Ethnic Notions Film Response Essay - 1219 Words

Ethnic Notions: Film Response The 1987 film documentary Ethnic Notions directed by Marlon Riggs, identifies the evolution of African American cultural depictions through ethnic stereotypes and caricatures in American culture. I feel Ethnic Notions exposes the roots of false generalization from the beginning and presents a series of classifications for racial depictions that still are noticeable in todays society. These racial depictions identified with in this film begin in the mid 1800s and continue thought to the 1960s. I now after viewing Ethnic notions agree that there are generalizations and depictions that are exaggerated in American popular culture and entertainment. Ethnic Notions properly documents racial stereotypes though†¦show more content†¦Minstrel performers where as the film described, a group of white Caucasians that would perform with black face paint and mock African Americans. This form of entertainment grew popular and provided one of the strongest depic tion of the Sambo. Right next to the Sambo was the Zip Coon, a dandy, and a buffoon, a Zip Coon would attempt to imitate whites. But with poor grammar and with little to no intelligents the Zip Coons attempts proved to be a nothing more then a racist mockery. Therefor creating a generalization of Stupidity with in the African American population and creating a notion of Racial inequality. Also with the Sambo and Zip Coon was the Mammy. The mammy is described and viewed as a jolly, obese, African American women, the strongest Mammy depiction was first evident in the film Judge Priest in 1934. The Uncle figure was depicted in similar nature as the Mammy but in male form and a depiction called the Pickaninny provided a generalization of silly and worthless African American Child. All of these happy and silly depictions skewed Americas view of slavery and presented a happy vision, a vision where one would believe that African Americans enjoyed being enslaved. Then as time went on slavery was abolished and civil rights moved forward. The popular depictions of African Americans then moved away from the unintelligent, yet happy and joyful African Americans to the depiction of the unintelligent violent African American. ThisShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Woodrow Wilson High School1311 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent groups, categories, cultures, and identities will take the toll of action while one is responding either to you or about you. The film I analyzed is Freedom Writers, which is based on a dedicated teacher of the white or Caucasian ethnic group. White being the dominate group in America that tends to have many privileges, which the teacher Erin Gruwell took the notion to step up and develop a hurting school that used to be an A average educational institute. From the words of the head person in chargeRead More Response to Movie Ethnic Notions Essay example701 Words   |  3 PagesResponse to Movie Ethnic Notions The movie Ethnic Notions describes different ways in which African-Americans were presented during the 19th and 20th centuries. It traces and presents the evolution of the rooted stereotypes which have created prejudice towards African-Americans. This documentary movie is narrated to take the spectator back to the antebellum roots of African-American stereotypical names such as boy, girl, auntie, uncle, Sprinkling Sambo, Mammy Yams, the Salt and Pepper ShakersRead MoreAnalysis Of Kill Bill Volume One, By Uma Thurman And Vivica Fox s First Encounter1025 Words   |  5 Pagesof non-understanding, Tarantino stands alone in his film style. From the visual to the audio, quite nearly every aspect of his films diverge from traditional values. 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