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March 8, 2011
The Politics of Difference in FilmsRaceGenderSexual PreferenceReligion
The issue here is whether Hollywood-made orother types of films can directly confront thesetypes of issues -- and, if so, under what conditions.
Race Relations in FilmsHow are the different races portrayed on
film?Roles played by actors of different racesTypes of scripts selected for films about race
relations (or seemingly unrelated topics)Directors and producers of different races?
How has Hollywood tried to make amends for its history of reinforcing racism?
Examples of Films about African-AmericansRoots (1977)The Color Purple (1985)Driving Miss Daisy (1989)Do the Right Thing (1989)Boyz N the Hood (1991)New Jack City (1991)Malcolm X (1992)Amistad (1997)
Contrastthese filmswith earlierfilms thatcontainedbasically racistideas:e.g. Step ‘n Fetchitor Amos and Andycharacters
Films about RacismGentlemen’s
AgreementChocolatWorld of Suzie
WongThe HurricaneMen of HonorJungle FeverMississippi MasalaAmerican History XCrash
Major African-American Actors/ActressesPaul RobesonDorothy DandridgeSidney PoitierDenzel WashingtonLawrence FishburnHalle BerryMorgan FreemanJamie FoxxForest Whitaker
African-American DirectorsSpike LeeMelvin Van PeeblesMario Van PeeblesGordon ParksJohn SingletonRobert TownsendReginald HudlinOz Scott
Gender IssuesHow are women portrayed (as opposed to
men)?Types of roles played by actressesTypes of scripts selected which deal with
gender-related issuesHow has Hollywood tried to atone for past
misdeeds in this area?
Key Ideas of Liberal Feminism in Film StudiesSymbolic annihilation through the under-
representation of women in films and other popular culture media.
Use of content analysis techniques to demonstrate the above.
In particular, under-representation of working and professional women in TV shows and movies.
Female DirectorsLeni RiefenstahlElaine MayLina WertmullerKathryn BigelowDiane KurysJodie FosterBarbara StreisandNora EphronKathryn Bigelow
So far, there are nofemale directors witha record of multipleblockbuster films -- mainly because mostfemale directors havenot been allowed todirect more than afew films.
Definition of Patriarchy “…a set of social relations between men, which have a material base, and which, though hierarchical, establish or create interdependence and solidarity among men that enable them to dominate women…”
Source: H. Baehr as quoted in Strinati, p. 198
Feminist Films?Woman of the Year (1942)Nine to Five (1980)The World According to Garp (1982)Fatal Attraction (1987)Blue Steel (1990)Thelma and Louise (1991)G.I. Jane (1997)
Happy Hooker MoviesNever on SundayKluteRisky BusinessPrivate LessonsThe GiftPretty Woman
One of the last bastions of patriarchy: the idea thatprostitutes like their jobs and are happy individuals.
Female Envy and Role Reversal FilmsSome Like It Hot TootsieMrs. DoubtfireMr. MomThe Bird Cage (La Cage aux Folles)
What these films have in common is the representation of males in traditional female roles and (in some of them)males masquerading as females.
Selfish Mother MoviesKramer vs. KramerOrdinary PeopleThe World According to GarpOne True Thing
Here the main question is how films portray motherhoodin an age of increased visibility of feminism.
Families: Functional or Dysfunctional?Prevalence of divorce in U.S. societyChanging gender rolesDealing with mental illness and disability
inside the familyTeenage rebellionChild abuse
How do Hollywood films deal with these issues?