Y200 Politics and Film

October 25, 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-Americans and Race RelationsRoots (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?