http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/stopthepresses/106715/john-mayer-breaks-down-in-tears-after-public-apology/
DO NOT USE THE KEY TERM OF THIS CONTROVERSY IN YOUR POST. REFER TO THE TERM JOHN USED INAPROPPRIATELY AS ____. (4 UNDERSCORE LINES AND A PERIOD)
ANY OTHER REPRESENTATION OF THE TERM WILL BE DELETED BY ME OUT OF RESPECT.
I just read this update on the John Mayer controversy du jour and I think it totally relates to our audience analysis component in 301. I'd like to get your input on the situ, but I want us to stick to our agenda. So avoid emotional reactions and instead, step into your rhetorical critic lab coats, fellow scholars and check out the on-stage apology at the You Tube link above along with YahooNews's take on the incident, or review the TEXT of the interview (uh, that would be the words not the pictures).
So I'm not asking for your personal opinion of the artist or his choices here, what I'd like is your take on where he went wrong analyzing his audience. What are the assumptions he seems to keep making about his "audience" that prove to be inaccurate? (He's got a long rep with "off the record tweets" and too much sharing about previous relationships. Elle Decor Magazine has an atricle on line about his Manhatten Apartment, and despite his lack of discretion, I have to say he's got a sweet pad. Anyhoo, I digressed...)
Assuming he had decent intentions, give John some "compassionate" feedback here, like we do for each other: Give him feedback on one thing he's done well to analyze and respond to his audience during and/or since the interview and then point out one "opportunity" he needs to keep working on (ie: why did he think they'd percieve his use of the racial epitaph as acceptable? What did he mean, "trying to intellectualize the N-word?"
I cant beleive that he would use that word in an interview that would show up on a magazine. even if he was trying to explain something relating to that word he didnt actually have to use it. John tryed to justify it because he was trying to be clever (Which is a bunch of nonscence). He shouldn't be apoligizing to his audience neither, he should be apoligizing to the people that are affected by that word.
ReplyDelete-Alexander L. Ballesteros
John Meyer, John Meyer. We have all put our foot in our mouth, at one time or another. That's what John did. After he made the comments, he realized that his audience/fans are "black" people too. Not just "white" folks. As a matter of fact, he has fans from different ethnicities. Obviously, he said what he said because he thought his audience would be "okay" with it. Not realizing at the time that some of his fans, majority of his band and his background singers are "black". Hence the reason for his apology (in my opinion). By the way, there is NOTHING intellectual about using the "N" word. I feel people who use the word are ignorant-as they have no knowledge about the true definition of the word. I will try to keep my personal viewpoints to myself, though it is hard. Do I believe John Meyer is a racist? No. He has collaborated with some of the most talented black artist & directors out there. I don't believe John realized the "entire world" was his audience. Now he knows. I would recommend the same to anyone who puts themselves in a similar situation- simply, "think before you speak". As far as the comments about Jessica S.-it is not wise to air your personal business (it's tacky!) Some things are better kept...SECRET! (Pun absolutely intended!) Ü
ReplyDeleteKeona--Thanks for your perspective--It does sound "lofty" to talk about "intectualizing" the term doesn't it? There is this idea that a deplorable word can be somehow taken back or "re-infused" with power that was robbed from it whe it was used to hurt and control people. I respect a movement to start healing at the level of language (heal the word, start to more deeply heal the hurt and damage done by racism) but equally respect arguments made by OPrah and others that certain words now carry too much pain and should be put away, retired. I also have always felt I personally have no right to use the word in anyway beause I can't know the pain of having had it directed toward me. What did you think of JM's apology on You Tube?
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine what would drive any "intellictual" to use a word that was used to describe ignorance in a time when the actuall "ignorant" where the ones who wrongfully labled a group of people with such a hurtful and vile word.(it just sounds mean) In a word, it seems to me that Mayer was being well, ignorant himself. Use of a term without taking in to consideration the origin, meaning, emotion and releivance is unresposible. A word can have a really negative effect on audience and it is an unwise choice and obviously an example of how not to treat an audience. Mayer has been "speaking" to millions of people through his music and since he is unable to direct it to a specific audience he needed to be more selective with his verbage. (maybe he should have written an outline)I think being well spoken and creditable is far more attractive to an audience then lengthy apologies.
ReplyDelete-Andrea
I think he was trying to be "cool" and use it in the right context but he shoul've been smarter to know that anything you say will be typed written or repated by all forms of media. Not a great choice of words for him. Like every other celebrity he will make so stupid half hearted appology.-Mando
ReplyDeleteOh, John. My dear, dear John. I will say that I think your apologize WAS sincere and that you realize, like most of us do, that you tend to say just a bit too much when given the opportunity. It is important to remember that your audience is as diverse as our country is, and you can never "intelleuctalize" a word that carries more weight than you could ever imagine. That word will never be cool, especially uttered by a musician who has never known it's cruelty when used in it's usual context. In the future, just try to think before you speak and remember that our words are more powerful tools than we ever give them credit for. -- Kylen McCudden
ReplyDeleteThe word that everyone is upset at John Mayer for using has had deliberately negative connotations since its inception. This is common knowledge, and the majority of Americans see it as a taboo, a word that is representative of ideas and histories we are ashamed to speak of. However, I understand where he is coming from. As racial attitudes change (and they continually do), we, as a society, can be seen coming to two realizations.
ReplyDelete1. Racism and other such forms of oppression and ignorance have no place in a modern world.
2. Ideas like racism (as well as the slurs that come with them) only have power if we give it to them.
A large part of the generation that is John's target audience (teens to thirty-somethings) is embracing this change by displaying a dismissive and sometimes even humorous attitude towards beliefs like these. For this is the only real way to strip such entities of their hold over us. I believe it was Mr. Mayer's intention to convey this message and find no fault in his intention, though perhaps his delivery could have been a bit more delicate and considerate. As far as his apology, I see it as utterly weak. Apologizing to a group of fans who are ready and willing to accept just about anything you say is not an apology at all, especially when said apology is really just a public relations stunt to pacify a group of outraged people who are just looking for something to be mad at.
Well, you all have alot of thoughtful insight. Check out what folks are saying on-line and see how it stacks up. Good to be up on the issues that effect our world! I am proud of you for being articulate and raising standards everyone! sandra
ReplyDeleteI see how many people would get upset about him using the word, and he really shouldnt of use the word to begin with. With trying to be clever he forgot about his audiecne that is probabaly a large amount of blacks. Selfish thinking could of gotten him in a lot more trouble then it did. perhaps he should work more on his audiecne analyzing and think about what he says before he says it
ReplyDelete-Francisco Lopez :)
Theses days to some people wouldn't even consider what John Meyer said as being racist. Since majority of the people on this earth would consider as him being a racist for the words he said it was made a big deal. He should have just chosin his words more wisely since it was an interview. Why he apologized to the audience at a concert i'll never know. So Sad...
ReplyDelete~Anthony
I was reading everyone's comments and I agree with a lot of you. Joseph makes a really good point. While watching JM's apology, I realized that his audience were cheering him on. What better place to make an apology than his own concert where people paid to see him? I agree that he could have been more sincere. When I was reading the text, I pictured his delivery to have a more serious sound. I was surprised that he was still trying to be funny despite his failed attempt at being "witty" the first time around. I also think that there was really no way he could have justified the situation. Saying that he was trying to "intellectualize" the word made his apology worse. Who is he to even such a thing? Who is he to try and intellectualize a word that he knows neither the real meaning nor history to? His apology wouldve been better if he just made a straight-forward apology without giving any excuses. He also could've apologized to a bigger public than his own fans in his concert, because that's how the damage was done. As for one good thing he did, nice try but try harder John Mayer.
ReplyDelete-Clariza Macaspac
Alyx Fischer
ReplyDeleteI refuse to believe John Mayer thinks his audience is only caucasian. He assumed whoever read the interview wouldn't have a problem with it? Like the biggest racial slur in American history is fine to say since the black population has equal rights and we're past the Civil Rights movement? Sit down John Mayer. He knows what the word means and where it came from. What is the point in trying to "intellectualize" the most taboo word in America? There is none. It's a clever excuse to get away with saying it. Maybe if we could understand where he was coming from, we won't be so pissed off. Not clever enough.
People assume there aren't consequences to actions. That they can get away with anything. Much like the recent example of Tiger Woods - it was fine until he got caught. So John cries onstage to apologize. He knew what he said when he said it.
John Mayer has this complex where he thinks everything coming out his mouth is either going to be prolific or everyone wants to know his thoughts. I find that to be the tragedy of Twitter and blogging, both medias of which he abuses regularly.
Daniel Rivera
ReplyDeleteYeah I really feel sorry for him because he rationalized that in his head before hand.Also from the way he said it he thought of it as a really clever and funny thing, which it really wasn't. The apologoy was at a place where it would spread fast i think and infront of people who would immediatly accept it no matter how lame it was. If anything he misjudged his first audience but got his second one correct with the apology.
Victoria Venegas
ReplyDeleteDuring John Meyer’s interview, he failed to acknowledge who his audience was. John Meyer failed to recognize his audience which led him to the realization that his audience consisted of different ethnical backgrounds. Meyer justified his defense by stating that such a word could not be intellectualized and that trying to do so is impossible because of the emotional charge behind the word. Meyer’s attempt to apologize to the crowd was a successful approach. Meyer was able to successfully recognize what he should clarify to his audience and how to approach the apology. Like Meyer stated, his struggle to think before he speaks should be one of his main concerns while in any interview or public speaking event.
I watched the video clip of John apologizing to his audience during the concert and I must start out by saying kudos. I think that he was sincerly passionate about his apology because he was almost in tears. Sincerity is a key to any apology. However I don't think that he chose the correct setting for his apology he should have set up an interview or something just like every other messed up celebrity these days. Although I agree with Daniel who said that,"People at the concert would accept his apology no matter how lame it was." Overall I think it is good that he just reevaluted his actions and realized that what he said was wrong.
ReplyDeleteJohn Mayer, never have heard of him before this assignment, sorry! I am more fan of music from 70s,however, doing this assignment,I made some researched about him and listened to some of his songs. Whether or not John Mayer is a "superstar" guitar-player and singer, I can not say, but what he is a star of public scandals that is for a sure.
ReplyDeleteJohn Mayer, never have heard of him before this assignment, sorry! I am more fan of music from 70s, however, doing this assignment, I made some researched about him and listened to some of his songs. Whether or not John Mayer is a "superstar" guitar-player and singer, I cannot say, but what he is a star of public scandals that is for a sure (badmouthing his relationships with women, using N-word in his interview are just some of examples). And the reason for that might be Mayer’s attempt to increase the interest to his persona, and consequently, that might help to sell more of his CD’s, However, that is just my assumption, whatever is it that Mayer was trying to achieve, he did not expect so negative reaction on his unsuccessful “intellectualizing” of N-word. He totally went out of line and forgot about national audience and his fans; he forgot that he was not sitting with his band co-musicians, majority of who are African-Americans and who might tolerate his “intellectual” jocks. The point is; for many African-Americans hearing N-words from a white man (even a celebrity) brings bad memories from the past, Mayer should have known that. If he is so ignorant about the history of his own country then he should take a history course in a college along with a public speaking course.
ReplyDeleteQuitting the media "game?" That is the first step where John Mayer went wrong in analyzing his audience. Celebrities and people in the spotlight sometimes get accustomed to the power that comes with their fame, the power that the media feeds them, that they think they can say or do anything and have it be well-received, regardless of their intentions. Mayer says, "It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using [the N-word]," and this is so true, and I applaud him for being able to say this publicly and admit his error. Sometimes, people (in any public forum, not just music) become so blinded by the spotlight and forget to think of the people who may read these words and take offense. They forget that the "media game" shares this "game" with the entire world, and to think that he has the power to "intellectualise" a word that nobody can, is highly misguided. I don't think he intended to offend anyone, but he forgot about how his audience is full of real people with judgments, thought processes, and feelings, not just fans who read and understand what he is trying to accomplish with his words.
ReplyDeleteJazmine Rojas
ReplyDeleteOf course this word was not an intelectual word for usage on an interview. He clearly was not thinking at the time or else he wouldn't have said it. Mayer definetley forgot that everyone who watches television and reads magazines are people who have there own beliefs. Not forgeting to be respectful to everyone especielly since he is an artist and pleasing the people is the main key of his job, was forgotten by him. He learned from this mistake and hopefully he can overcome this opstical in life, we all make mistakes just not everyone watches on TV.
I don’t know who John Mayer is, but reading a little bit about him he does seem like he always talks without thinking. This seems like any other slip for him. He does however seem sincere with his apology and notices that this time he went too far. Next time he should pay more attention to his audience. I think that whatever he was trying to prove by saying the word came out wrong. He should learn to avoid racial controversies, because we are very diverse and people often get offended when they feel targeted.
ReplyDeleteCelia Basurto
John Ward
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe this was just a slip of the tongue. With that being said, I believe there still should be some sort ramifications for this. I am not African-American however if I were I would be quite upset that a famous musician used this racial epithet, especially because he is not African-American..personally, I think there is a big difference between John Mayer saying it and for example lil wayne saying it in his songs.
ignacio said..
ReplyDeletei also think that word sliped out but it doesnt justify him saying it. the appology didnt seem that honest to me, he should have wrote the appology to the magazine he screwed up on. he also pays the band members so i dont think they have his back.
Megan Miranda Said..
ReplyDeleteJohn Mayor should realize that by being a celebrity, everything he
says or does is never off the record. Celebrities know by being famous
they will be scrutinized by the general public for EVERYTHING. John
spoke about forgetting about the people he loved the most.. Well why
was he apologizing to people he has never met before? The real people
he hurt is who he should have spoken to. How does one try
"intellectualize the ______ word?" I have no idea but Mr. Mayor should
just know by common sense that it's not okay to say it. It doesn't
matter how famous you are or what race, it's never okay. Overall John
Good job! It takes alot for people to admitt their wrong doings just
maybe next time you might consider apologizing to the appropriate
audience/people/person.