å Sunday, October 15th, 2017

In the essay of Bell Hooks “Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance” she mentions the term the Other. Personally, I fell that the Other is people that are from other races and how white people are intrigued by them, even in a sexual aspect. The Other would be people of  African,  native american, Asian decent, basically anyone outside of the white race. Otherness can be seen as productive due to the fact that it can add spice to the white culture. With this being said Otherness in a sense can change the status quo, which disturbs the equilibrium of the norm. Hooks mentions how when she was teaching in Yale she over heard how the white boys wanted to fuck the Other. To the white boys the Other would give them an opportunity to enter the world of experience. You would think that by the white boys wanting to fuck the Others would be a sense of them dominating the Other since that is how it worked back in the day, but the boys did not even see it in that way which is a sense of some form of Otherness being productive. Otherness lets the people to explore a world of difference which make a more intense pleasure since they are discovering something new and out of the ordinary. Hooks also mentions how Otherness lures a combination of  pleasure and danger, which could mean that it creates excitement to relationships. It leads to a society becoming more common with diversity. The cultural appropriation  of the Other helps ease the feeling of oppression that the Others faced. The relationship of whites  being sexually intrigued of the Other does not seem like a bad thing in this reading. The concept of Otherness can help break through the challenge of white supremacy and finally bring some sense of unity.

In her essay, “Eating the Other,” Bell Hooks examines the relationship between the whites and the Others. In this case, the Others are referred to as non-whites who differ from the whites in terms of race, ethnicity and skin color. Hooks first introduces the notion that the whites are seeking the Others to experience pleasure. Racial difference is looked upon in a positive light, because the whites are fantasizing that the Others are special in their own way and that the lives of Others are more lively, more exotic, and more exciting. The act of forming a relationship with the Others is seen as provocative, because there is the thrill of going outside the norm and doing something that is different. Hooks further argues that publicly desiring intimate contact with the Others is breaking the status quo in that it goes against white supremacy. However, one can also argue that at least a certain degree of white supremacy still exists. When college boys said that they want to sleep with as many racial girls as possible, their desire for pleasure is somewhat temporary in that they aren’t seeking for a long-term serious relationship. They are curious to step into this field of unique and different experience, yet are making light of it by treating their relationship with these women as something to exploit rather than treasure. Hooks also believes that these whites are like consumers who are looking to buy pleasure. Not much different from the system of slavery, the Others are still considered as products that can be manipulated into the dominance of whites. Just as black people were desired for productivity in labor, racial groups are being desired in anticipation of the pleasure that they can give. Furthermore, relationship with the Others is productive because there is an aspect of gaining power and conquering death. This occurs because racial groups are subject to pain and suffering due to a racist society. Therefore, incorporating blackness into a white person’s life, whether it be sleeping with black people or eating black food, is regarded as having embraced and overcome the feeling of death and despair they never had to experience. In such ways, white people seeks to gain pleasure and be empowered through their relationship with the Others.

Bell hooks opens with the conquering and colorization of African women by European men. During slavery, African women became submissive to the patriarchal culture where they endure abuse such as rape by white men. Rape was a means of punishment that these black women endured. White men didn’t categorize black women as wife material but only as the “other mistress”. To protect their social image or conduct social order, relationships with black women were kept in the dark; it was seen as taboo or disdainful to the dominant culture. Hooks describes, that young white boys’ interest to “the other” (different ethnic group), is to explore their sexual fantasies. This bold discussion of ethnic female bodies is repulsive to early white supremacist culture.White males believe that having sexual relationships with ethnic girls compared to white girls will bewilder them. They believed that black girls inherited sexual promiscuity from their fore parent so therefore, they could enjoy this sexual roller coaster. Nevertheless, White boys considered black girls and Native American girls as “the other” because they were subjugated as different from white girls. In addition, White boys didn’t seek an intimate relationship with those who were considered “the other” (Asian blacks, Native American), but only sought these types of females to explore their sexuality. Furthermore, after their encounters with “the other”, they typically returned to have relationships with white females.

“The other” role for white boys was to bring pleasure and dominance. Hooks characterizes the relationship with the “otherness” to be productive due to the fact that it was something that was always occurring among white men. When Bell Hooks mentioned, “eating the other”, she meant that white racism, imperialism, and sexist domination prevailed by courageous consumption. It is by “eating the other”, that one (white males in this case) was able to assert power and privilege. Taking into account racial hegemony, Bell stated that spices were flavoring and flourishing into the American mainstream. White males often relate to other ethnicities, like tossing spices to entice their appetite. Spices were used in the context to explain the fact that diversity added heat, it added, “flavor”, it is a commodity which was desired in certain quantities that didn’t threaten or undermine white dominance in any way.

Early white men use slave’s bodies to satisfy their sexual urge; because they were looked at as property, they believe they were entitled to slaves bodies anytime. Similarly, young boys use the bodies of the black girls to prove masculinity. Hooks wants to use a comparative historical method to show that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

The other as described in bell hooks’ essay would be racial minorities who have cultures that differ from western norms. White people are seen as the default, or the standard and because of this some of them feel the need to rebel against this by taking on another cultures identity. In an attempt to add excitement to their lives, prove progression, or go against expectations, white people can sometimes submerge themselves in another race’s way of life which is their relationship to the “other”. hooks characterizes this relationship as productive because there was a time period where the other was completely shunned and any relationship to the other lacked consent. Not to say that this isn’t an issue today, but we have moved forward in racial relations even to the point where people would actually want to have a consensual relationship with someone from a different cultural background for various reasons. The desire to claim an identity makes the other seem appealing instead of appalling which is a step forward. Some white people have a desire to be changed in someway by obtaining the other. Either becoming more sexually advanced since people of color are stereotyped to be more experienced, or becoming more culturally aware because people of color are seen as being more worldly. Publicly expressing an interest in a person of color is a radical action in comparison to what is the norm for white supremacist. It helps to push away from the stigma of interracial relationships that are both platonic and romantic. Though the relationship to the other is somewhat productive it is also very flawed. From the very idea that there even is a default and an other, and the assumptions made about people, to people having a motive behind an interracial relationship rather than just liking an individual.

Bell Hook’s, in her writing piece “Eating the Other,” describes the relationships between different races. The interactions between different races is interesting and sometimes may be disturbing. For instance, if we go back in past, white people used and abused people of different races. Now, in a present Hook’s says that young people want to transcend the old ways and be open to new ways. However, it is not always that simple. If we look at the example she gave us about white guys who want to have interactions with females from different races, in a way it is still the intervention into their lives. Regarding to the “others” concept, I believe Bell Hook meant people of different races, cultures and genders.

She often uses the world “others” in her text, it might be an approach to show how different people are. Her relationship to it, I believe, is very strong because she tries to educate people on what is right and what is wrong. If everybody would go with a right route, then we would have probably lived in a more respectful society because everybody would understand the value of an individualism. In addition, “other” might also mean an individual because we are all different with our own beliefs and principals. Plus, people usually do not like when someone tries to change our beliefs our influence us somehow. In the example mentioned before, white guys want to influence girls of different races because for them it is some soft of a challenge to become someone new. Although, it is not always a good thing to do because it is very disrespectful to others.

Thus, I believe Hook’s meaning of the “others” is simple. “Others” are people who are just different and being different is normal. Hopefully in the future, people would not pay a lot of attention to where you came from and who you are and instead they would focus on your individuality.

The “Other”, as describe by Hooks, are all people that are not White. The “Other” is so different than Whites that they take on a mystical quality that Whites want to secretly come in contact with.   Examples of “Others” mentioned by Hooks are Blacks, Native Americans, and Asians.

White males want to come in contact but not because they see them as equal but because the “Others” offer pleasure that they cannot receive in their world. Moreover, conquering “Others” also served as a rite of passage. Hooks describe this in the passage where she overheard white college males. They felt that coming into contact with the “Other” would transform them.

Hooks characterizes the relationship to “Otherness” as productive because it is used as a commodity. Hooks describes how stereotypes are used in advertising when Whites encounters “ Others”. There is a fantasy image to encounter “others” in plays, movies, music, and fashion advertisement. Each commercialized venue tends to connect this encounter with “others” with an encounter with the “primitive”. According to Hooks, the intention is not to show domination as in the past, but highlight a desire to be connected.

One example of the relationship of “Otherness” as described by Hooks is in the movie “The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover”. Here one White man dominates black males. The connection with “others’ serves as a metaphor for pleasure and death. Here by eating black food supposedly one achieves power and privileges in the imagination of whites.

Another commodity of “otherness’ is seen through the advertisement ads of “Tweeds” magazine. Here the models are photographed in Egypt. Egypt and its people are not highlighted. According to Hooks, what is highlighted is the ability for Whites to travel around the world with the desire to come in contact with “others”. Furthermore, this connection shows that Whites have freedom, unlike “others”.

By using this desire to connect with “others”, Hooks implies that Black Nationalism becomes powerless. Racial stereotypes used in commodities further serve as a disadvantage and not a helpful method to providing unity between people from different racial groups.

While reading the first page of bell hooks’s essay, my eyes crossed and my brain froze. I had no idea what she was trying to say and I realized that I need to work on my vocabulary. And to be honest, I had to read over the first few pages of the essay before I could kind of understand what she was trying to convey. My first thought was that the Other she speaks of, was about sex and only sex. Then I started to understand her message more clearly, well at least my interpretation was that the “Other”, is a generalized word to describe people of color. Hook believes that there is a sensualization attached to people of color because their skin color and culture are different than white people. This difference of the Other is what white people find attractive and crave to explore. The media uses the Other by reinforcing this message through commercial ads and movies. bell used the movie, HAIRSPRAY, as an example of how segregation made white people more curious about black people and their culture. They desired what was against the social norm as a way to assert their own whiteness and cross personal boundaries (hook,378). There are some white people that view the Other as a sexual notch on their belt that needs to be conquered, to which hook believes is a way that white supremacy can grow. Hook also has the ideology that this Otherness should be used in a productive way to give black youth a voice, rather than continually be exploited for product placement and ticket sales. She argues that the ongoing desire of the Other will keep white people wanting more until the entire black culture is consumed and in danger of being eradicated unless the exploitations is closely watched and questioned.

Alfie Corteza

Professor Bullock

Assignment #6

In Bell Hook’s chapter “Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance,” the other is the non-white people, such as Asians, African-Americans, Hispanics, and people of color. In addition to that, when she mentions “Eating the Other” is a way of absorbing the culture, and values of other people of color. A large example used within Hook’s work would be related to sex. Such as the white jocks whose goals were to “fuck” as many girls from other ethnicities other than white. Another example would be the example of the film “Heart Condition” a white mans receives a heart from a black man named Stone, and shortly afterward Mooney finds a replica of a black penis between his legs, and that his personality is now sensitive and loving. All after he ate the other, by having his heart transplanted into him. By Mooney having the transplant into him, it is a literal transplant from the black male who was more seductive, and enlightened and as a result, he was able to acquire the girl that the black man was able to seduce.

Hook’s characterizes relationship to otherness as productive as it explains that there are white people who also acknowledge the struggles that black people go through. Bell includes two white rappers MC Search, and Prime Minister Pete NIce who want to bring a positive message to the black people of understanding, and that humanity as a whole has to get past the hatred. Another way that otherness is productivity is the way Sandra Berhnardt reveals the issues of white appropriation of black culture, and how there is no acknowledgment of whom they got it from, and not giving credit where it is due. By having otherness and addressing the issues of one race being dominant over a specific area, and overcoming it by solidarity or by bringing up the appropriation there can be an improvement of each society to be respected.