Halloback Girl

[eunion]

After taking Song Coyote and the lovey Evil Mo to the airport, I sat down and turned on MTV as lately I have been every intrigued by some of the videos that are being produced. For example, has anyone seen Gwen Stefani's music video for "Halloback Girl?" There are many Asian-Americans in the video within the backgroup of what appears to be Alaheim High School (which is where she went to high school). The video had many references to "BANANA"... Fascinating, I thought. Is Gwen stating some subversive statement about the various social evocations of that word within the Asian-American community? I thought that perhaps there is some information on her website regarding the connection, but there wasn't. Surely, she would know what a banana is? Is this song her anthem of some sort that she is a banana? The word on the art scene is that the medium of video has become the new "in" media. Rich people are actually buying videos and setting up their LCDs with posh frames and putting them over mantles over fire places. For example, the owners of the Gap have a large collection of video art displayed in such a manner in their luxurious multi-million dollar home. After the envelops of history have closed, who will be remembered? The small time artists (like Rachel Jablo) who are only known to a small number of society at large (mostly intellectuals and artsy/fartsy types) or someone like Gwen Stefani. Hundred years from now, will Gwen be grouped with Barbara Kruger and Judy Chicago as one of the foremost postmodern artists? Her video fulfills all of the criteria especially with the social commentary to boot. Will it be as debated as Demoiselles D'Avignon? Will her video be the subject of a class? Two semesters ago, I had to endure two weeks of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video in my graduate seminar. I can make a short paper topic out of this and submit it somewhere but who would publish such a thing?

Anyway, thanks to ZQ for the uplifting and downright delightful talk this afternoon.

There ain't no halloback girl! Love, the egg