Topic Question: How does format impact the overall message and significance of works that center or feature Black perspectives and engagement with beauty culture albeit documentaries, made for TV movies, reality tv, major motion pictures?
The response paper is designed to elicit an analysis of film, television, beauty culture, and critical thought regarding course themes as they pervade representations of African American beauty culture. Each response paper should satisfy the following requirements while reflecting knowledge of a film/ television show’s plot without relying on plot summary but instead, a robust understanding of the characteristics of a film/ television theory, beauty culture theory, and/or critical cultural theories in regard to major course content covered thus far.
The response paper must meet the following requirements:
-Responds to a viewing question(s) associated with the 2-3 films/ television shows covered in the most recent course content units/ module. See the list of questions shared in each work’s discussion board.
-Responds to at least one of the questions that guide the course as stated in the course syllabus.
-Response must be in paragraph format, the required length is 1-3 typed, double spaced pages, and it must reflect MLA format including a Works Cited page when citing articles and films. All essays and response papers should be double-spaced, indented paragraphs, with standard margins (1″), font (Times New Roman, 12 point), and each essay should be given a unique title.
Background Information:
What stereotypes and characters based upon and/ or imposed upon African Americans appear in the film?
The Mammy, the Pickaninny, the Coon, the Sambo, the Uncle are the most used image of African Americans in this film.
What anti-black prejudices/ beliefs resulted from the cultivation of the stereotypes discussed?
These false stereotypes undoubtedly give people bad impressions. For example, some animated images or artworks with stereotypes. As the interviewer in the film says, even though they don’t look like that, as more of these images appear, it makes people start to think that black people are like that.
What impact have the stereotypes in the film had on African Americans?
Some images like sambo are deliberately glorifying slavery. This would first of all be a public misinterpretation of the cruelty of slavery, while ideologically influencing some black people and trying to control them.
How do these anti-black prejudices show up in American society and the psyches of people in America?
First, the emergence of these anti-black images has caused some Americans to begin to see African Americans with stereotypical influences. Their images were formatted in such a way that features of their appearance, for example, their physical features were deliberately portrayed and exaggerated with insults. On the other hand, influenced by these stereotypes, some Americans will apply keywords and some impressions to African Americans that do not belong to them.
Part 1:
First of all, I think the difference between them is that in sitcoms the discussion of fatherhood is to some extent idealized or formalized. In the documentary, on the other hand, the discussion of fatherhood is mostly real and reminiscent. I think it is efficient and necessary to use the power of Barbershops to change the image of African American fathers. As KENNETH BRASWELL mentioned in the interview, people get advice, good or bad, at the barbershop, and if that advice is channeled correctly, it can be a positive and beneficial social place.
Part 2:
1. I think in the video, for Black hair they are discussing is the conflict between natural black hair and unnatural hair. The Black hair group is considered outdated and undesirable by the unnatural hair group, while unnatural hair such as wigs are glorified. This led to a divide between these two groups.
2. What I see in this scene is a discussion of beauty and identity. The social issues between natural Black hair and Europeanized hairdressing. The social issue of defining the difference between good hair and bad hair.
3. I think the determination between good hair and bad hair is not only about being serious about aesthetics but also about perceiving one’s own identity. Using wigs or coloring your hair may not be bad, but denigrating natural black hair is a way of disowning your identity, and that is definitely not right. For college students and young people, the key to establishing the right values is to identify with your own identity.
4. I think the use of music and costume are elements of the film that are artistically exaggerated. This part has playfulness and at the same time a unique prominence.
Links to the videos:
Ethic Notions: https://fod-infobase-com.proxyau.wrlc.org/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=49775
That’s my mama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xob8hT6tKss
Black fatherhood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kubprZ3yk&t=188s
School Daze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HUUvQ3Yac8