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Dr. Cornel West: “Spike Lee is Great…Tyler Perry is Good” (Video)
Dr. Cornel West addressed the Tyler Perry vs. Spike Lee controversy during his book tour in Atlanta last week. In case you’ve missed all the hoopla, Tyler Perry has been facing extreme criticism over his portrayal of Black America in his films and plays. Spike Lee was even quoted comparing Tyler’s Meet The Browns characters to a modern day Amos & Andy:
‘I think there’s a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery. I see ads for ‘Meet the Browns’ and ‘House of Payne’ and I’m scratching my head. We’ve got a black president and we’re going back. The image is troubling and it harkens back to Amos ‘n’ Andy.”
Tyler responded via a 60 minutes interview where he was visibly upset about the comment and stated that he uses the characters as “bait” to draw in White America then hits them with storylines consisting of God, love, faith, forgiveness and family. Dr. West, in addressing the “beef” between the two filmmakers made a few comparisons as to why each approaches their subject matter differently. The well-known public intellectual spoke of Lee’s background as a well-to-do Morehouse Grad versus Tyler’s abusive childhood and life on the streets. He goes on to explain how Spike Lee is a GREAT filmmaker while Tyler Perry is a GOOD filmmaker and although Spike’s comments may have been based with good intentions, the delivery could have been better.
You’ll have to watch the video to understand but West didn’t diss Tyler, he actually gave him props. He does, however state that if Tyler’s still doing Madea at 65 THEN he has a problem. I guess that gives us about 25 more years of Madea since TP just turned 40.
Video below:
Video ~ Dr. Cornel West Speaks on Spike Lee v. Tyler Perry
MichelleOdrama
November 2, 2009 @ 12:29 pmVideo ~ Dr. Cornel West: “Spike Lee is Great…Tyler Perry is Good”:
Dr. Cornel West addressed.. http://bit.ly/3W4D3R
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
terenceturner
November 2, 2009 @ 12:31 pmRT @ATLien Dr. Cornel West: “Spike Lee is “Great”…Tyler Perry is “Good” (Video) http://j.mp/66yLi
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
ToniMWilliams
November 2, 2009 @ 12:33 pmRT @ATLien Dr. Cornel West: “Spike Lee is “Great”…Tyler Perry is “Good” (Video) http://j.mp/66yLi
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
SchereLLC
November 2, 2009 @ 12:40 pmDr. West made it simple & plain Good Article RT @ATLien: Dr. Cornel West: Spike Lee is “Great” Tyler Perry is “Good” http://j.mp/66yLi
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
MichelleOdrama
November 2, 2009 @ 12:41 pmDr. Cornel West: “Spike Lee is Great…Tyler Perry is Good” (Video) http://url4.eu/gmw5
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Lakemillion
November 2, 2009 @ 12:42 pmRT @ATLien: Dr. Cornel West: “Spike Lee is “Great”…Tyler Perry is “Good” (Video) http://j.mp/66yLi
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Attorneymom@www.charactercorner.blogspot.com
November 2, 2009 @ 1:38 pmThanks for the video. I posted on my blog.
Bravo, Dr. West.
MichelleOdrama
November 2, 2009 @ 5:16 pmDr. Cornel West: “Spike Lee is “Great”…Tyler Perry is “Good” (Video) http://j.mp/66yLi
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Hmmmmm
November 2, 2009 @ 6:22 pmUm Spike Lee is NOT a GREAT filmmaker. He’s on the same level as Tyler Perry as far as execution. I swear if I see that floating character thing again (which he adds in every movie even if it’s inappropriate um Malcolm X anyone) I’ll scratch somebody’s eyes out. The only thing Spike can say is he ATTEMPTS to deal with certain issues in the black community and he doesn’t even do that well. That is it. I won’t go into his issue with Black Women that go ALL the way back to She’s Gotta Have It. He’s a piss poor writer, which is a shame because if he’s educated AND went to film school and still can’t put a good script together, than personally I think TP has bested him there. Now when he’s directed films that he neither wrote or had any hand in the production of the movie then he’s good, i.e. Inside Man. Anything else where he’s done the entire film solo, man come on don’t even try it.
I’m not a Madea fan by any means and haven’t seen TP’s shows but I do think his heart is in the right place. He employs black actors, keeps them steady working (even through writers strikes), get’s them their SAG cards and built studios in ATL so that he can do films his way at low cost and so can others. He also isn’t afraid to support other black film makers (Precious anyone?). The ONLY person I’ve seen Spike Lee ever promote is SPIKE LEE.
Sorry Ms. ATLien for my rant, I just can’t believe someone actually said Spike was a GREAT filmmaker. I love me some Dr. West but sometimes just cause we black and friends don’t mean we need to always stand up.
*jumping down off my soap box and kicking it back up under the table.* :O)
ladee bugg
November 3, 2009 @ 12:56 pmSpike lee needs to just stop it. And I def agree wit the other commenter he’s NOT A GREAT filmmaker by any means and I personaly think TP is a great filmmaker. Spike lees movies are garbage to me. I’ve never been able to get into them and quite frankly spike lee seems to be purly hating to me. Bottum line TP is a great man and does not deserve to bashed like that
ladee bugg
November 3, 2009 @ 1:04 pmAnd o yea..Dr. West, comb ur daggon hair. No .. Matter of fact cut that mess…. Thank u =-)
Jane
November 3, 2009 @ 8:29 pmSpike doesn’t get it! Tyler is family friendly, and Spike Lee is vulgar. Spike does NOT speak to the Christian community. Sorry Spike. You missed out on a whole demographic, Black CHRISTIAN women. Don’t hate…