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Village Voice cover causes controversy

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Village Voice cover causes controversy
Via: Brooklyn Vegan
Just when it seemed the whole "blipster" scandal was behind us and we could try and renew our collective focus on the quality of music rather than the ethnicity of the people who make it, the cover of the Pazz & Jop issue of the Village Voice is stirring up controversy. Martin Perna of TV on the Radio and Antibalas wrote a scathing letter to the Voice, calling the cover "racist, unfunny, mean-spirited and inaccurate."
Let's address the latter three accusations first because, well, they're easier. I can't begin to pretend that I know what the intentions of the artist, David O'Keefe, or the Voice staff were. However, I assume, besides the obvious fact that Dylan beat out TVOTR in the poll, it's meant to poke fun at the "old guard" one-upping the "hot new band." Is this funny? To my taste, no. Maybe that's just me, though.
I think we can all agree though, that the letter is unnecessarily mean-spirited and, I suppose, inaccurate as well. As Perna states in the letter:
"Why such a nasty way to portray two fantastic musical entities who made award-winning records last year? Why only portray Kyp, when TV on the Radio is composed of four other equally talented core members plus a small army of extended family (including myself) who have contributed to the indescribably ecstatic sound of TVOTR onstage and on record."
I can't help but agree with this sentiment. The cover, complete with "Blood on the Tracks!" caption, seems unnecessarily combative. It also needlessly singles out Kyp Malone who, whether more recognizable or not, is hardly the only member of the group. Is the cover racist though? Here, I'm less convinced. On the one hand, I can certainly see how it can be interpreted as offensive, and for no other reason than that, it should have been reconsidered. While I find the comparison a bit stretched, there's some underlying truth to the uncomfortable similarity of the caricature to the cases of James Byrd and Arthur "J.R." Warren that Perna mentions.
Where Perna loses me, however, is in his assertion that this is in any way comparable to "ghetto parties" taking place on college campuses, or that the cover somehow sends the following message: "Make something too unique, make something outside of your assigned place-role, and get run over by a white man." I sincerely doubt that, consciously or otherwise, the intent of the parties involved was to send a message to TVOTR to "stay in their place," as it were. I agree that where there's smoke, there's fire, but Perna seems to be lighting the match himself on this one.
Of course, in the end, whether or not a Canadian, caucasian male from the suburbs finds the picture to be racist isn't really the point. What matters is whether or not the members of TVOTR--and black people in general, really--do. Ultimately, they have every right to be offended by the cover, based on how they feel it speaks to their portrayal in society. If that makes the cover racist to someone, then they certainly aren't "wrong" in thinking so.
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Village Voice

Nice post, Justin.

Chris Sahl

It's racist.

Dave Park

Bob Dylan is to the Village Voice what Clint Eastwood is to the Oscars. If he's in the race, you're getting run over.

BTW

not racist at all. i think it's a funny and well-drawn image.

ACB

i don't see what race has to do with this. if dylan beat out newsom for the top spot and he were depicted on the cover running over her, would it be misogynist? what if he beat out xiu xiu? homophobic? what if he beat out the Decemberists and Colin Meloy were being run over? what then? if you're looking for racism, it can be construed that way, but it isn't inherently racist.

overly sensitive

i recall the village voice's originally review of modern times could've been paraphrased as "this guy's too old to put out an album, he should sing about death, not alicia keyes."so, i disagree with the notion that the voice is always in support of dylan. the voice does, however, seem to radiate condescension via whatever means possible. in this case, i think there's more than a suggestion of racism and i sense their real comment is that even the best new music is getting trounced by established acts.if i subscribed to that idea, i wouldn't be spending much time on a website like a prefix.

Eric Fitzgerald

I don't see it. If the poll didn't include a band that had any members who were black, we might assume the image would have Dylan doing the same thing.Why does this immediately have to do with race?I'm black... and I don't see it.

oni1111

sounds like perna was mad he wasn't the one in the illustration. ("i'm in the band, too!!!) i would bet that malone was chosen because he is undoubtedly the most recognizable face in that band, not because of his race. i know a lot of people who thought he was the front manand dylan is established, but he is very much relevant. i don't see the 'old vs. new' thing either.

George Kaplan

Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll2006 Winner Bob Dylan "Modern Times"2001 Winner Bob Dylan "Love & Theft"1999 #3 Bob Dylan "Live 1966"Obviously that poll is not limited strictly to Village Voice staffers but to say they don't show this guy an enormous amount of love would be false. I mean a live re-isse from 1966 was the 3rd best album that year? I find that hard to believe.

BTW

I don't know the artist's intentions, but the image can definitely be seen as racist. Like Perna states for some it recalls images of James Byrd.

Dave Park

byrd was dragged by a truck, not run over by a rascal. perna is reaching yo.

ACB

and if malone is byrd, does that make Dylan one of the three white guys that did the dragging? stretch.

Bobby D.

yes stretch, not racist, no controversy

McG

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