Comments on: Your Halloween Costume: A Bigot http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot Seriously, this could not be more beta Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:41:15 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: cherrispryte http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-34088 cherrispryte Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:24:12 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-34088 Are you trawling old The Awl posts looking for a last-minute Halloween costume idea as well? Are you trawling old The Awl posts looking for a last-minute Halloween costume idea as well?

]]> By: Clemdae http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-34071 Clemdae Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:04:20 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-34071 I think Halloween is in a way outside of normal rules and that it's the one time you can escape the norms of society and your own identity and be anything or dress as anything and that anything in history is open for depiction. I don't think a costume is an endorsement of the era in which it was prevalent or the idea it may represent in modern times. I think it's almost like an anthropological and cultural gallery showing tidbits of characters in the entire history of humans. I cringe at the racial caricatures personally and would never wear one and hope my friends wouldn't, but I hate the idea of restricting or censoring any part of Halloween. If I were to get offended by one thing (and I think I'm just more annoyed than offended) it's the way women (and even girls) have few Halloween options that aren't hyper-sexualized. I don't remember this being the norm until the last maybe 10 to 15 years. It certainly wasn't the case when I was a child or even in my teens or twenties. To me this drastically limits what we are allowed to be. Even so I don't think banning or protesting "slutwear" is the answer. The vagina doesn't bother me either. It's just a body part. I think Halloween is in a way outside of normal rules and that it's the one time you can escape the norms of society and your own identity and be anything or dress as anything and that anything in history is open for depiction. I don't think a costume is an endorsement of the era in which it was prevalent or the idea it may represent in modern times. I think it's almost like an anthropological and cultural gallery showing tidbits of characters in the entire history of humans.

I cringe at the racial caricatures personally and would never wear one and hope my friends wouldn't, but I hate the idea of restricting or censoring any part of Halloween. If I were to get offended by one thing (and I think I'm just more annoyed than offended) it's the way women (and even girls) have few Halloween options that aren't hyper-sexualized. I don't remember this being the norm until the last maybe 10 to 15 years. It certainly wasn't the case when I was a child or even in my teens or twenties. To me this drastically limits what we are allowed to be. Even so I don't think banning or protesting "slutwear" is the answer. The vagina doesn't bother me either. It's just a body part.

]]> By: joelbranstein http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-32678 joelbranstein Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:02:55 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-32678 @dweeb - Oh Great Obama Pumkin, if you can bring us a Public Option... oh, no, I said "if" - I mean WHEN! WHEN you bring us a Public Option! Oh no, I'm doooomed... @dweeb – Oh Great Obama Pumkin, if you can bring us a Public Option… oh, no, I said "if" – I mean WHEN! WHEN you bring us a Public Option! Oh no, I'm doooomed…

]]> By: joelbranstein http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-32667 joelbranstein Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:46:35 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-32667 NO WAAAAAAAY!!! I'm actually watching Halloween III RIGHT NOW!!!! NO WAAAAAAAY!!! I'm actually watching Halloween III RIGHT NOW!!!!

]]> By: joelbranstein http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-32663 joelbranstein Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:44:41 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-32663 The "Obama Pumpkin" doesn't strike me as racist at all. Now if it were an "Obama Watermelon-Head with a side of fried chicken and chitlins and carrying a basketball" - now THAT would be racist. The "Obama Pumpkin" doesn't strike me as racist at all. Now if it were an "Obama Watermelon-Head with a side of fried chicken and chitlins and carrying a basketball" – now THAT would be racist.

]]> By: Abe Sauer http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-32101 Abe Sauer Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:14:00 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-32101 +10,000 +10,000

]]> By: EmilyVanzant http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-32098 EmilyVanzant Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:38:34 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-32098 gay alien is so funny..hahahaha gay alien is so funny..hahahaha

]]> By: jt http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-32092 jt Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:26:49 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-32092 You are a fucking idiot thinking that jack ass is the Great Pumpkin. I am going to get a mask of the fucking morons face and I am going to put a bullet between the eyes of the mask with blood dripping down it. I hope this offends a lot of liberals. Happy Holloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just to make this clear I am not raciest. I pray that a black conservative kicks his ass in 2012. You are a fucking idiot thinking that jack ass is the Great Pumpkin. I am going to get a mask of the fucking morons face and I am going to put a bullet between the eyes of the mask with blood dripping down it. I hope this offends a lot of liberals. Happy Holloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just to make this clear I am not raciest. I pray that a black conservative kicks his ass in 2012.

]]> By: NotesfromUndervault http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31960 NotesfromUndervault Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:01:32 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31960 If you don't want to pay that much for a vagina, maybe you could use Molls' :http://molls.tumblr.com/post/73310307/fuck-it-i-look-great If you don't want to pay that much for a vagina, maybe you could use Molls' :http://molls.tumblr.com/post/73310307/fuck-it-i-look-great

]]> By: sfbirdie http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31930 sfbirdie Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:14:30 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31930 Ah, but maybe they thought you were trying to provoke it? Ah, but maybe they thought you were trying to provoke it?

]]> By: sfbirdie http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31929 sfbirdie Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:13:14 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31929 Tolerance in the future? I do NOT believe you. Tolerance in the future? I do NOT believe you.

]]> By: Bittersweet http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31865 Bittersweet Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:48:33 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31865 Agree with Tuna here, especially since Beyonce isn't very dark-skinned. Maybe just some bronzer? Agree with Tuna here, especially since Beyonce isn't very dark-skinned. Maybe just some bronzer?

]]> By: cherrispryte http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31823 cherrispryte Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:19:54 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31823 Are you going as spam for halloween? because if so, that's sorta clever. Are you going as spam for halloween? because if so, that's sorta clever.

]]> By: spanish bombs http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31801 spanish bombs Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:10:31 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31801 I don't see what's racist about the Obama pumpkin. I don't see what's racist about the Obama pumpkin.

]]> By: carpetblogger http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31798 carpetblogger Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:07:31 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31798 Yesterday, I talked a gay couple out of that exact same costume (the appeal of it to them was exactly as it was to you) because black face never turns out the way you hope it will, even (especially) in Istanbul. Yesterday, I talked a gay couple out of that exact same costume (the appeal of it to them was exactly as it was to you) because black face never turns out the way you hope it will, even (especially) in Istanbul.

]]> By: TerseNursePornstein http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31796 TerseNursePornstein Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:02:13 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31796 ^ Er, no face painting, of course. ^ Er, no face painting, of course.

]]> By: TerseNursePornstein http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31795 TerseNursePornstein Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:18 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31795 I don't think it can be done. A few Halloweens ago my tennis partner and I thought briefly of going as Venus and Serena Williams. Mostly because we were damn lazy and wanted to wear our frilly tennis skirts...but inwardly we hoped, I think, that we could impart some sort of progressive message underneath it all. It didn't take long, of course, to discover that this is extremely hard, if not impossible, to pull off. Pull off without offending (Does "moving beyond" race imply that some are less desirable than others and need be disregarded? And so on.) or feeling gross about it, that is. Extremely foolish in retrospect. Madcap in all the wrong ways. So my erstwhile tennis partner became my naughty nurse partner in crime. And a commenter was born this day! Happily ever after, as they say. I don't think it can be done. A few Halloweens ago my tennis partner and I thought briefly of going as Venus and Serena Williams. Mostly because we were damn lazy and wanted to wear our frilly tennis skirts…but inwardly we hoped, I think, that we could impart some sort of progressive message underneath it all.

It didn't take long, of course, to discover that this is extremely hard, if not impossible, to pull off. Pull off without offending (Does "moving beyond" race imply that some are less desirable than others and need be disregarded? And so on.) or feeling gross about it, that is. Extremely foolish in retrospect. Madcap in all the wrong ways.

So my erstwhile tennis partner became my naughty nurse partner in crime. And a commenter was born this day! Happily ever after, as they say.

]]> By: garge http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31794 garge Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:35:13 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31794 Here's an historic costume duo sadly compounded by racism-- In '97, bff and I went as John and Patsy Ramsey. Our friend from Barbados went as a beauty pageant queen. One nice suburban couple: Oh LOOK! It's THE RAMSEYS! And ... THEIR MAID!! So sometimes even tastefully offensive costuming can draw forth racism. Here's an historic costume duo sadly compounded by racism–

In '97, bff and I went as John and Patsy Ramsey. Our friend from Barbados went as a beauty pageant queen. One nice suburban couple: Oh LOOK! It's THE RAMSEYS! And … THEIR MAID!!

So sometimes even tastefully offensive costuming can draw forth racism.

]]> By: rivergo http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31793 rivergo Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:40:47 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31793 Just an idea, you can find e-card at <a href="http://www.halloween-2009.net/retrieve.php?cid=42" rel="nofollow">Happy Halloween 2009</a> for halloween. This site allows for anyone to upload their own picture so they can send it out to friends and family with a message as a greeting on Halloween. Just an idea, you can find e-card at Happy Halloween 2009 for halloween. This site allows for anyone to upload their own picture so they can send it out to friends and family with a message as a greeting on Halloween.

]]> By: dweeb http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31791 dweeb Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:15:56 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31791 Obama is the Great Pumpkin... not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see. Obama is the Great Pumpkin… not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.

]]> By: HeyThatsMyBike http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31790 HeyThatsMyBike Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:08:21 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31790 They had me at "Barak Obama." Morans. They had me at "Barak Obama."
Morans.

]]> By: zack petrick http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31789 zack petrick Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:07:36 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31789 OK.... If someone wants to be the Vagina I already have a huge tampon! WOOT! OK…. If someone wants to be the Vagina I already have a huge tampon! WOOT!

]]> By: Maevemealone http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31788 Maevemealone Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:37:13 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31788 It could possibly be the funniest costume ever in the history of costuming. But you just need one photograph of you to get out... and it's all kaput. It could possibly be the funniest costume ever in the history of costuming. But you just need one photograph of you to get out… and it's all kaput.

]]> By: CaptainFantastic http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31787 CaptainFantastic Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:01:34 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31787 Black-face, the third rail of costuming. Black-face, the third rail of costuming.

]]> By: MisterHippity http://www.theawl.com/2009/10/your-halloween-costume-a-bigot#comment-31785 MisterHippity Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:42:56 +0000 http://www.theawl.com/?p=15878#comment-31785 Women can go as "Slutty Obama Pumpkin Head." Women can go as "Slutty Obama Pumpkin Head."

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