Schadenfreude proves unruly.

[mosca]

It's interesting how skaters I never liked all that much (Sasha Cohen, Elvis Stojko) have jumped on the Plushenko train, while skaters I have more love and respect for are saying some smart things in defense of Lysacek. Timmy Goebel, I am sorry I rooted against you in '02, you were totally robbed at 2000 Nats, you are fabulous at explaining why

Comments

[pas_un_elephant]

That Hollander post is sort of awesome.

Dear Dom/Shabs, toning down the blackface does not make it less offensive :(

[mosca]

Hollander is sort of awesome. Friend of Ben Agosto, IIRC, among other things.

I almost feel like toning down the blackface makes it more offensive, since it's so clear they don't understand what the problem was.

[arabian]

I almost feel like toning down the blackface makes it more offensive, since it's so clear they don't understand what the problem was.

Yeah, because the facial expressions and wacky movements, the monkey-like behavior, the manic grins and then the inexplicable nose rub at the end? It's like they think it's some cute mating dance of the ape family. Just no.

[mosca]

That is an excellent summary of the problem. It's as if they're saying, "Those backwards tribal people, look how cute they are!"

[arabian]

I'm not an Evan fan, but I LOVED how he basically said, it's 4 1/2 minute dance, not just one jump. You go, Evan!!! Damn straight.

Ugh, Domnina and Shabalin's OD is still so offensive, I can't even.I'd never seen it before but had heard about it, and, yes, it was terribly offensive. I kept trying to figure out why (after all Davis/White aren't Indian, Belbin/Agosto aren't Moldavian), and then I finally decided that it's because, even though not intended, the dance came off as if they were making fun of the Aboriginals. It was as if they were portraying them as caricatures; it was ghastly. And I'm appalled that they beat not only Faiella/Scali, but also Belbin/Agosto

[mosca]

Belbin & Agosto and Davis & White based their ODs on specific dances from specific cultural traditions. Davis & White worked with a dance instructor specializing in Bollywood and Indian folk dance. Davis studies anthropology at Michigan and has talked about getting excited about doing research for their programs in general and this one in particular

[arabian]

Oh, when it comes to figure skating, I'm all about my favorites, not nationalism. I don't know if Virtue/Moir would normally get me so going, but I loved the routine itself. And I think that was why I preferred them to W&D, because while the W&D program is fantastic, I like the fiery passion of V&M so very much.

As for Tanith and Belbin, they did seem a little nervous. I don't know if it's the Olympics themselves so much, as more that for the first two years after Torino it was pretty much a given that they were coming to Vancouver to get their gold. And then came the injuries, and W&D beating them, and this is their last Olympics and it's just all of that is getting to them. I hope they can just put it out of their heads and deliver an amazing routine.

[norabombay]

I haven't been following this, but I saw a very unfortunate video of Pleshenko on russian tv, doing a horrid version of Oops I Did It Again- in a weird baby costume.

In short: If you mess with Britney, you lose me forever :)

[mosca]

I know exactly which video you're talking about, and I apologize on behalf of the entire international figure skating community.

[norabombay]

The figure skaters are fine- actually, he did an ok version of the dance on skates.

But you mess with Britney....

It made me realize that no matter what I think, I'm apparently a hardcore Stan.

[txvoodoo]

Oh, girl, I saw that too and, even though I'm not prone to it, I got HUGE second-hand embarrassment syndrome! Horrid.

[txvoodoo]

I seriously couldn't believe Domnina & Shabalin thought that was a toned down version!

And what's as bad as the horrid racism is - it's VERY. VERY. UGLY. It looks like they walked through a Michael's Craft store covered in glue, and shit flew off the racks and stuck to them.

I adored Faiella & Scali, for several reasons - the music they used is real, authentic stuff (with Arabic influences), the tarantella was my Sicilian grandmother's favorite, and they were wonderful!

I really enjoyed Meryl & Charlie's performance!

I've been sooo out of following skating since around 2007, when I plunged into politics. I am very much goin to keep following again from hereon out!

[mosca]

IIRC, all of the top five teams other than DomShabs used authentic music for their dances. F&S, as much as the others, have talked about working with specialists in Southern Italian dance. And it's a part of the country that neither of them are from.

Also, damn. I have seriously never seen them that good.

The year after an Olympics is always an interesting time - lots of older skaters retire, and the new stars begin to emerge. Not as world-changing as politics, though!

[txvoodoo]

I could tell that F&S used authentic music and references! Geek moment - my cousin (next generation down from me - I'm 2nd gen US, he's 3rd!) has spent months every summer for the past 5 years researching and learning how to play Italian bagpipes. He's making a documentary about them (preview on facebook), and I could hear the same kinds of themes running through F&S's performance. It made me very happy!

I know what you mean about interesting - it'll be fun to see who starts to emerge, who doesn't fulfill potential, etc.

Oh, very much not as world changing, but JUST as necessary for our souls :D

[fleegull]

I can sort of see how coming from a country like Russia (and training in PA would still keep them relatively isolated) D&S might not see how their OD would come off as offensive, however once it hit the international stage and they heard the outcry, they should have known better than to keep it.

How Sasha Cohen could come to Plushenko's defense after being held up on her artistic marks for most of her skating career, is beyond me.

[jacquez]

PA isn't exactly a backwater, though, and their coaches have been in the US quite a while & THEY damn sure should've known better and said something before the dance even made it out to the international stage. (I mean, didn't they coach at the University of Delaware? ALSO not a backwater!)

[fleegull]

There is a long history of blackface in Russian ballet companies I saw the Bolshoi in 2005 and it was still there), I know it's hard for Westerners to excuse but I'm sure that D&S have seen it performed regularly. Hard to grasp in this day and age but it's a part of the Russian culture that I wish would go away but clearly hasn't.

[jacquez]

:/