Customer Reviews

Mae West: An Icon in Black and White

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Amazon customers' reviews of this book are as fascinating as the book itself. I'm amazed at how many people appear unable to understand what they read. Contrary to several reviewers' indignant claims, Jill Watts does *not* argue that Mae West was part black. Her meticulously-researched book carefully separates speculation from fact, and she states early and clearly that there is simply not enough information to settle the question of West's racial background. She then asserts that it doesn't matter whether West did or did not have African-American ancestry. What *does* matter is how West handled issues of racial identity in her writing and in her personal and professional performances. Watts' analysis reveals a woman who was, for her time, a strong champion of African-Americans and who was also deeply ambivalent about racial roles and identities. This book is more than a biography; it is also study of the social constructions of race, class, and gender in general and of the persona of "Mae West" in particular.

I suspect that the readers who are so outraged at the idea that West may have been part-black find issues of race personally disturbing. (As one reviewer asked, why does it matter so intensely to some people that Mae be all-white?) The dismissive readers probably also came to the book expecting a standard Hollywood-style star story rather than an academic analysis. Perhaps because the book took a different approach than they expected, they didn't read very carefully.

In terms of the text itself, it has the strengths I've already noted: it's carefully researched, thoughtful, and does a great deal more than simply detail a star's life. However, in exploring her thesis, Watts is often repetitive and is sometimes guilty of trying far too hard to make her case. Also, because she wants to portray West as a positive force in subverting traditional definitions of gender and class, Watts often downplays or excuses West's sometimes demanding, hurtful, temperamental behavior. It would have been more intellectually honest to acknowledge West's flaws more fully.

Overall, an informative, interesting book.

Finally, finally, finally! A book that looks at the intelligence and craftmanship and brilliant social commentary of Mae West, this is the best biography ever written about her. It is not one of those shmaltzy, glowing photo books without any substance. Instead, it is a cradle to grave overview of her life, considering the elements which influenced her persona and shaped her art. Mae West as a writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and social critic and commentator is finally permitted to shine. This is not the story of a "star" or "celebrity" but a real human being with fears and uncertainties as well as the confidence and self-esteem that made her. Mae West was a genius artist, a genius mind. Instead of focusing on her clothes or her sex life or her jokes and one-liners, she emerges here as a human being. Also, Watts provides the very best analysis ever of the psychological process wherein the human being merged with the persona.

Brava! This book is one of the most facsinating biographical works I have read in years. Ms. Watts's discussion on Mae West's life, her times, and heritage is a significant contribution to 20th century historical and cultural analysis. I am a fan of Mae, and appreciated how this book opened up a discussion on how fluid race is in American society.

As a veteran professor of English at a major East Coast University, I've read many biographies -- literary and otherwise. I also have been a Mae West fan since I was in my early teens. When I purchased Professor Watts' Mae West bio (and that was as soon as it was available in hardcover), I could not help but be impressed by her scholarship and meticulousness in research. Her writing is accessible to the average well-educated reader, and that's important. It's too easy for us scholars to "preach to the choir" in our writing and end up having no audience except our fellow PhDs! Back when I taught the required Writing Workshop sequence at NYU, I'd begin speaking to my students about the value of keeping journals by writing on the board: "Keep a diary and someday it'll keep you. -- Mae West, American writer, educator, actress and playwright." I think I remembered that quote correctly; it's one of Peaches O'Day's lines in "Every Day's a Holiday." Great way to introduce students to a practice that not only is self-therapeutic, but improves their writing skills with our without teacher participation. As for the strident criticism of Professor Watts' allegedly claiming that her research indicates Mae West might have had a black (or mixed raced) grandfather, I suggest those critics read that section very carefully and critically themselves. The author doesn't make any such claim. There was a comment that this book is "tediously written." While that's not exactly a term we use in Lit Crit, it does suggest that the writer isn't accustomed to reading books written for literate adults. Any high school graduate should be able to read and understand Professor Watt's biography with no difficulty other than needing to slow down for fuller comprehension. I find it particularly gratifying that Mae receives appropriate credit for her accomplishments as a playwright. I have read a collection of her plays (Sex," "Pleasure Man" and "The Drag") and I'm impressed given Mae's erratic grammar school attendance and her having to learn how to read and write to function in the world of vaudeville essentially on her own. Are these great plays? Absolutely not, but they show a playwright trying to find her voice and relying on the improv skills of veteran vaudevillians and drag queens to flesh out their characters.

This book is, perhaps, one of the best researched books about the life of Mae West. Yes, some readers (fans of Mae) may be offended by the author alluding to West's black heritage. But, as Mae West showed us, her ethnic identity was more complex than who her parents or grandparents were. The important thing is not that West was white or black, but that she personally identified with the culture of black people in America. What matters is that the author has intelligently revealed this aspect about Mae West, whose life time achievement was tricking us all.

The very slant of this book is it's only problem. It more than hints that Mae West's entire career and even her actual race was attributed to African American origin. Having read every book ever written on Mae West, I will say this one offers a few new and interesting tidbits and some good photos. But clearly Mae West was not black, and her "black roots" stemmed from nothing more than a love of blues music, a few black lovers and respect for the African American community when it was not considered the thing to do. Still it is an interesting read, if you can overlook the desperate attempts to make racial connections to even the most minor situations in West's life, music and films.

First, two responses to several reviews...

1 - The reviewers who suggest that this book is all about proving that West was black have simply not read the book. Watts introduces the book with that rumor (and the rumor that she was a man)...and then MOVES ON. She's off that subject by the middle of the second page.

2 - This is an academic book, written by a history professor. It is not a fan-oriented biography about West. If you want a quick and easy read, this is NOT the book for you. Watts' writing style makes the book accessible to people who aren't scholars, but if you aren't comfortable with footnotes or references to literary and cultural theory, you may want to choose a different book.

On to my own review:

This is an impressive piece of scholarship. The amount of archival research done for this project is impressive. Watts does a fine job of showing how West's work and image were very much shaped by working-class, black, gay, and feminist ideals and cultural forms. What we want to see as wholly her self-creation (including her trademark line "Come up and see me sometime!") was absolutely informed by what she saw around her.

My only criticism (and hence, the 4 stars) is that I think Watts' analysis of West's appropriation of black culture is too generous. Watts does a grand job of talking about white performers who didn't think much about their consumption and those who just plain 'stole.' However, Watts works really hard to show that West was not one of them; I'm not so sure.

I have read a lot of Mae West books. Obviously, that means I am a Mae West fan--and a big one. I found this book difficult to read, what I mean is-difficult to finish. It is boring, long-winded and the author seems to feel Mae had black roots. This is the writer's whole theme, and it is just groundless. On and on and on...enough already. This bio of Mae adds nothing to earlier works.

I have read a lot of books written about Miss West. I'm a big fan. I found this book had some interesting insights to Miss West. How ever I felt everytime I got into reading about Mae the author had to go off on one of her many tangents to try and prove with no facts that Miss West had African American roots. Yes, Mae West loved the Blues and Ragtime because it was the music of her times not because she was African American. Many times I almost put the book down and said I'm not going to finish it. I was frustrated with the long winded diatribes thrown in to try unsuccessfully to show that Miss West was black. One thing the book did was remind me what a true legend Mae West really was. She has been gone now for over 20 years and her legend still lives on. There's something to say about a woman that only made 12 movies and still became such a huge legend. I can't recommend this book to readers. Sometimes I found it interesting and sometimes I was ready to throw it against the wall and scream STOP THE TANGENTS!!!!

The book itself is tediously written, as others have stated already, but the politically correct issue of "did she have negro blood" backfires. It's incredibly racist to assume that a white woman could not be sexual in an earthy way and love rhythm & blues unless she had negro blood. That falls under the category of "all blacks are good dancers" and "all whites are uptight" and other such nonsense. The argument of "What's so wrong if she's a little black?" can easily be countered with "What's so wrong if she's all white?" Mae West did not fit the stereotype of a white woman of her era, so people are trying to find some small trace of "something" which can justify cramming her into a comfortable stereotype. She was sensual and bawdy, well then, she must be black because God Forbid a genuine white woman behave that way. She made people uncomfortable back then and she's making people uncomfortable now. Mae West is an original and she's still stirring up controversy, which I'm sure she'd be delighted about. But if you want a good book about her, read Simon Louvish's book instead.