...African American Stereotypes in Movies Media Research Methods CO 455 November 20, 2012 African American Stereotypes in Movies Introduction There once was a time when everyone expected the black man to be the first actor to die in every movie that possessed a black man in its cast. However, over time the assumption of the black man being the first to die has changed. Currently in the year 2012, there are progressively more movies in which black men portray leading roles. This change in black men as leading characters in movies is a welcome change. In the past, supporting or backup roles were considered the best role a black man could achieve. In this paper, the researcher will conduct information by means of content analysis. Content analysis is the most commonly used methodology because of its ability to measure human behavior, assuming that the verbal behavior is a form of behavior. This study will examine specific media products and define these products by determining smaller elements that complement these products. This document will address a wide view of concerns regarding the African American culture, and will provide assumptions on how this issue can be addressed in the future. The stereotype of African Americans in movies today, is the topic of this research paper. Why do African Americans face stereotypes in the media? Why do black actors and actresses have difficulty obtaining roles that are not stereotypical...
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...explanation for the movie’s wide appeal among women spectators. “The film's female gazes undercut and appropriate the dominant male gazes typical of mainstream Hollywood cinema by using mockery as a narrative device to illustrate the sexism inherent in the male gaze, and it is precisely this appropriation of patriarchal construction that offers pleasure to women spectators” (Cooper). The movie Thelma & Lousie caused so much controversy that she wanted to inform us on the topic, and explain how, “a conceptual framework for explicating these subversive gazes within film narratives” (Cooper)....
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...Analysis and Interpretation of Data Assignment SPECIAL ISSUE: THE MESSAGE AND THE MEDIA Alcohol Portrayal on Television Affects Actual Drinking Behavio Analysis and Interpretation of Data Assignment Provide the hypothesis and predictions for your study: According to Engels et al. (2009) from the Journal Alcohol and Alcoholism state their hypothesis and the prediction as “Alcohol portrayal in movies and commercials is generally positive and might stimulate young people to drink”. The hypothesis and the prediction are in the abstract of the paper. If young people watch movies that are alcohol related or that promote alcohol consumption will be like to get into the habit of intake more alcohol. In the prediction it stated that ‘it might stimulate young people to drink’. Therefore, in the introduction Engels et al. (2009)also show the hypothesis in the first paragraph as “ whether or not alcohol portrayals and advertising have a causal effect on drinking behavior”, and the prediction in the third paragraph of the introduction as “however, exposure to alcohol on television may have direct effects on consumption”. It was a clever move to have written the hypothesis and the prediction apart in the introduction which keeps the reader will busy looking for the prediction in the introduction. Summarize the experimental design (i.e. how are they testing the hypothesis)? The sample was widely represented eighty (80) young men from the university, who were in the age...
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...Leadership Analysis The Bridge on The River Kwai August 5, 2012 Shekhar Gahlot (ICS Hitotsubashi, Tokyo, Japan) Leadership Analysis: The Bridge on the River Kwai The year: 1943. The place: Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in Burma. In the setting of World War II, a defeated unit British Soldiers is marched into a Japanese prison camp in western Thailand, with the purpose of constructing a bridge over the River Kwai to carry a new railway line to invade Burma. The camp is run by a dutiful commandant Colonel Saito and his men. The British troop is led by a stiff-lipped Colonel Nicholson. Nicholson is highly revered by his men, he is their friend and confidant; he can do them no wrong. So begins the classic World War II movie The Bridge on the River Kwai. In the August of 2009 during a humid Sunday afternoon I happened to stumble upon this English classic. I presumed it to be just another vintage war movie. However, on careful inspection, it became an excellent treatise for understanding various forms of "leadership" paradigms, which are not only useful in the Army but can be easily observed in contemporary corporate world. It is one of those few war movies which focus more on building its characters rather than the war itself. It portrays two very different leadership styles, which are intensely portrayed by its characters Colonel Nicholson and Colonel Saito. The movie starts with difference of opinion and clashes of ego between the two leads. Saito is persistent...
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...For my Final paper in this class, I have decided to do a comparative analysis between the movies Higher Learning and Smoke Signals. I will briefly summarize each movie in a few paragraphs and then I will discuss the similarities and differences between the themes in each movie before I discuss overall comparisons between characters, filming techniques used, and racial stereotypes. "Higher Learning" takes place at the fictitious Columbus University, where the producer makes use of a Christopher Columbus statue to suggest a racist atmosphere. Still, he does this effectively during harsh, well-observed opening scenes that capture different attitudes of white and black students on campus. A white students' pep rally is given a frightening intensity. A young white woman clutches her purse tightly when she finds herself in an elevator with a black student. The two groups' different musical tastes present an amusing contrast and a great use of sound design which is described in our textbook American On Film by Benshoff and Griffin. Mr. Singleton creates a lively air of expectation as his half-dozen main characters settle into their dorm rooms and the battle lines are drawn. John Singleton's film, Higher Learning, about the racial and sexual prejudices that color life on a college campus turns out to be an involuntary example of the same small-mindedness it deplores. Everyone here, from beer drinking white fraternity boys to rap-loving, marijuana smoking black students harassed by...
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...Gladiator: The Movie Essay | Gladiator: The Movie Ridley Scott This student essay consists of approximately 3 pages of analysis of Gladiator. Print Word PDF This section contains 804 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) Gladiator: The Movie Summary: "What we do in life echoes in eternity." A famous tag line of the movie that Maximus (Russell Crowe) said to his men before they merge in the battlefield. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). A very highly intense action sequence directed by Ridley Scott. A film that won multiple awards including, best costume design, visual, pictures and sound effects. The "Gladiator." "What we do in life echoes in eternity." A famous tag line of the movie that Maximus (Russell Crowe) said to his men before they merge in the battlefield. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his inheritor over his own son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), and a power struggle leaves Maximus and his family condemned to death. The powerful general is unable to save his family, and his loss of will allows him to get captured and put into the savage games until he dies. The only desire that fuels him now is the chance to rise to the top so that he will be able to look into the eyes of the man who will feel his revenge. A very highly intense action...
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... available in any internet connected space, but is also confined to the single device that the movie was downloaded to thereby losing the mobility that a DVD possesses. While it addresses the demand for convenience, it encounters limitations because only 12% of this online library is available for streaming (57) Also, many customers have noticed quality flaws with video streaming making it less desirable despite heightened convenience. In regards to price, Netflix rental system requires a monthly subscription for $9.00 which includes unlimited downloads for that period. While ourage frugal Netflix offers a different approach customers, it promotes a more loyal customer than redbox and Blockbuster Express with its base. in-home streaming of movies. Netflix streaming has the advantage of being 19 | Page Movie Renters In the past few years, researchers have studied the spending habits of DVD rental users. In general, Americans who rent...
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...how do you define the word ‘privilege’? According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, privilege is described as, “a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others.” That being said, white privilege occurs when people of Caucasian or white decent receive more rights or benefits than another racial group such as African Americans. In Steven Spielberg’s 2012 film, Lincoln, white privilege can not be surpassed without the support of a higher leader, such as Lincoln and his colleagues. Thus being said, there are two specific scenes in the movie where racial problems occur leading to the idea of white privilege and how it prevails. Lincoln has always supported the abolition of slavery and we can see that in the first few minutes of the Lincoln film. However, at the beginning, there is an incident that exemplifies how Lincoln treated the African Americans he is fighting for and how white people treat the blacks. The movie starts out with a battle scene and right after we see Lincoln under a canopy talking to two black soldiers, Ira Clark and Harold Green. Green says to Lincoln, “Us 2nd Kansas boys, whenever we fight now we-…” and Clark jumps into the conversation and says, “Another three dollars subtracted from our pay for our uniforms…” This comes as a surprise to Green because Clark is complaining to Lincoln, a man who has a lot of power over these black soldiers. The conversation continues and mentions, “… still no commissioned Negro officers.” Green becomes embarrassed...
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... government vigorously promotes that the "men and women are alike". Also with the influence of western feminist movement, the status of women began to turn upside down. Women are demanding equal status with men, and these demands also reflected in the films. Until now, women as a sign of beauty, some are gentle and virtuous, some are sweetie and pleasant, and some are full of unique personality but still attractive enough. In such a representation, it is hard to notice, even their own aesthetic values are deeply affected by the male views. Not so much a woman as a sign of beauty, as it is a sign to attract male attention. In many generations of Chinese directors, only one of the few is female director. In the Male-dominated film industry, obviously, female characters are created by them, reflecting men’s centralism’s view of women. This paper applies feminist film theory, by analyzing the feminine images in a famous Chinese director—Jiang Wen’s films, to reveal the hidden gender inequality as well as the phenomenon of “male gaze”. Through the criticism and introspection of these hidden and potential problems to discover the root cause of these perspectives. Finally, I put forward some solutions to eliminate gender opposition, which is also the significance of this study lies. Since the beginning of the 18th century, men and women equal rights movement spread from France to the world. But when the point that women and men have no difference is popular, another problem...
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...Watching God tells a story about a young woman going through life and finding her voice, the movie made by Oprah Winfrey flips the story and its characters making the main character and everyone in the story different. Oprah does a wonderful job at completely destroying the morals of the time period, and the symbols shown in the book. The movie changes relationships making the main character stronger and more independent. The beautiful love story shown by Oprah became a ridiculous rendition of Zora Neale Hurston’s classic novel missing key elements from the book. Oprah Winfrey completely disregards the moral fiber of the time period. In the movie some scenes got extremely graphic with the kissing and love making. These scenes...
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...Gender Roles and Disney The Disney princess has become one of the most iconic symbols of Walt’s ever growing empire. The disney Princess’ franchise first began in 1937 with the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs making Snow White the first princess in the now infamous princess lineup. The franchise continues with the most recent disney princess movie Tangled ( Rapunzel) which came out in 2011. Disney and their filmmakers caused great controversy with their princess’ such as race. Disney broke their european tradition by adding their first African American Princess to the line up. Princess Tiana of The Princess and the Frog in 2009 which still caused controversy. Another one of Disney’s biggest controversial topics was gender roles and how women and men are portrayed in these disney films. Gender roles are separate patterns of personality traits, mannerisms, interests, attitudes, and behaviors that are regarded as either "male" or "female" by one's culture. They are what is considered the “ Norm” for the male and female sex. There are stereotypical behaviors normally associated with either gender such as Women are suppose to be more passive aggressive, overly emotional, and illogical, just to name a few characteristics. While men tend to be more tough or in control, leaders, Not crying or wimpy and a womanizer As suggested in Kimmel’s “ Bros before Hos”: The Guy Code in Language Awareness (469). These same messages are often presented to children through the media they...
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...“My Cousin Vinny” versus the criminal justice system Though “My Cousin Vinny” is a good comedy it is a just parallel of the criminal justice system. In due course the procedures as outlined in our text, mirrors that of the movie. Though the movie does not show the reporting and only peripheral glances into the preliminary investigation of the crime, it is apparent that such events took place in accordance to the rules and regulations set forth by our judicial system. The crime as reported/discovered by the police was first degree felony robbery and murder. The store was robbed and the clerk was discovered shot to death. The charges stemming from the incident subsequently was murder in the first degree; armed robbery with serious bodily injury; criminal conspiracy, fleeing and alluding to avoid apprehension. As in present day policing the nature of the crime in its entirety was represented and in immediate investigation followed suit. Over the course of the movie time is ill represented yet all procedures are justly followed to the letter. It is not explained at what point the investigation of the four witness’s took place. As customary in reality when a crime is discovered an APB or all-points bulletin was cast. However, in accordance to chapter 4 of our text both defendants, Billy Gambini played by Ralph Macchio and his friend Stan Rothenstein played by Mitchell Whitfield, were pulled over due to reasonable suspicion. In this case reasonable suspicion was that two males...
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...different critical elements and artistic aspects to examine when analyzing and critiquing any film. In 2004 Paul Haggis wrote and directed the award winning drama Crash about various intertwining experiences involving racial relations and the socioeconomic status levels of the diverse cast of characters. This film addresses how humans being deal with real life circumstances and addresses how racial stereotypes and prejudices impact our society by causing a separation of customs, ignoring human and civil rights, and demonstrating how racism can cause moral, cultural and economical suffering. This detailed essay will address the cinematic elements employed throughout the movie, and provide a critical analysis on the various components and techniques used to create this compelling and powerful film. Crash is a movie that involves several different stories and plots that all manage to somehow connect the characters to each other in a series of events that take place during two days in California. America’s ever-growing melting pot is distinctly represented in the film as the audience is introduced to a black LAPD detective, two black mischievous car thieves, a white district attorney and his prejudice wife, a white racist beat cop and his neophyte partner, a black Hollywood director and his wife, an irate Persian shop owner and his family, and a blue-collar Hispanic man and his young impressionable daughter. The characters unrelated yet intertwining stories was a very unique and effective...
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...Gender Roles in The Big Lebowski Throughout history, masculinity has been defined through men who are not just strong physically, but mentally as well. Traditionally, men have been expected to settle down, have a family and provide for their family through an honest, hard-working profession. Although much different from men, women are expected to live up to traditional expectations as well. This would include getting married, having children, devoting most of their time to raising their children in addition to cooking, cleaning, etc. In the film The Big Lebowski, gender roles cannot be assumed. Throughout the film, Maude displays power over The Dude. This is particularly evident in two scenes. When The Dude meets Maude in her home for the first time, and when Maude tricks The Dude into having sex with her so she can conceive a child she is exerting her will over him. While Maude exhibits a dominant form of feminism throughout the film, it is The Dude’s lack of masculinity that allows Maude to control him. Both Maude and The Dude defy the traditional standards applied to men and women. There are numerous points of analysis one can use to make claims about a film. This includes much of the dialogue between Maude and The Dude in the scenes previously addressed as well as other elements of the film that may go unseen unless viewed analytically. The Big Lebowski is a film that implicitly presents Maude using her dominant form of feminism in order to control The Dude...
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...What did that movie mean? by Christopher P. Jacobs Movies are entertainment. Movies are documents of their time and place. Movies are artistic forms of self-expression. Movies we see at theatres, on television, or home video are typically narrative films. They tell stories about characters going through experiences. But what are they really about? What is the content of a film? DIGGING DEEPER: FOUR LEVELS OF MEANING Recounting the plot of a movie, telling what happens, is the simplest way to explain it to someone else. But this is neither a film review nor a film analysis. It’s merely a synopsis that anyone else who sees or has seen the movie will likely agree with. This level of content may be called the referential content, since it refers directly to things that happen in the plot and possibly to some aspects of the story that are merely implied by the plot. In John Boorman’s Deliverance (1972), four men from the city go on a weekend canoe trip that unexpectedly becomes a life or death struggle for survival of man against man and man against nature. Some characters survive, others don’t. Most films can be analyzed more thoroughly to reveal deeper levels of meaning. A review (perhaps 400-1200 words) typically includes personal impressions and evaluations of a movie’s content and techniques. A good review may be subjective, yet still touch superficially on topics that might be explored in more detail in a longer formal analysis. An analysis (perhaps 1200-12...
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