An interview with the founder and editor of TAGG magazine

  I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with Ebone F. Bell. In case you were not aware, this trailblazer is the managing editor and founder of DC’s TAGG magazine. TAGG magazine is the connection to the dc metro lesbian community. TAGG could be described as a local lesbian’s go to magazine to find out what’s hot this week or to just get a feel for the area’s current lesbian lifestyle. TAGG magazine may contain previews on pride or a calendar of events, articles regarding quick getaways or even home improvements. At the back of every issue there is a calendar of events of the go to happy hours, karaoke, or live music venues coming up in that month.  TAGG is celebrating the first year anniversary and celebrating over 30,000 monthly on-line visitors and growing fast. Ms. Bell or Ebone sat and recapped her story with me of what it took to get her to this place at the head of this magazine.

   Ebone was the editor of Sherwood High school’s newspaper while attending in Montgomery County, Md. She got her degree from the University of Maryland in College Park majoring in Advertising and Marketing in 2003. She has been a Web Producer for AARP where she had a major impact in promoting more LGBTQ links on the site that had not previously been there. She also spent much time working as an advertising manager at “The Chronicle of Higher Education”.  Both positions have only helped her to be better prepared and versatile in her current endeavors.

  TAGG magazine is the birth child of Ebone Bell and one of her good friends. Having faith in D.C’s sometimes unstable and unpredictable lesbian community she continued on with the magazine as part owner and managing editor. Since then the magazine has grown from 12 pages to 40+ pages and a fully functioning website. The magazine became official in January of 2012 with the first release of the magazine launching later that year in September.

  When asked where she got the idea for the name of the magazine she replied “There wasn’t a specific thought behind it, it doesn’t stand for anything.  Tag referring to linking and connecting women to other women and adding the G because it made it cooler.” The purpose of the magazine has been “to create a publication that speaks to all types of lesbians.” A goal she tries to maintain with every issue always attempting to include as many different articles and issues in order to reach such an eclectic reader base.  I discovered during my interview exactly how much work and input is considered when creating each new issue. Ebone holds monthly if not bi-monthly meetings with her writers, photographers, as well as web site editors in regards to content calendars for print, online, and social media. “TAGG” is very open to input from the public and takes e-mails and ideas into consideration. Ebone listens to her writers and tries to incorporate as many diverse ideas into her magazine.

  Ebone credits her past in the lesbian night scene as a helpful factor that helps her to understand the community to which she brings a service. Having been a Drag King by the name of E. Clef she gained much experience and exposure within the community. Finding herself in such positions she in essence has been able to take the temperature of the LGBT night scenes and find and fill a much needed niche. She made a name for herself with her event planning and promotions company B.O.I productions and had even been found at one time to hold a marketing chair for capital pride as well as a main driving force for capital queer prom.

When asked where she would to see TAGG magazine in the next five years her response was hopeful. She hopes that more women step up and support each other and the publication. She is optimistic about the growth of the magazine as it is now in D.C, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware with interest being expressed in the magazine across the country in five years national publication making TAGG magazine a nationwide LGBT household name.

 

Popular Culture In review

 This semester I learned about popular culture. American popular culture has evolved into a monster of fleeting fads, one-hit wonders, celebrity politicians, sex and violence driven, money hungry, influences spreading across the world like a virus. People are creating their identities through that which they absorb from popular culture. Popular culture doesn;t always leave the best influence in it's wake of viewers. Young minds are impressionable and there does lie a certain responsibility on the media industry to the kids.

 Popular Culture is not the same in America as it is in other countries. Other countries have there own fads and trends that come and go. America's culture seems to be more prevalent in it's expansion and influence around the world.  I learned that people of African descent in other cultures are unlike African Americans. African American history in America having been steeped in slavery and racism. The treatment and and steretype of African American women in America is something particular to American culture. 

 Celebrities are the current icons of popular culture. Their political views are deemed important, their presence can make or break a meeting, seminar, concert, wedding, convention, fund-raiser or even charity event. A certain celebrity addiction has arisen over the years. The news and media are focusing entire segments on celebrity lifestyle, who's dieting, who's breaking up, who's making  up, the good the bad the ugly the media serves to feed this ever growing addiction. Celebrity views have become more important than that of potential political leaders. The youth is more concerned with what a celebrity is wearing rather than whether an important bill gets passed or even if their basic human rights are at stake. 

 

 I learned that many director's are backed by money hungry politicians. That many of the powers that be in Hollywood control more than what most viewers could ever imagine. That    studios, producers and directors press their views and values upon the people throught their work without thought to subjectivity or the inflluence they may  have on the american people. It is harder for independant influences to bring their art to the mainstream, especially if it does not agree with the precedent set in popular culture or if it brings the people's attention to the flaws of the industry or encourages people to think freely or subjectively. Rebellion isn't rebellion anymore; it is a look a fad true rebellion is smothered in the industry  before getting a chance to even make a spark. 

 Other countries tend to look down on America and it's growing trends. Americans are thought to be lazy, fat, greedy, self-absorbed, eccentric, self-centered and down right dumb. Americans are known for that lack of awareness of the world around them, for using up the worlds' natural resources with no regard for others.  Unfortunately facts back up this argument. In terms of popular culture the irony is seen because the same countries that may degrader American lifestyle or economy are often the same ones to mimic American popular music and fashion. Young Americans are not completely unaware of the negative influence imposed on them and that they impose on the world. America and American popular culture are in a certain transitional period, still under the control of these certain powers and influences but the youth is also fighting to find their own way popular culture aside. The lure and attraction of popular culture can be overwhelming at times, individuality should continued to be pursued in order to find one's own identity and maybe one day carve out a new more acceptable popular culture free of overwhelming superficial persuasions and full again of life, art and individuality.

How has Television changed public opinion about issues such as homosexuality?

Television has almost always been the foremost influence in changing public opinion. Since it's inception television has influenced viewers in what to wear, how to act, what is acceptable, what is popular, what is cool and hip for that generation. When "Sex and the city" debuted it became more acceptable for women to speak about sexuality. When "Mash" was at it's height it brought attention to soldiers and the war front that wasn't usually seen. When the Logo channel came out there was barely a ripple initially. Logo started to gain momentum putting homosexuality on the front lines. The sitcom Glee has gained so much popularity with it's unapologetic homosexual, musical content. It has been widely accepted by the masses. Glee has changed people's opinions of high school homosexuality once highly taboo is becoming the  norm. Prior to Glee mainstream shows did not usually depict a gay or lesbian as a main character, they were usually the minority and very rarely the main protagonist. The current running sitcom "The L word" and "The real L word" contain a majorly lesbian cast loosely based around each members' lives and resulting love lives and dramas. This show gained some popularity but did not take off the way "Glee" has. I believe this is due to the fact that this show airs on a premium channel and also reaches a smaller demographic in terms of viewers; women, lesbians, not quite those in power over media ad these networks so there advertisements haven't quite been as mainstream for "The L word" as opposed to "Glee". All of the aforementioned sitcoms have had their own influence on the masses all changing or at least  influencing the viewers opinions on it's subject matter. 

More, More, More, More is truly more in the entertainment industry

The competition is fierce and wide. The sky's the limit and completely unending. More and more new fresh faces are converging on the entertainment hot spots of the world. Entertainment spending  is up 15% from 2000-2008, employment has grown 20%, overall the entertainment industry has grown 66% from 1998 to 2010. The industry has reached so many levels in the media finding ways to connect with the consumer in more ways every year. Clothing lines, video games, film, theatre, independent industries, shoe brands, drinks, alcohol, chain restaurants, production studios the list goes on and on. Is this an over saturation of the market or a likelihood of a promising future? Some industry professionals feel that the rate of increase is stifled by freeloaders downloading pirated information from the Internet. When in actuality the Internet in itself and giving the consumer opportunity to search out the smaller details and feed their celebrity addiction in essence only fuels these smaller up and coming celebrities. In this day and age the competition is so massive it can be easy for a novice to get swallowed up in the big mean world of entertainment. With so many opportunities available it's easy to be optimistic about the future. Unfortunately with so much going on it is getting much more difficult to separate the garbage from the gold. More options than ever the choices are absolutely limitless in the great expanse of the industry a giant dog eat dog world has been created, kill or be killed, survival of the fittest, those with the wherewithal will come out on top those with low fortitude will fade to black as eventually the curtain will close as it has on so many before.


http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120129/17272817580/sky-is-rising-entertainment-industry-is-large-growing-not-shrinking.shtml

Movie Review "Beastly"

“Beastly” 2011

 A story told many times before makes its return to the big screen in an attempt at fresh modernization. Beastly written and directed by Daniel Barnz is a recreation of the story of Beauty and the Beast. Introduction; meet Kyle a rich, attractive and vain high school student. Meet Lindy an unnoticed cerebral student. Then to the twist that we all see coming; the curse brought to you by your local high school necromancer played by Mary Kate Olsen. Our poor beast who is neglected by his father is sent away to live with a loving maid and a blind tutor portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. He is forced to see the horrors of his ways and lose all of his friends. We all know the rest beast pursues beauty. Beauty teaches beast the meaning of love and true beauty and just in time for the movie to end the spell is broken by true love. There are certain points of irony in the movie and if it wasn’t for Neil Patrick Harris there would have been few humorous moments to keep the momentum of this film. In certain aspects the message is clear; in another way which I did enjoy was the underlying message of cherishing things less superficial maybe its deep enough to drive a few junior high school students to take a long hard look in the mirror. I would suggest this movie as a date flick to the guys that somehow get a movie date with a girl who might seem out of their league.

A sitcom Review "How I Met Your Mother"

How I met your mother Sitcom Review/Critique

  In this decade few sitcoms remain memorable, witty, charming and relatable. “How I met your mother” takes a classic plot line and reinvents it for the current generation. The show is based around 5 professionals living in New York often patronizing the same bar to discuss their lives, exchanging stories and giving each other advice. The title stemming coming from a running underlying story of Ted Mosby played by Theodore Evelyn is recapping his younger years with his friends to his son and daughter illustrating the build-up to meeting their mother. In Season 6 Episode 18 the plot had become relatively established Neil Patrick Harris plays Barney Stinson a womanizing slick talking sociopath who by this episode had met Nora and is caught in a battle between his old self and who he potentially wants to be. Barney brings to this episode a certain comedic relief as well as a few heartfelt moments. All the while Robin a female lead in the group; played by Cobie Smulders an actress relatively earlier in her career, is having issues of her own dealing with the woes of single life in New York finds herself dating a younger man who goes by the name of Scooby and has a lot canine like traits to the great enjoyment of the rest of the group. Scooby also presents the group with marijuana which Ted edits to say sandwiches as he recalls the story to his children. I thought this was humorous and relevant to our current day and age. The episode has its’ ups and downs and can be thought provoking as well, mindlessly entertaining and brutally honest at times a combination when written well makes for a great series.

An attempt to woo a beauty with poetry

So i wanted to try a different approach I hope you can appreciate it.

As time seems to pass the old no longer holds true/
so once in a while you've got to try something new/
I've never been good at first impressions I tend to find myself #2/ 
and will probably stick my foot in my mouth talking to you/
I've learned a few lessons, I've got a few scars/
and i don't want it to seem as if i'm trying too hard/
The reality being /
I dig what i'm seeing/
An independent soul with a mind worth reading/
No one else is really needed/
A unique beauty cannot be repeated/ 
Early on a slight admiration/
crosses my mind in consideration /
not sure if i cause a ripple of evocation/
or a breath of fascination/
maybe attempts in relative persuasion/
lost for words in conversation/
not even sure if you get the gist of what i'm saying/
Perhaps too demure at first /
unrehearsed and prepared for the worst/
I request a chance to schedule a day/
to show you a better side of me/
assuming i don't choke on my tongue/
i might just sweep you off of your feet/

written  by Jazmine Kiante

25 random things about me

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I have no idea what i want to be when i grow up STILL but i know i'll be good at it

2. I love chocolate ice cream i can't say no o don't think i have it in me.

3. I can cook my ass off.

4. I am sometimes afraid to try in fear of rejection.

5. Express is my favorite clothing store.

6. I collect coins

7. I've been through so much pain in my life i'm told it's easily seen in my eyes I remain positive though.

8. I don't think i could ever say no to raw smoked salmon.

9. I think i have abnormally big feet for a girl.

10. Any location next to water is paradise to me boat, pool, beach, bath lol

11. I believe in Karma and giving back.

12. I drink whiskey.

13. Too much fried food makes me sick.

14. I love to write songs, blogs, essays, poetry, even school work i find enjoyment

15. I am a qualified sharpshooter w a 8mm 12gauge m16 and m18.

16. I take sleep seriously

17. I take sex seriously

18. I take food seriously

19. Biggest turn-on a great smile

20. I love to learn I actually get passionate about learnig

21. I love kids as long as they're not mine i'm sure when i have them i love them too

22. I shake my head every day at the status of our generation.

23. I believe in the end we all want the same thing and we're all in this together 

24. I could spend hours talking to someone i care about

and 25 did i mention i love chocolate

"Perfect Imperfection"

Human qualities are not found in perfection the qualities are in the imperfections, the flaws the unique traits that make someone an individual and put them apart from a crowd. No one is perfect and searching for perfection is only going to lead to dissappointment if you can find someones flaws and imperfections as attractive as their best traits or at least understand the motivation behind their flaws and appreciate with an open mind then in your mind you've found your own form of perfection in a sense of perfect contentment it may not be permanent but more worth it than if you constantly attribute issues to imperfections. Someone can have the biggest flaw but have innumerable small qualities that make the differences daily or can have the sincerest emotion towards you with the greatest of intentions but that human imperfection causes so many to turn in disgust and its sad I see daily situations that could be de escalated with honest conversation and true appreciation but pride a human flaw is the biggest obstacle when humility should be at the forefront if your reading this take a breath before you pass judgement because afterwards you might be left at square 1 chasing impossible perfection when you had perfect imperfection and had no idea this is not relationship specific friends lovers family just think about it

Quick note of Poetry "Women Vs Girls"

Okay so i wanted to break down the difference for all the little girls.

Women will listen remember and remind. im talking dreams, work, school, money, important shit, not what u want from the store.

Women will let u know when u messing up not mess up wit u.

Women want to please u as bad as u want to please them.

Woman think about what could be on your mind before asking or telling you all about theirs.

A real woman will not let you do all the work maybe the hard shit but not all of it.

A woman doesnt need me she wants me a girl would be lost without me.

Women keep it real no time for games shes to busy on her g shit a girl plays games to find out how much u like her what ur about just bs.

A woman says i want this i got that, bring it or stay out the way.

A woman doesnt have time for girlish games. A woman is looking for the real thing a girl is looking for a quick fling.

Me im not looking for a dam thang but around me only women can hang

Enlightenment as Mass Deception

I read Theodore Adorno and Max Horheimer's 1944 The culture industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception. He starts out talking about cities and their high tech building, old outlying gloomy slums, but maintain small hygienic apartments all these things meant to keep people subservient to forms modern day capitalism. I can agree with this because from what i have seen especially in D.c with gentrification reaching it's highest points in years pushing some people out and bringing in a higher class of people shoving them into cramped quarters in the middle of metropolitan cities. Forcing those residents to maintain the status quot feeding the consumer based industry.

 Industries are no longer hiding their monopoly on businesses prior to that they had been masquerading as art forms. "Private broadcasters are being denied freedoms and deemed amateur" Reading that is disheartening on so many levels but it is the product of the beast which we have created. Any semblance of individualism, spontaneity, and creativity is immediately engulfed and absorbed by power houses of talent scouts, agencies, and corporations that make their money by exploiting the unique, quirky, awkward, rebellious, or otherwise different from the populous in any intriguing way. Even corporations in a sense are dependent on industry broadcasters depend on electrical companies, motion picture and films are dependent on the banks which fund them or loan them the necessary dividends to produce another cyclic form of so-called art.

  People have lost their face and their voice as consumers. Consumers are now statistics. Statistics are now numbers and colors on a chart based on income, demographic, location and disposable income. People have become colored chart on the walls of advertising and marketing agencies. These numbers speak nothing of the product or its quality or even it's impact, the question is who is buying and how much are they paying for it? All the while the consumers, the people are made to think they are in control by giving them a choice. The thought process being "I have a choice so I must be in control". When in actuality the choice presented will inevitably feed the consumer machine further spinning it round and round which is exactly what the producers want.

  The cyclic motion of the machine can be seen in all aspects of American culture. Movies are repetitive to a science. Most viewers know how the film will end fifteen minutes after it has began, who will die, who the hero and the heroin or love interest may be. Consumers are spoon fed the same story over and over again they are bombarded with the latest effects, sexual innuendos the newest hottest songs and riddled with today's hottest celebrities leaving no room for the viewer to use their imagination to think outside the box to think beyond what is given. What's worse is they do not want you to have an imagination in order to be successful in the entertainment industry one can only survive by fitting in, as Adorno wrote "freedom is for the stupid to starve"..."not to conform is to be rendered powerless". Basically saying you do it this way and succeed or you do it your way and starve your creativity and individuality is of no relevance in this industry.

   What i found to be the most ironic about this essay was at no point did the author deem the consumer indignant or ignorant. The people know it's a machine, the consumer sees straight through advertising agencies promises of enjoyment. The masses understand they are being groomed to work, to maintain the cyclic evolving of the beast that is the industry, yet no real solution was given. It can't be due to lack of intelligence I personally think it's more of a feeding of our own addiction to the very thing we as consumers can see straight through. Again advertising triumphs and we the people, the masses and the consumers feel compelled to buy, buy, buy feed the need even though we know in our hearts we have no need for it all.

Extra Credit Blog Gabriel Byrne At The Edge An Afro Futurist Salon

  I listened to the radio show. Initially i was quite sure of who Gabriel Byrne was upon looking up his imdb i discovered i've seen him multiple times in movies such as "the usual suspects", "the man in the iron mask", a personal favorite, "ghost ship" "Cool World" with Brad Pitt another favorite, and  "Enemy of the state". The talk seemed  more focused on "the usual suspects" and his current work on HBO.  His work in the 90's was spoken of in terms of his working in more independent films during that time period. His ability to change roles so drastically was spoken on. I feel that versatility makes for a great thesbian. The topic turned to the objectification of celebrities, alot of celebrities are objectified when glorified on screen sometimes those foreign born are objectified even further or to a greater extent i think because of the curiosity and infatuation of something foreign or unknown.  People cannot claim to love celebrities they are not known personally. Objectification of celebrities is a form of projecting what one perceives of what is put forth through media. An assumption comes about an image created in one's mind. It's in essence loving an idea it's not real. All in all it was an entertaining show between 3 female speakers obvious fans of Gabriel Byrne. It was a somewhat persuasive conversation if one wasn't aware of Gabriel Byrne before hearing the talk show one would surely have curiosity peak by the end and make a sincere effort in getting their hands on one of his films. Gabriel Byrne has been making movies for 30 years .  Including theatre film and television.

Sterotypical America.

She's  too black for you, you're not white enough for that job, he's probably a terrorist, I bet he doesn't even speak english, they're terrible drivers, they're too ghetto over there. With every phrase what picture or demographic comes to mind? Stereotypes are rampant disillusions that have been recycled  and reused again and again. America has reached a new height in terms of racial equality but the stereotypes still stand. Comedians use stereotypes as a go to for garaunteed laughs which is ironic in itself we can laugh at stereotypes because we all recognize and know them but that in itself shows that stereotypes aren't going anywhere. Bet (black entertainment television) an entire channel dedicated to one race but owned by white people. All the while producing blacksploited sitcoms with all black casts creating and maintaining a black stereotype in most cases derogatory or portraying black characters to be violent less intelligent or of lower incomes. Is this a proper representation of healthy black entertainment? Why is there a channel allowed to be race specific? Isn't that in itself a form of racism? Bet has a huge influence on today's youth kids get their music their fashion their lingo their swag from such channels and usually a good role model isn't represented properly. The media has a huge influence on the stereotypes in America rather encourage equality and acceptance. The media seems to push for one race or genre or gender more than another to whatever benefit it may be at that convenient time. Yet if you walk down the street and talk to people they are nothing like the people you see on tv. The media has trained our mind to judge each other based on what we have seen on tv. Youth presents themselves based on what they see on tv an image they want to project that has already been projected on them. Celebrities especially comedic celebrities are the largest perpetrators perpetuating these stereotypes. The wayans brothers continually play off of racial stereotypes. Rappers maintain the stereotype of a lifestyle most do not live all in the interest of selling their music. Stop the stereotype in the end we all want the same thing to be happy to be successful and to be loved.

My first perception of initial chapters in celebrity writing "Popular Culture"

This past 2 weeks I have spent countless hours reading several books. My favorite being "a short guide to writing about film" by timothy corrigan, 'american mashup" by micheal morales being my least favorite it seemed more drawn out and only seemed to reitorate things i felt obvious or already known i guess all in all it was giving solid definition and direction for the course. What role does the media play in shaping our fascination with celebrities? Last time i turned on Fox news there's a portion dedicated to lives of celebrities. This week they dedicated 2 whole minutes to talking about Ashton Kutcher's new role as Steve Jobs and how he was asked to lose weight so he went on a juice diet and ended up in the hospital from issues with his pancreas. This was followed by a question and answer portion with tmz and was then followed by weather sports and information regarding a fundraiser for cancer victims. Mixed right in with the morning news was tidbits about celebrities and their lives. "Fortunately Ashton will be okay, in other news hostilities in Egypt continue to increase". I don't know how i could have started my day without being made aware of Ashton's hospital visit.
 Do distinctions between journalism and entertainment still exist? I believe there is a line but it has become more of a gray area. There can be combinations of both often times seen. There can also be a specific focus on entertainment such as programs like tmz whereas cnn will choose to focus on the more serious news going on around the world. Fox, nbc, cbs will often combine the two mixing food recipes workout routines weather local news international news, politics in a sense attempting to satisfy every aspect of one's need to know. Vh1, E news now, talk soup, will on the other hand tend to focus more on entertainment music, tours, artists, breakups, makeups, drama, and any other tantalizing tidbit that might grasp their larger viewers attention focusing mainly on that which is most often seen on their stations or even asked of them by their sponsors.
  The borders between celebrity culture has changed the face of american politics nowadays a political candidate will usually garnish more support from voters if they an garnish support from celebrities. People tend to emulate their favorite celebrities so if they see someone they know and respect supporting a politician they know nothing about they can be stirred to look into that politicians campaign or cast their vote in favor of said politician even politics are becoming a popularity contest. This affects such fundamental political ideas as truth, justice, and freedom. Not in an instance to say these politicians are unjust or untruthful but in the fact that their message can get lost among the glitz and glamour of their own celebrity supporters.
 America does tend to see unbridled individualism as a virtue in a generation where most are searching for their own identity so many tend to look to their favorite celebrities for a direction. This is unfortunate but yes in some senses celebrities are leaders, there is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with being in the spotlight, with being emulated, followed, looked up to. People in these positions should learn and know and understand the impact they actually have.

 Any and all commodities do tend to be consumed if celebrity backed. The public is absolutely addicted to entertainment. Companies have got the american public feining for their next fix as if addicted to drugs. What will my next fad be? What's the next hottest album coming out? Who's breaking up? How is this particular celebrity wearing their hair this week? The public almost seems to need to be told what to wear where to buy it what to listen to. The american public is almost spoon fed what they should feel their american dream should be? Where are the American people taught or told to look within themselves? When will the american people be encouraged to soul search and make decisions within themselves. This is popular culture a growing epidemic with no signs of waning only growing momentum. This is in certain aspects what we have become.