Welcome to my blog on black cinema, over the upcoming weeks i will be exploring various aspects in the history of black cinema dating from the early 20th century. This largely revolves around the representations of black people in American cinema, please note nothing in this blog is intended to cause offense and i ask that it is approached in a mature manner.
Is Stereotyping Necessary in Film?
Although stereotypes generally have negative implications, they aren't always necessarily negative. Stereotypes generalize different types of people, whether it be a race, a group or a lifestyle. Such generalizations can sometimes become necessity, particularly within film in order for the audience to be able to interact effectively with particular characters. They give the audience an predisposed idea of what people are likely to be like, which behaviors would be considered acceptable, and which not. Yet that doesn't mean that stereotypes are always used in a positive way as throughout the history of film, stereotyping has been used to stigmatize and ridicule groups and races, particularly the black community for much of the 20th Century for the entertainment of others. "All were character types used for the same effect: to entertain by stressing Negro inferiority. Fun was poked at the American Negro by presenting him as either a nitwit or a childlike lackey" In early 20th century cinema there were a range of stereotypes attributed towards the black community, (The Tom, The Coon, The Trickster, The Tragic Mulatto, The Jezabel and The Buck.) These stereotypes focus on iconography, (meaning attributed to apparel and imagery) and fetishization. (focus on parts of the body such as the lips or buttocks) This video clearly shows the prejudice uses of stereotypes in the early 20th century, yet Stuart Hall states "In human culture the propensity to classify sub groups of human types according to essential characteristics whether physical or intellectual is a very profound cultural impulse, in a way a very positive cultural impulse because we now understand the importance of all forms of classification to meaning. Until you classify things you can't generate any meaning at all." Hall is saying that it is human nature to classify things to create a better understanding, and I believe that it is the way these classifications have been presented that cause issues. For example, in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Will Smith plays a character who fits into what was known as "The Trickster" stereotype yet it is presented in a way that is funny and not offensive.
|
Race Movies, Amateur or Genius?
The race movies of the early 20th century often attempted to challenge the stereotypes that had been towards the black community, one notable figure who persistently attempted to challenge these racial stereotypes was Oscar Micheaux.
Micheaux's films certainly have an air of genius about them, they were ahead of their time in terms of their content, however they were poorly constructed and were plagued by terrible performances. On top of this he became victim to harsh censorship making it difficult for him to express his ideas. Considering the difficulties of the time I think race films simply lacked the means to be considered genius, even if they were. If Micheaux and other African American directors of the time had access to decent actors and a strong production team maybe the themes they were exploring could have been presented in an objectively genius fashion.
|
Bibliography
Hall, S. (2009). The Floating Signifier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIC8RrSLzOs
Dubois, W.E.B. (1903). Souls of Black Folk. Chicago: Publisher. A.C McClurg
Hall, S. (2009). The Floating Signifier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIC8RrSLzOs
Dubois, W.E.B. (1903). Souls of Black Folk. Chicago: Publisher. A.C McClurg