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Those who know me know how dearly I hold disco/funk/house music mostly because it is, at it's core, a fundamental expression of blackness.
These genres began on the underground scene which was at the time, among the only spaces that accepted black and gay people with open arms
These genres began on the underground scene which was at the time, among the only spaces that accepted black and gay people with open arms
The best podcast I've discovered in recent weeks is @yourewrongabout which debunks commonly held views and brings incredible levels of research to topics familiar to many of us.
I was excited to see the episode last week focused on the infamous "Disco Demolition Night" of 1979
I was excited to see the episode last week focused on the infamous "Disco Demolition Night" of 1979
It focuses on the insidious racism and homophobia that resulted in that night and how external forces drove the collapse of disco more broadly.
(Hint - homopohobic white gents drove this, jealous of the attention and fame black and gay people were getting from this music.)
(Hint - homopohobic white gents drove this, jealous of the attention and fame black and gay people were getting from this music.)
By the way - it is precisely within this context that John Travolta and "Saturday Night Fever" was born.
A movie that somehow managed to portray disco as lead by a white and, crucially, straight man!!?
A movie that somehow managed to portray disco as lead by a white and, crucially, straight man!!?
I am prone to hyperbole, but as far as podcasts go, this is a really really important episode to listen to.
It's a great starting point, within the disco context but not limited to it, for understanding toxic masculinity and other tribulations of our current moment
It's a great starting point, within the disco context but not limited to it, for understanding toxic masculinity and other tribulations of our current moment
Lastly - I do recommend the podcast more broadly. I disagree with them a on lot (ironic I know) but it feels like an hour a week chilling with my mates chatting nonsense about the issues of the day (or why the panic about Y2K happened.)
Link to the podcast episode (on apple) https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/youre-wrong-about/id1380008439?i=1000487011024
