The Internet sensation Stuff White People Like has just been released in book form. The items listed on the satirical website receive more detailed treatment, but surely, amidst the affection for organic food (#6), yoga (#15), and public radio (#44), there should be an entry for Coldplay. Their earnest, arena rock turns most people (except cold-hearted critics) into swooning romantics. Thanks to a sharp, techno savvy friend, I scored tickets to the opening night of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" tour. Even amidst multi-cultural Los Angeles, there was ample proof that Coldplay remains stuff that 16,000 (mostly) white people love.
How interesting that Coldplay drove their devoted fans to the Forum in Inglewood rather than the swankier Staples Center. How utterly democratic to attend a concert sans luxury boxes. It was in keeping with "Viva la Vida"'s French Revolution themes of liberty, justice, and equality (for those willing to shell out more than $100 for a ticket including service charges). Since the L.A. Lakers left the Forum, it has become home to Faithful Central Bible Church. Bishop Kenneth Ulmer and his congregation see their new home as an opportunity to extend hospitality to rock stars and their fans. They were gracious hosts, directing traffic with a smile.
We were greeted at the door by the hunger relief organization, OxFam, gathering eddresses. At the merchandise table, alongside the $40 Coldplay t-shirts was a bag of bracelets made from recycled rubber by women in Djenne, Mali. The Made with Love Project benefits a center for homeless women in Dakar, Senegal. With this dash of social entrepreneurship, Coldplay affirmed stuff white people like (#12--non-profit organizations) while teetering close to #62--"Knowing what's best for poor people."
Like their new album, Coldplay's concert aspired to U2's epic heights. It had expert lighting, innovative effects, and a wall of sound. Dreamy, languid versions of "Trouble" and "The Scientist" swept the audience into sing-alongs. The anthemic power of "In My Place" was matched by "Viva la Vida." Yet, the most memorable moment was the most unplugged. At the 75 minute mark, singer Chris Martin suggested he was tired of being onstage. The band darted to the far corner of the Forum, galloping up the stairs for a low-fi version of their monster hit, "Yellow." Their generous gesture was also their most modest. In an era of self-promoting grandiosity, that's the kind of rock star that all people like.
By Craig Detweiler
Craig Detweiler's comedic documentary Purple State of Mind is loaded with stuff white people like including #55, "Apologies," and #2, "Religions their parents don't belong to." His newest book is Into the Dark: Seeing the Sacred in the Top Films of the 21st Century..
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Even given the location, I wonder if the demographics of this show should come as a surprise. In an excellent survey of relocation trends, a recent Economist article, America's Suburbs: An Age of Transformation, looks at how cities like New York and Los Angeles have started to become less diverse. Increasingly, between 2000 and 2006, minorities left and immigrants bypassed urban centers for suburban communities. I wonder what LA will look like in 2050.
Was it necessary to bring up "race" in this article? I'm sure there are many COLDPLAY fans of diverse backgrounds. I thought what you wrote was very distasteful. You should be glad that my original post did not appear. I knew that it would not.
So at this concert did you run through the aisles with a Flashlight making sure everyone was of the correct hue?
Did you stand by the door and ask, "Are you of the Caucasian Persuasion"?
I'm just wondering how you came up with these "statistics".
I just find the entire article to be offensive to every person of color.
Why BeliefNet would permit this makes me question this entire site.
I wounder will this comment post?
I would not be surprised if it didn't.
BeliefNet, HA!
THIS COMMENT IS DIRECTED TO COMMENT NUMBER 1.
BY THE YEAR 2050 ALL OF AMERICA WILL BE OF "COLOR". THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THERE IS NO LONGER A "MINORITY". YOU SEE THE "MINORITY IS THE MAJORITY". WHY SOME PEOPLE CAN'T JUST COME TO TERMS WITH THIS IS BEYOND ME. ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN? DO DARKER HUES SCARE YOU?
DO THEY "INTIMIDATE YOU"? IF SO WHY?
HERE'S A FACT, IF YOU CAN TRACE YOUR FAMILY LINEAGE 5 GENERATIONS HERE IN AMERICA,
THEN MORE THAN LIKELY YOU HAVE ANOTHER BLOOD RUNNING THROUGH YOUR VEINS.
DOES THAT FACT SCARE YOU? IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR GENERATIONS. WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE HERE IN AMERICA COME IS SUCH VAST HUES. IT'S CALLED "RACE MIXING". MANY HAVE DONE IT. EVEN PRESIDENTS.
READ ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON. THERE'S ALOT OF STUFF THAT "WHITE PEOPLE LIKE".
AMERICA IS CALLED "THE MELTING POT" FOR A REASON. FOR YOU TO USE WORDS LIKE "MINORITY" AND "IMMIGRANTS" IS UPSURD! TRACE YOUR FAMILY LINEAGE.
TRUST ME YOU WILL FIND SOME "MINORITIES" UP THERE SOMEWHERE. AS FOR THE TERM "IMMIGRANTS", HECK WE ALL ARE IMMIGRANTS! UNLESS YOU ARE A PURE BLOOD NATIVE AMERICAN, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT OF IMMIGRANTS! HOW DOES IT FEEL? MAKE YA WANNA GO OUTSIDE AND SHOOT SOME HOOPS? MAYBE COOK A FANTASTIC "FAJITA" DINNER? IM THE PRODUCT OF IMMIGRANTS AND SO ARE YOU!
AND DON'T WHINE ABOUT ME USING ALL CAPS AND HOW "RUDE" IT IS. I WILL TYPE IN WHICH EVERY KEY I CHOOSE.
BY THE WAY WHICH PART OF L.A ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THERE'S MORE PEOPLE OF DARKER COMPLEXIONS THAN LIGHTER. IF IT SCARES YOU, THEN I SUGGEST YOU MOVE TO THE MIDWEST. STATES LIKE THE DAKOTAS OR WYOMING. THERE'S STILL NOT ALOT OF "COLOR" THERE.YET. MAYBE "COLDPLAY" CAN PLAY A CONCERT THERE. YOU KNOW, "STUFF WHITE PEOPLE LIKE".
WONDER WHAT AMERICA WILL LOOK LIKE IN 2050? YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT!!!
Niecy,
Take a quick peek at the website that starts the article--Stuff White People Like.
You will see that is makes fun of caucasians and they're obsessions.
It is an interesting way to push past the racial divide by skewering
white people and pointing out how their behavior can be stereotyped as well.
It is satirical and comedic in intent.
You will notice "irony" on the list. Now try rereading the post.
Perhaps you will see that this review was intended to point out how
Coldplay fits nicely within the parameters outlined
on that comedic website. And if anything, it intended to call
all people towards more awareness of stereotypes and how
loaded and ridiculous and unhelpful they can be.
A tongue was planted firmly in cheek throughout
the article.
Obviously, race is tough to discuss in America so any levity
we can bring to this complicated and contentious issue is
helpful. If anything, the first comment suggested to me how
economics in our most diverse and expensive cities may be creating
unanticipated shifts in class, neighborhoods, etc. And that is
not necessarily a good thing. In fact, it may be a warning sign.
Again, if anything, those stats are a call to Los Angelenos and
New Yorkers to figure out whether their cities are just,
liveable and sustainable.
But perhaps Nicey is on to something: "stuff white people like" is finally an affirmation of the idea of "whiteness," isn't it, no matter how ironic. it's always bothered me, and not only because it's so vert vert cynical: it totally ignores issues of class in its smug, albeit self-deprecating insistence on the idea of whiteness.
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