DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Professor Gabriel Peeples, who discusses his work on 'The Forgotten Kelly Dodson: Viral Performance and the Interplay of Excess and Erasure.' Peeples explains the concept of 'black virality,' which examines how representations of Black people are marked before going viral and the ways Black performances spread rapidly online. He analyzes the marginalization of Kelly Dodson in the viral 'Bed Intruder' news clip and subsequent remixes, highlighting how it reflects misogynoir and dismissal of Black women.
Peeples explores the editing choices by the news station that centered Antoine Dodson's perspective over Kelly's, the victim of the attempted rape. He examines how this perpetuated harmful stereotypes about Black women as inviolable subjects and Black men as comic relief. The interview also discusses Antoine Dodson's agency in leveraging the viral moment for personal gain while grappling with the appropriation of Black culture.
The conversation touches on the viral afterlife of the 'Bed Intruder' story, including its influence on popular culture like the theme song for 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.' Peeples emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context and prejudices surrounding Black viral moments to grasp their full significance and impact.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The concept of 'black virality' examines how representations of Black people are marked and stigmatized before going viral, and the unique ways Black performances rapidly spread online.
- The 'Bed Intruder' news story reflected ingrained prejudices and biases against Black women as inviolable subjects who cannot be raped, and stereotyping of Black men as comic relief.
- Kelly Dodson, the victim of the attempted rape, was marginalized and erased from the viral story in favor of centering her brother Antoine Dodson's perspective.
- Antoine Dodson demonstrated agency in leveraging the viral moment for personal gain, but also grappled with the appropriation and commodification of Black culture.
- Kelly Dodson's choice to remain out of the spotlight after the incident can be viewed as an act of Black feminism, resisting exploitation and the perils of being made a public spectacle.
- Examining the historical context and legacy of biases surrounding viral Black cultural moments is crucial to understanding their full significance and impact.
- The viral afterlife of the 'Bed Intruder' story, including its influence on popular culture like 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,' demonstrates its enduring resonance.
- News media editing choices and framing play a pivotal role in shaping narratives and whose perspectives are centered or marginalized in viral stories.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “ANd even by the time we get to that Reddit MEme, you don't even see her, right?“ by Gabriel Peeples
- “I mean, for me, I find it intriguing that just as far as everything you've come across as well, to a large extent, Kelly Dodson tries to remain out of the spotlight just because that's what I was picking up on myself, right. And I was, you know, I just wanted to emphasize that this, too, is feminism, is black feminism, right?“ by Gabriel Peeples
- “The recognition of the power of the camera, if you will, but also the recognition of everything that's happening outside of it and the strength of that and perhaps remaining outside of the camera in order to avoid some of the pitfalls of being made spectacular, of which there's so many examples of.“ by Gabriel Peeples
Entities
Company
Book
Person
Service
Show
Episode Information
Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)
Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
5/14/24
This week, it's Kelly and Antoine Dodson's sixteenth minute — Jamie interviews Professor Gabriel Peoples, author of 'The Forgotten Kelly Dodson: Viral Performance and the Interplay of Excess and Erasure' about what happens when someone is erased from their own story.
https://gender.indiana.edu/about/faculty/peoples-gabriel.html
Read "The Forgotten Kelly Dodson": The Forgotten Kelly Dodson
Follow Antoine Dodson here: https://www.tiktok.com/@antoinedodson34
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.