Ok, Isha, I have to admit that when you posted this—this was my instant association:

I live near Philly. I can see the kitties. I HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY. THESE KITTIES WILL BE MINE.

It's true—I remember going to an academic discussion of Birth of a Nation and when you put this into context and then see the echoes of those tropes today, it is really powerful. The guy is characterized as a good teacher—he might be the kind of guy who would put it into context. That's more than a little worthwhile.

I heard this and it is such a shitty knee-jerk response on the part of the school. I mean, you can't show American history without showing really virulent racism.

Maybe that's a much better way of looking at it—it reflects class status and privileging it over other ways of being, without recognizing other people's experience with what is seen as simplicity, might be the part that is classist.

Minimalism is incredibly classist in so many ways. The simplicity must have the element of restraint and asceticism but without the desperation of poverty. It's all so similar to Marie Antoinette's peasant cottage.

I saw the first Star Wars when it came out and was a loyal fan for decades. Guess I know now that I was not the intended the wrong audience. What a bunch of Arschegeigen.