Almost There

I got a check from school today. I'm still missing $1,400 but I hope to clear that up next week. And I was browsing the New York Times classifieds this morning to try and ward off some insomnia and found some editing jobs that I'm qualified for.

So in the stress I anticipate feeling during the next year about my financial future, I know I can always turn there.

So I read some more of Uncle Tom. And I watched a little too much television.   I rented Bringing Down the House, too. I tried to take a nap and all I could think of was the camp aesthetic, something commonly associated with homosexuality, and whether it can be applied to other sub-categories of identity, such as race.

And I thought of this Queen Latifah/Steve Martin vehicle, which appears to look negatively upon blacks. As I was trying to sleep, I pondered a thesis wherein I compare the use of camp in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and the movie I rented today. I would be able to address both race and gender. In both films, stereotypical behavior of gays/transsexuals and blacks, respectively, are presented to other, more identity-stable characters who are forced to contend with the differences in their lives. So I don't know.

Before I watched the film today, I thought about the scene where Latifah kicks Steve Martin's character in the crotch and then knocks him out. Also, Eugene Levy's character lusts after her -- the hyper-sexualized black woman. So I considered the fact that a lot of stereotypes applied to blacks seemed to be rolled into this one character; it was as if she was a minstrel character. I think I could compare this film to another film from the early 20th century where blacks are presented in such a light for my pop culture paper. And then roll what I came up with into my thesis somehow. I have to talk to the profs about it. I'll think more on it and spin it for them in a week or so. Needless to say, I never did nap. I should sleep well tonight, although alone. By the way, I laughed my ass off at parts. I want to see it again. Also this morning during my sleeplessness, I perused the American Studies Ph.D. program at NYU. It's a great program. Will I apply? Don't ask. I feel as though I'm at the top of a long drop on a roller coaster and I'll reach the bottom in May. Caught up in this feeling is my uncertainty about applying to doctorate programs. So I'll just choose not to think about it quite yet. I'm off to do some more reading. Cornelia is going out so I'll have the place to myself for a bit. R.I.P. John Ritter. Shocking.