7 Adar/21 February, 2010

[bearshorty]

Ice dancing - original dance. Too much country dancing. I really don’t care for country music and there were just too many routines – we saw three in primetime. And how can you have a “Canadian cowboys” set to American music (Johnny Cash) that specifically lists American cities? Canadian team that got first place really deserved it – their flamingo was very rocking. American’s Indian dance was also interesting. Controversy about Russian aboriginal dance is over-rated – this is an ice-skate not an actual reproduction. I find all the hoopla a bit weird. Maybe because I’m Russian and I get where they were coming from. Yes, I can see how some aborigines might find it insulting and derivative and racist but again, this is an ice-dance and the Russian team really were not trying to be offensive on purpose. Russian idea of multiculturalism was always a bit wonky and different from the Western nations; they wouldn’t mean it as offensive at all. Although, they should have done some gypsy music, it would have played better. Still, the standings are pretty deserved again based on actually skating (again, to my untrained eye).

Watching last minute of ice hockey was really exciting. Go USA! Suck it, Canada! My parents were actually watching the earlier part of the game downstairs and were too cutely excited about it and making cheery noises. Earlier Mama was trying to explain curling to Papa and again they really got into it. Very amusing.

Bode Miller is awesome.

Johnny Weir's exhibition skate to “Poker Face” . Too bad we won’t see it in exhibition this week.

Comments

[somnolentblue]

Did you see the original costumes, which were even more dreadful than the ones that they performed in? I gotta say, I'm on the WTFBBQ side here; granted, their responses haven't really helped.

Also, nbc's website bites.

[bearshorty]

Yeah, I know . I think the fault with picking costumes and music and dance lies with many people like their handlers who thought it was a remotely good idea for that kind of program to be on the international stage. But, first of all, I just don't take ice dancing that seriously to be offended by any team doing silly things - that is what ice dancing it. "Phantom of the Opera" music is just as silly to me in a stalker story it evokes. And other 'original' dances were ridiculous too. America represented by cowboys, for example. And, second, I think the response for me is really a Russian thing. It is a cultural difference here that leads to misunderstandings of intent. I think that is why it might not have occurred to the Russian team that they might offend. Cultural sensitivity is not exactly at the top list there. I think they strived to be different, that is all. My mom had the same response, she didn't understand what the big deal was about - she even liked parts of the costume like the leaves on boots. I get why this dance grates for a lot of people and why it is offensive, but I just don't have the moral outrage towards it. Just amusement really. The whole concept of that original dance should have just involved each team doing the dance of their own country.

[somnolentblue]

Right, but again, it's an international stage, so it's the type of shit that should be thought of and then appropriately responded to. Also, the original costumes were deliberately dark-skinned, which hits way way too many blackface buttons.

Also, I noted that a lot of the crankiness comes from them essentially making shit up for the dance. Apparently the American team doing the Indian dance consulted Indian dancers, so their stuff reads as 'right' - it's like all the people who do TA/Prof or TA/undergrad romances without realizing how much OH JOHN RINGO NO is involved in that stuff.

However, what moron decided that 'folk dance' was an appropriate choice for an international competition? That's a fucking dumb decision given that it just screams cultural appropriation, racism, and stereotypes all over it.