Cole, O. (2013, December 26). Hollywood and the Shaping of Perceptions of Racism. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-cole/hollywood-and-the-shaping_b_4499060.html
Monday, April 25, 2016
White Audiences and Movies with Slavery
Despite the unequal amount of blockbuster movies with African Americans as the leading character, the few that are popular are usually based off a brutal historical depiction of racism, slavery, and inequality. Since the release of various films starring African Americans such as 12 Years a Slave, The Help, and The Butler, sociologists have questioned why those movies are so popular in comparison to other movie genres with African American actors. It seems as though movies about the struggles of African Americans overcoming slavery and cruelty are seen to be the most successful. White audiences flood to see those films and feel a sense of relief knowing they have progressed past the slavery era. These mainstream films have a significant effect on white audiences because their ideas of racism are of the past and have a sense of comfort knowing they have moved passed slavery. However, there is a cognitive disconnect between what white audiences see and how society acts towards African Americans and even other minority races. The historic acts of racism presented in the mainstream films have transformed into different forms of modern racism that are still just as cruel as the past.
Cole, O. (2013, December 26). Hollywood and the Shaping of Perceptions of Racism. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-cole/hollywood-and-the-shaping_b_4499060.html
Cole, O. (2013, December 26). Hollywood and the Shaping of Perceptions of Racism. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-cole/hollywood-and-the-shaping_b_4499060.html
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I found this post to be extremely interesting. Pop-culture and films / media have such a large impact on our lives, that sometimes we as humans do not even realize how easily we are influenced by what we see on tv or in theaters. For myself, I love movies such as the Help because it is inspiring. But while watching it, I was easily influenced to believe that the struggle for African Americans is now over. Of course knowing this is not true, I just find is so interesting how influential watching a two hour film can be on our lives and impact society.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. Never thought about it this way. "Looking back with sympathy and indignation is easier than looking around, isn’t it?" Yes things aren't the way they were but without a doubt we are far from where we should be. It just has a different spin. Whites don't "own" slaves but African Americans still are under their feet so to speak as it very hard for them to rise above.
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