Change Your Image
jennifer0142006
Reviews
Explained: Dance Crazes (2021)
Weird out of the norm for this series
Usually I find these episodes well-rounded and very informative. This one... was like they let a scorned AfAm youth take control and did no real fact-checking or weighing in with other sides and it was their story plastered over everything like this perspective is the only and only truth.
But on a more basic note, really? People danced to scare off animals? Because humans never did things for enjoyment, to share their joy with others? Yeah, scaring off animals in a pack with synchronized movement, that's it. That's why we still do a jig together when we encounter a bear in the forest.
There was nothing about Native American history of dance, Hispanic or Latina history of dance, Asian history of dance. It was black and white. It was "it all originated from Africa and our youth had it all stolen."
Sure, there's a problem with stealing ideas, there always has been. Artists work is stolen and great ideas stolen and yes dances too. Not only to AfAms, though, it exists in every culture. Even Walt Disney stole Mickey Mouse from someone else, just tweaking it enough to not be an exact replica.
This wonky episode changed my mind a bit on the validity of this series. If anyone can write any damn thing and the series will greenlight it and send it out, well, it's not what I thought it was. Just some silly people making a show.