Journal Article Analysis:
“King Kong Ain’t Got Sh*** On Me”
Allegories, Anxieties, and the Performance of Race in Mass Media
The depiction of African Americans in film has always been seen as controversial. There has and always be those who disagree with mass media and feel that we do not get a fair shake. Most in Hollywood feel that this is the only way to sell blacks in film. I beg to differ.
This paper will address the following items in this Journal Article Analysis assignment:
a. Briefly summarize the article and the author’s main points.
b. Analyze the article.
c. Describe why you do or do not agree with the author’s main points.
d. Describe why this article is or is not important.
Briefly summarize the article and the author’s main points.
This article discusses the depiction of African Americans in films. It describes how their real life struggles, fears, and downfalls are glorified in films. It proves that the stereotypes they are subjected to are not just carried out in their everyday lives, but in the film industry as well. African Americans are usually playing roles that influence the same.
According to Wilson, the article also discusses the fact that Denzel Washington and Halle Berry were nominated for the “leading Actor and Actress” in the 2002 Oscars. (Henderson, 2010). This came on the heels of the US attack by Al-Qaida. Some felt that this was some sort of vindication to the African Americans. (Henderson, 2010). Since the country seemed to be in a state of redemption, this was a way to make up for overlooking them at other deserving times. (Henderson, 2010).
Analyze the article.
What I gather from this article is that the Caucasian filmmakers must believe that the most economical and influential way to market and sell African American actors and actresses is to film them in a negative light. The stereotypes that they are subjected to are the stereotypes of yesterday and today. They will probably always be portrayed as gangsters, thugs, drug dealers, simple-minded and living dead end lives on a path to their final destruction. (Henderson, 2010). Some of the depictions of black men echo of centuries past. (Henderson, 2010). Believe it or not, some film critics’ characterized their worst fears and troubled moments as the “magical moments” in the story lines. (Henderson, 2010).
The article suggests that Denzel and Halle finally won their Oscars when they were portrayed as these characters with the same stereotypes that plagued all other actors. All of their excellent works went unrecognized when they portrayed the typical well educated and spoken African Americans. It was only when they fit the “norm” that they were recognized for their work in the film industry. (Henderson, 2010). According to Iverem, Halle Berry only won her Oscar when took her clothes off and bearded her breast during a love seen with Billy Bob Thornton in “Monsters Ball”. (Henderson, 2010). She never won an Oscar until then and she had numerous performances before then that she could have taken home one.
The same with Denzel, he had so many prior performances that he should have won his Oscars hands down. The movies, Malcolm X, Hurricane Carter, Philadelphia, The Pelican Brief just to name a few were films that he could have easily won Oscars. Julia Roberts made a statement that there was no way that she should have an Oscar and Denzel not have one. (Henderson, 2010). Oddly enough, “Training Day” won Denzel his very first Oscar for “Leading Role”. His character was so opposite of anything Denzel had done. He was demonized. He had been given the stereotypical character of the black male in today’s times. (Henderson, 2010). He was viscous, violent and cruel. His forceful references to the fantastical and animalistic qualities of King Kong signals America’s racial memory of the largest minstrel icon of its time, (and the most dangerous.) (Henderson, 2010). This phrase is symbolic of this movie and the representation of the black male by white America. (Henderson, 2010).
The authors’ main points are taken. I find fact in this article. It’s only because this is what you see in film. It is apparently the light the audiences are comfortable in seeing us portrayed
As economic times worsen and the unemployment rates amongst African Americans continue to rise, these stereotypes will remain prevalent and evident in society today.
Describe why this article is or is not important.
This article is extremely important because it you can see episodes of this behavior on the news every day. It has become the norm for African Americans to be depicted in a negative form. There will have to be some change in the way the media sees them and sell it. The film industry will have to learn to see the other side of them, and like it enough to put it in their films. Film Makers will have to take a chance on the brighter side to African Americans. They are no different than any other race, there is good and bad in all of them. African Americans are positive and productive citizens as well. They are the smart, rich, and powerful, and the gangsters and thugs in our society. Don’t judge anyone by the color of their skin; judge them by the content of their character.
REFERENCES
Henderson, C. (2010). "King kong ain't got sh*** on me" allegories, anxieties, and the
performance of race in mass media. Wiley Periodicals, 43(6), 1207-1221.
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