Last nights finale of the Sopranos was one of the highest rated shows for HBO in years. The New York Times described the series, which has won 18 Emmy awards, as "widely proclaimed as the greatest drama ever created for television."
Early in the season, Tony dropped off a stripper from the Bada Bing, got some head in the driveway before driving home to his wife. Later in the season he pistol whipped a man before stomping out his teeth.
Tony Soprano has murdered friends, stolen, killed innocent people, cheated on his wife, used the "N word" and sniffed cocaine. Yet he is one of the most popular characters on television. Tony has become the High-Def alter-ego for marginalized white men all over America.
All that's cool. It's fiction. TV. I've watched the show since it first aired.
But where are the cries of misogyny? Does The Sopranos defame white women? Does the Sopranos make blue collar Italians from New Jersey more prone to violence? Time Warner owns both Interscope and HBO. Are little white girls at Mount Holyoke forming 'letter writing' campaigns" like their counterparts at Spellman?James Gandolfini, who was paid over $20 Million per season, could appear on Oprah tomorrow, and that confused heifer would welcome him with tears of joy, highlights of the show and extended ovation from her dumb ass audience of sycophants. Yet she treats young black men who portray similar characters as pariahs.
What really gets me is the Self Righteous Negros calling to crucify brothers for telling similar stories in Rap Music while hosting "Soprano Parties" to watch white boys do the same thing.
"Oooooh Masssa! Aint No Black Man 'Spose Ta Ha No Gunnnn!"
12 comments:
DV: "Oooooh Masssa! Aint No Black Man 'Spose Ta Ha No Gunnnn!"
Soteria: ROTFLOL!!!
DV, you are hilarious...
But definitely what you are saying is on point. You have made me check some of my haterism...just some of the ignorance that some rappers demonstrate is so painful to watch...why do we always have to be so extra with ours?
"Time Warner owns both Interscope and HBO."
Not.
that top photo could be fiddy all day.
very good Dr. Vesey, very good.
DV, you are on point as far the hypocrisy that is self evident. But as a rap fan I'm sure you know that Curtis Jackson's appeal comes from the fact that he claims he's not a character, he's real and the streets can feel his authenticity.
The Game (Jayceon Taylor) now has a tattoo tear, which for the uninitiated means he's killed someone, but he claims it's symbolic for the beef with Fitty. Now he's allegedly pullin' guns on people over basketball games. For a guy that wasn't in a gang he is really doing a lot of ish. I just think that because of the the corporate pressure that some rappers really don't know where the "character=product" begins or ends.
Its just another bullshit show designed to make some money for bullshit products.
Greatest Drama ?
In the context of America in 2007, it may represent in some respects our dumbed down, and non-thinking population to some degree.
Its interesting when people die.
Thats about all it has going for it.
Drama ? You could get more out of an old Gunsmoke rerun.
"But as a rap fan I'm sure you know that Curtis Jackson's appeal comes from the fact that he claims he's not a character" Damien
I see your point D. However, I do not agree that Curtis Jackson's appeal "comes from the fact that he claims he's not a character".
Were appeal that easily generated more of the thousands of real thugs gangsters and murderers would share at least a modicum of his success.
Just like David Chase (creator of the Sopranos) and James Gandolfini, Curtis Jackson is particularly good at creating character, backstory, metaphor and symbolism that appeals to Americans across the board.
Everyone from tall hard young brothas, to short fat old Jews, to beautiful young women identify with Tony Soprano because beneath the gangster bravado he reminds them of a time when men were men.
He reminds them of a time when men handled shit themselves.
Fiddy and Tony Soprano serve the same purpose. They are disembodied alter egos for marginalized men romanticizing about taking control of their own destinies. They are also the objects of affection for millions of women who wish their men would do the same.
Well, DV, I did leave out one important fact. Fitty does have lyrics, and he's "real". What's the biggest insult to a "gangsta rapper"? He's a studio gangsta, not real, fake, plastic.
Not many lyricists have really been in the street and vice versa. There's plenty of pimps, gangsters, etc... that have albums out on some small indy label but they just don't sell because the artistic side is lacking, beats and rhymes tend to be wack.
I'll need to check the Sopranos on dvd, I'm more about The Wire.
Good points, DV. Damien makes good points as well. I ain't never seen one of the cast members of the Sopranos pulllin' gats on niggaz at the park.
Big J
DV
Time Warner owns both Interscope and HBO...
That is not the case... But not that big of a deal to the theme of your case. I would like to spell out a few differences.
1) Sopranos is a pay for cable program depicting with white actors acting as white ganstas. Do black youth really associate themselves? Fiddy is a confirmed former drug dealer gansta rapper who lyrics and video images are available for free via radio, IPOD, Ringtones, MTV, BET... etc. Do you think some of our black youth associate with his persona?
2)The real issus is that this is a white society whether right or wrong white men can afford to act like thugs. Black men can not. Black men with degrees, money and suits are already targets. So why strive to follow the images and patterns of life that increase the target. How wise is that?
3)There are many movies produced by black producers or predominate black characters depicting thug life...
The issues are different because: 1) Authencity of the character(s)
2) Youth access to content
3) Frequency of message (radio spins, video runs, concerts, IPOD downloads)
These are all critical components of great marketing message...
Neither is great for the youth to emulate... But there is a difference.
Good points all around. But how about how some discussion of how WACK the final episode was. I thought my damn cable went out!
i'm sorry i can't even contribute to this....i'm a HBO Wire type dude.
paul said...
i'm sorry i can't even contribute to this....i'm a HBO Wire type dude.
Actually.
If you really a Wire type dude, you can definitely contribute.
Peep:
http://denmarkvesey.blogspot.com/2006/12/wire.html
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