The Paper Tiger Television's ART, ACTIVISM and ANALYSIS series: Richie Perez Watches 'Fort Apache: The Bronx'; Joan Does Dynasty with Theory Diva Joan Braderman

Description

1983 Richie Perez Watches "Fort Apache: The Bronx"TRT:29:30
In this show NYC activist Ritchie Pérez gives an in-depth look at the campaign to counteract the negative depictions of Puerto Rican and Blacks in the film Fort Apache: The Bronx. The campaign challenged the right of filmmakers to use racist and stereotypical images and to exploit the poverty conditions in the ghetto. Fort Apache: the Bronx dealt with real issues in the Puerto Rican and Black community such as poverty, police brutality, housing abandonment and decaying communities but failed to show the root causes and instead blamed the problems on the community. The campaign as described by Pérez proved that it is possible to have a unified, collective action against media racism. A clear description of the media’s power to amplify and perpetuate harmful stereotypes is followed by an overview of the movie industry, and how the increasing media conglomeration is connected to banks and to the cable industry. Pérez gives an overview of the tactics that were used in the campaign, including boycotts, breaking media blackouts to get media attention, garnering a broad cross section of multi-cultural support, targeting key players and most importantly creating the context in which media needs to be judged by individuals in the public for racism, sexism and classism. This show is an ideal primer for activists looking to directly confront the media and provides a historical context for current media reform work.

1985 Joan Does DynastyTRT:29:30
Hampshire College professor and stand-up theorist Joan Braderman takes on power and desire in TV's campiest series. "Joan Does Dynasty," a classic in feminist media deconstruction, is a hilarious look at the materialistic 80's in the context of the ordinary working person's life. Superimposing herself over portions of "Dynasty" and into the bedrooms, office suites and maids' quarters of the super rich, Braderman asks, "Why do Joan Does Dynasty100 million people in 78 countries welcome this department store of dressed-to-kill aliens into their homes every week?" Co-Director Manual Delanda. Screened at the Whitney Museum of American Art (2007) and New Museum of Contemporary Art in NYC (2008).