[Dixielandjazz] RE: "MARDI GRAS: MADE IN CHINA"

[David Richoux]

Bill, and All

Several of the OKOM bands I am in have performed in venues that use 
"mardi gras" beads to throw to the audience. Other members of these 
groups (mostly not on DJML) and I have discussed this practice and the 
economics of "cheap beads." I thought that a review of an upcoming film 
directly on this topic might be of interest to the entire list, as the 
subject of Mardi Gras Beads has come up from time to time in the past 
on this list.

  I have not seen the film, but I will be looking for it . The film may 
be a lot more than "a recitation of a gross social injustice exploiting 
Chinese workers in a bead factory," but I won't know that until I see 
it. Exploitation of workers in a bead factory and exploitation of 
musicians in a jazz factory (as Bourbon Street New Orleans has become) 
are related - and worth topics for this list, in my opinion!

However, until the film is available I will suggest tabling the 
discussion!

Dave Richoux (too much Robert's Rules of Order lately in another part 
of my life ;-)

On Jan 26, 2005, at 4:14 PM, Bill Gunter wrote:

> Hi Dave,
>
> Thanks for resending the posting, I didn't know it was gonna develop 
> into a full blown thread so I just deleted it.
>
> You asked:
>
>> Did you actually read the review at the link I posted?
>
> yes I did and nowhere in the story did I see any reference to OKOM.  
> Only a sorry reference to Mardi Gras debauchery and flesh and bead 
> tossing (not that there's anything wrong with that).
>
> I regard the impact of the story to be a recitation of a gross social 
> injustice exploiting Chinese workers in a bead factory.
>
> Also, Mardi Gras beads are not a revered symbol of jazz, they are a 
> revered symbol of Mardi Gras.
>
> The link story starts out " . . . ready for a little guilt?"
>
> I think I get my quota of attempted "guilt" inducement daily from the 
> media, thank you . . . and I'm not sure how the English speaking 
> reader of this story relates with feelings of guilt in anyway to the 
> management of a Chinese bead factory.
>
> My conclusion . . . this is not a posting about jazz, it is a posting 
> about a perceived social injustice.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Bill "I know what's jazz and what ain't" Gunter
> jazzboard at hotmail.com
>
>
>
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