There is a new workshop in the mix. I have been tossing out some emails as of late, brainstorming for a possible workshop for Youth Action Network‘s Anti-Racist Summer Series training. I proposed doing a workshop with a similar theme to the my call out for the King Kong Remix Project. The idea is to capture samples of oppressive media and remix it in away that subverts the underlying message, exposing it for what it is. Another example of an anti-racist video mashup is artist Jackie Salloum‘s piece called Planet of the Arabs, an Official Selection at the 2005 SUNDANCE Film Festival. Check it out below:

Jackie’s work is just one example of the powerful process of remixing video! Her work samples a series of popular movies, showing the high incidence of stereotyping of anti-arab stereotypes. By highlighting this trend, and remixing it in a spunky sardonic fashion, Jackie has reshaped the film landscape bringing the chickens home to roost.

Through this workshop youth would learn about media literacy, racism, as well as gain solid video editing skills. With new Flash-based video editing software like Jumpcut emerging, it is becoming increasingly easier to sample and edit video online without the aid of software or other fancy equipment.

I feel like this workshop has the potential to go around the world, having youth from different countries upload their media, creating multiple reinterpretations. Right now it is just in the dreaming stages, but it is about to come to fruition very rapidly. I am excited for the emails of support I’ve received, and it looks like it will be going ahead next month, with the potential to be repeated across the globe!