SLSL Intro, Class/Race- "8 Mile"

[Mutualcode at aol.com]

John Leonard, on the small screen this AM, had an interesting take
on eminem's new movie. He basically seemed to feel that it is an
attempt to demonstrate that Class can trump Race, as exemplified
by the X-over appeal of the rapper, and, an attempt to 
make eminem into a hip-hop Elvis- the movie being very much
a market vehicle to that end.

Leonard seemed at least skeptical of the depiction of Class as
the primary force field dividing "us," which if it can be negotiated-
as exemplified by eminem- than racism can be trumped. A working
class hero is somethin' to be, in other words.

The Intro narrator suggests that the question of race versus money
and power is still open, but apologizes for "the smart-assed jerk"
who narrates "Low-lands," yet excuses "him" on the basis that "he"
"didn't know any better." Of course, the voice narrating the Intro
is a product, ultimately, of a highly successful writer, commercially
and artistically. One wonders, what, in particular, facilitated the 
education of TRP, and how much success had to do with it.

In that regard, it is intresting to note that TSI has almost nothing
to do with Class.

respectfully