Brown Is Not the New Black

Brown has made headlines this week in two unfortunate stories, neither of which will do much for this long-time second cousin to the far more versatile black. As April became May and thoughts of summer, beaches and suntans may have crossed more than a few minds, such thoughts came to a screeching halt when a photo of a grotesquely “tanorexic” 44-year-old New Jersey woman hit the interwebs.

Patricia Krentcil came to the attention of authorities when her 5-year-old daughter told a school nurse a burn on her arm was caused from time spent in a tanning booth – just like mommy. Although the child’s parents insist the burn is nothing more than good old-fashioned sunburn, damage has been done to more than Krentcil’s normally pale skin. She’s been arrested on “tan abuse” charges – not to her own body, but to that of her daughter.

Actor and tech investor Ashton Kutcher managed to keep the color brown trending online for another half a day when he struck a variety of poses for a Popchips’ ad. Kutcher posed as a redneck, a stoner, a fashionista and a Bollywood producer. Kutcher in brown face led to instant backlash and Popchips removed the pose from the ad. Guess we can rule out Kutcher – or any other white actor – ever reprising Peter Sellers’ role in The Party.

Did Popchips overreact to online complaints about Kutcher in “brown face”? Or, are they – like many others this week – just a little overly sensitive to a trend that’s been called out as “hipster racism”. You know, white people going to such extremes to deny even the slightest tinge of racism in their day-to-day that they must be, you know, um…racist.

Brown, white, yellow, red, black or any combination of the above – your organs are color blind. Why not give the gift of life in the event of your sudden demise by donating your heart, liver, lungs or more to save or improve the quality of someone else’s life once you are no longer living? Facebook took a leap in social media toward the greater good this week and added a function that lets you declare your intent to be an organ donor. Pledges increased dramatically. The greater good, however, does not come without a side of snark.

What else are people talking about online this week?

Teens are more wired than you and me. The majority of their contact outside of school is digital.
It only took a couple of months for the two hottest social media playthings to meet cute and hookup. The result – Pinstagram!
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton still has a sense of humor.
And so does a scorned Polish dentist, who pulled out all of her ex-boyfriend’s teeth. We think she’s got a bit of an anger management issue, too. But we don’t judge.

Kathy Drasky

Kathy Drasky regularly writes about online culture. Her marketing and communications work with the ANZA Technology Network, Advance Global Australians and with various Australians and Australian enterprises has led to at least a dozen trips Down Under.

An accomplished digital photographer, her photos have appeared in 7×7 Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle and Google Schmap.