Interesting Quote: Spike Lee

"First of all, I’m not homophobic. Because I have a character say the word “faggot” or “homo” that does not mean that I’m homophobic. Martin Scorsese is not racist. The characters are people he grew up with, characters in the mean streets — that’s those people talking, not him. In that world, those are the things people say. When I went to Morehouse College that’s the way they spoke, thought and talked about homosexuals… To be an artist, if you’re a novelist — every character you write is going to have the same vision? How do you have conflict if everybody is agreeing? Plus, what I’ve done is hold the mirror up. I’ve done a lot of showing what is happening now. I try to expose stuff by showing it — that doesn’t mean I’m endorsing it.”

source

My Thoughts on the Spike Lee/Homophobic/Twitter thing

So, I've read the tweets, articles and FB posts about the exchange between Spike Lee and blogger, Anti-Intellect over his classic film, School Daze.

Anti-Intellect tweeted that Lee’s film wasn't a balanced view of Morehouse College and it was homophobic, in fact, he noted that Spike was homophobic. Now, I read the tweets and I'm a bit lost here about the entire discussion.

Let me use bullet points to express myself:

• School Daze was a movie, fiction. Since when did any film (fiction) has to accurately portray the real deal? School Daze wasn't based from a true story, nor a documentary. Spike made this film up, like most writers do.
• If a writer creates homophobic characters, that make him or her homophobic. It seems to be the message here. Hell, if that's the notion, then I'm homophobic, a murderer, psychotic and a racist.
• Also if a film has homophobic scenes, is that film homophobic? I don't think so, if it's a part of the story and characters.
• What was the point of the argument? What was the initial outcome of this discussion. Spike is not going to change School Daze so what is the goal of this discussion?
• The film is over 20 years old; Spike's earlier work. Who's to say that he didn't evolve from that time? I mean, 20 years ago, every superwoman I drew had thigh-high boots with heels and a choker. I know now that wasn't the right way to portray women in powerful roles. I changed, I'm sure he did too.
• The notion that Spike should have created a counterbalance to the homophobic is very interesting. I understand there's a good vs evil theme in films. In School Daze, the issues of race and class were clearly the 'stars' of the film. But the anti-gay slurs weren't and it didn't have to have a counterbalance. As my friend, Wilson said on my FB post, real life doesn't always have a counterbalance, why should we assume movies would do the same

Look, I tried to understand the argument and the points that were made. But in the end, I still came up with lint. What was the point of arguing with Spike? What was the point of making this such a big deal? And what was the moral of the story?

This battle had no winner or an endgame. It was two individuals spinning into butter with no toast to spread it on.

If I'm missing the point, someone please help me see it.

Would someone tell me why Spike Lee has a problem with Django Unchained?

What is Spike Lee's issue with Django Unchained?

I saw the movie and if anything, it was good. Great, actually. Yes, there's a lot of blood and the N-word is thrown everywhere; but how is this an insult to my ancestors?

Are we supposed to ignore Slavery? Never talk about it or create stories around that time? Or is slavery scared to us, since it's a part of Black history? If that's the case, then that's a bunch of crap.

Django Unchained is a story during slavery. Like many stories, it takes place during horrible times in our history. According to Spike Lee, we can't do that. So, Roots shouldn't have been made, or the Diary of Anne Frank. Stan Lee creating Magneto is bad too, because his origin takes place during the Holocaust.

Child please, Spike needs to get it together. Hell, he needs to asked himself why he didn't think of Django first?

Or why a lot of Black lead films tend to be God fearing, I need a light-skinned man to save me from my sad life, straight-to-video messes?

This foolish hate fest Spike has on Django Unchained is ridic. The movie is telling a story. It's a fantasy, no harm is done and nobody's feeling betrayed by The Man. Django Unchained is a great film, I didn't feel disrespected, if anything, my admiration for Quentin Tarantino has increased. He knows how to tell a story and tell it well.

Sorry Spike, I love your work, but you're wrong about this.

Spike Lee ain't feeling Tyler Perry

Spike Lee had some words for Tyler Perry, check out this clip

Tyler's upset, but does Spike have a point?

Of course folks like Medea and House of Payne, but seriously, it's not cute.

For me, Perry's work is a bit too much. It's always, God will save that lonely and warned down woman with the country family with a crooked past.

And that statement about "people like this exist", yes they do, I just don't want to be reminded of that.

Thoughts?