for articulating that for all of us. The "how could you now know" was really painful.
And ah, white people making sure we all know they're aware of their privilege! I'm bi-racial, so I seem to be perceived as a sort of bridge or middle ground upon whom white people love to unload their white guilt when drunk (or when not-drunk, actually), and while I guess it's a start, it's really not... anything else.
White people have no conception of what their “whiteness” is because it remains their cultural default. Similarly, working class Black people in, say, Nigeria, have no conception of “blackness” though they do have a very strong conception of class. For them “whiteness” is exotic, amusing, and “unreal” to them, as Japanese or Chinese people are to working class Americans. The reason that Nigeria has a huge film industry is their audiences may enjoy the spectacular special effects of American films but for drama or comedy they want to see the local product.
FromBERGMAN Who I Adore,to autofiction, White WRITERS , tedious liberals and ..your world elicits me to a reflection..thanks Brandon.
You are such a role model to me as a critical writer* - this is exactly how I would like to be able to write about books, and films - the writing is lovely, of course, but also the way you're making a critical voice which is precise in its observation and flexible in its language and clear about its own situatedness and generous in its judgements. ALSO though I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT RECENT LITERARY FICTION BY WHITE PEOPLE**, thank you for nailing this.
* (I am an associate professor of English Literature, by the way, lol).
** (Also white)
My first thought on finishing this was how much I enjoy your writing and how happy I am that you do it and do it out loud for us.
The first big love of my life in my 20s had told me he had *been* a heroin addict, and it wasn't till years later that I had to endure the "how could you know he wasn't constantly high?" It always helps me to read about someone else just thinking their lover was "mysterious" or "temperamental" or whatever, anything but constantly high unbeknownst to their partner. After a honeymoon period, he woke up one morning and said, "Good morning, asshole." I didn't know what had hit me. It was humiliating to learn that I'd taken such abuse in such ignorance of why. Anyway, thank you for articulating that for all of us. The "how could you now know" was really painful.
And ah, white people making sure we all know they're aware of their privilege! I'm bi-racial, so I seem to be perceived as a sort of bridge or middle ground upon whom white people love to unload their white guilt when drunk (or when not-drunk, actually), and while I guess it's a start, it's really not... anything else.