ipl-logo

Race And Social Inequality In Horror Films

2096 Words9 Pages

Horror films have always been a popular genre for filmmakers and movie-goers alike. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of horror films that center around the theme of racism. This is not a new concept, as racism has been depicted in horror films for decades. However, the way in which it is portrayed has evolved over time. The aim of this paper is to explore the ways in which filmmakers are addressing racism through horror cinema. One example of this is Mariama Diallo's Hair Wolf, which presents a satirical take on gentrification and the erasure of black culture through the lens of horror. Another example of this is Jordan Peele’s Get Out, where the director uses horror as a means to explore issues of race and social inequality …show more content…

In Horror Noire, the author, Robin Means Coleman notes that, historically, horror films have often relied on racist stereotypes and tropes to create a sense of otherness and fear in their audiences (Coleman). For example, many early horror films depicted non-white characters as villainous or subhuman, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and reinforcing existing power structures. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend towards more nuanced depictions of race and racism in horror films. By using horror as a vehicle for social commentary, films have the potential to challenge viewers' preconceptions and foster a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding race and racism in modern society. However, it is important to note that this evolution is far from complete, and there is still work to be done to address the racist elements that continue to persist in some horror films. Overall, the evolution of racism in horror films is an ongoing process that reflects broader societal attitudes towards race and …show more content…

Both films showcase the intersectionality of race, gender, and identity in the horror genre and provide a commentary on the experiences of black people in America. While Get Out highlights the horrors of racism and white appropriation of black culture, Hair Wolf addresses the gentrification of black spaces and the commodification of blackness. Despite their differences, both films succeed in providing a thought-provoking and impactful take on black horror. By exploring these themes through the lens of horror, Peele and Diallo have created a space for discussion and reflection on the experiences of black people in America, making their films an important addition to the

Show More
Related

What Does Kara Walker Mean By Cut Paper Silhouettes?

1000 Words | 4 Pages

Walker chooses to depict black figures using racist minstrel era characteristics as a tongue in cheek critique intended to shock (Cameron 11). Hamza Walker’s journal Kara Walker: Cut It Out implies that not only does Kara Walker intend to shock as Cameron suggested, but that she also wants to remind viewers of the “...dark picture of human nature by calling into question the idea of moral progress” (109). Hamza Walker begins her journal with a quote by James Baldwin that notes that “the horror is also the past”, indicating that dark pasts and natures cannot and should not be forgotten (108). American society as a whole, but specifically white American culture is built on this notion that we live in a post-racial America, and would claim that Kara Walker’s work is unhelpful, that bringing up discussion about race is inherently racist. Those made uncomfortable by Walker’s work that aren’t people of color, are being forced to acknowledge their history; that it was extremely likely that even if their ancestors did not actively participate in the enslavement of and lack of rights for black people, they benefited from this system.

Read More

Stereotypes In The Film Girl's Trip

1443 Words | 6 Pages

The film Girl’s Trip has been applauded for being a celebration of blackness in the primarily white film industry. The majority of the cast and the writers for Girl’s Trip are people of color. The film was much more successful than its “white counterpart” Rough Night in box office revenue and reviews. However, most of the black characters in Girl’s Trip shift through various controlling images throughout the movie. The reason these stereotypes are less obvious than they are in some other films is because each characters portrays multiple stereotypes and different times throughout the film.

Read More

Slapsgiving 3: An Analysis Of How I Met Your Mother

1522 Words | 7 Pages

As an example of Social consequences of this underlying racism allow the effects to appear less obvious to public-- viewers may view the scene as satire for this reason. Yet, the social consequences, because of its subtleness, is dangerous because it does not raise any feelings of alertness in the audience-- the feel indifferent toward the material, they think little of it, perhaps chuckling once and moving on. The dangers of feeling indifference toward the underlying racism gives the impression of the images being commonplace and thus reinforces the negative clichés. As a result, the subtle but simultaneously racist attitudes and ideologies become difficult to eradicate from

Read More

Black Representational Politics In Spike Lee's 'Bamboozled'

1943 Words | 8 Pages

In this essay, I will be discussing the debate and conversation surrounding the topic of Blackface, and what does that mean in media and to the black people, and how they are being misrepresented by whiteness. Through the analysis of Spike Lee’s Bamboozled, what is understood about Lee’s exploration of Hollywood’s representational politics, double consciousness and racial interpellation. And also, with support from the film and readings, how does Lee frame characters from a gendered perspective. Blackface, as known in today’s context and one from when it was conceptualized, is understood to white people’s construction of blackness, in the same breath trying to paint out and mould what the black experience could be. When dealing with the concept

Read More

School Daze By Spike Lee And Julie Dash

513 Words | 3 Pages

This film critiques the Hollywood system for its limited representation of people of color as well as the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. In the dubbing sequence, Dash calls to attention the technique of dubbing where a white woman is dubbed by a black woman. This stylistic choice uses dubbing as a metaphor to represent black invisibility. Furthermore, the film shows how Mignon’s experiences are shaped by both her race and gender. Even though she is forced to hide her true identity and pass as a white woman in order to succeed in the film industry, illustrates the complexity of navigating her racial identity in a society that values whiteness above everything else.

Read More

Get Out Give Two Examples Of Microaggressions

718 Words | 3 Pages

In addition, Get Out explores the subject of cultural identity and the fight of black people to claim their own place in largely white

Read More

Summary Of 'Blaxploitation Horror Film Fear Of The Other'

162 Words | 1 Pages

Fear of the Other, Blacula is the number one blaxploitation horror film. The 70’s saw a surge into the popularity of blaxploitation movies. Usually produced, directed and starring an all black cast; they increasingly became films about black justice and morality. Genre anxiety has given rise to the shifting of the Other from a foreign source of horror to an internal source of identity. The sub-genre adopts a fairly unique format condemning whiteness, as the classical horror film would call ‘The Other’.

Read More

Division In The Prison System: Documentary Analysis

1073 Words | 5 Pages

During the film, the director includes clips and photos of violent events to show the torture African Americans went through. Raw footage of lynchings and abuse were shown to connect to viewers’ emotions. These graphics successfully portray the suffering people went through rather than only hearing about it. The pain and heartache viewers feel supports the argument because it creates a sense of sorrow for how horrifically these people were treated compared to the privileges we have now. Although Americans have more freedom now than years prior, racial discrimination is ongoing.

Read More

Racism In The Princess And The Frog

971 Words | 4 Pages

The disturbing truth emerges that our history is so filled with racism, that it has caused Disney to have a lack of emphasis on racial issues in films such as

Read More

Comparing The Power Dynamics Of Race, Class, And Gender In Get Out

1128 Words | 5 Pages

A ray of hope for the prospect of reform is also provided by the movie's conclusion, in which Chris rebels against his oppressors and reclaims his agency. But, it also recognizes the necessity for continual awareness and action in the fight against structural racism. Ultimately, "Get Out" provides a strong and perceptive reflection on the problems with racism and race in modern society. The movie offers a sophisticated and complicated analysis of these subjects using psychoanalytic

Read More

Stereotypes In The Film Imitation Of Life

418 Words | 2 Pages

Moreover, demonstrate consequences are taken to oppress racial and ethnic minorities to keep them in a subservient position. Overall, this film has provided me with a visual depiction of how stereotypes are a mental tool that enforces racial segregation and self-hate. The label of “White” became a necessity for Sarah Jane to achieve in society. To attain it she needed to move to a new city, change her name and deny her mother.

Read More

In Living Color: Race And American Culture

1000 Words | 4 Pages

Ethnicity and Hollywood Racism is always issues which take a huge part of American history. Until the twenty-first century, although people tried to make the country becomes the freedom and equality nation, these issues are still happening everywhere. According to "In Living Color: Race and American Culture," Stuart Hall argues that racism is still widespread in the society and "it is widely invisible even to those who formulate the world in its terms" (qtd. in Omi 683). Indeed, situations about race quietly exist in the movie industry, which "has led to the perpetuation of racial caricatures" to the majority audiences and even minority audiences (Omi 629).

Read More

Race And Racism Theory: Critical Race Theory

1765 Words | 8 Pages

These articles and film explore the race and racism in United States along with critical race theory. In this paper, I will be critiquing these articles and films in order to evaluate the purpose for these readings and how they have helped

Read More

Brutality In Tarantino's Films

1318 Words | 6 Pages

Our inclination for sadistic violence towards culturally- hated acts creates a mob mentality in society and, is subconsciously imbedded within our psyche. Tarantino’s films, Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained explore this idea through the use of revenge as a plot device which his characters extract without any moral implications. Tarantino conveys this through his own ‘hyper reality’, where revised versions of historical events such as WW2 Nazi Germany and slavery in America act as a backdrop to the action seen on screen. Through his unique auteur style of gratuitous violence and cinematography, Tarantino forces us as the audience to reflect on both a personal and societal level on how we view violence and brutality in the media and in

Read More

A Time To Kill Film Analysis Essay

1431 Words | 6 Pages

These three theories will be further discussed in detail in this movie analysis. Firstly, racism is portrayed strongly in the movie. Racism occurs due to stereotypes related to racial issues. Stereotyping is the process “involving the expression of an exaggerated belief about a group that serves to qualify or justify the conduct towards that group of those who hold and express that belief” (Long, Wall 107).

Read More

More about Race And Social Inequality In Horror Films

Related Topics

Open Document