Stereotypes In Movies

Hitchcock uses camera shots and breaking the stereotype of his characters to intensify the film’s plot.

People tend to watch movies for a rest or advertising for new information of objects. Movies help you to reduce stress after a hard- working day and advertisings educate you to know the usage of existing products. Besides these functions, movies and advertising have changed our mindset significantly through stereotypes. Therefore, the number of people has argued whether breaking stereotypes is positive or negative effects on our life. Although it may be true that some people assume breaking stereotypes is not approved by audiences, it is necessary for several reasons. Cracking patterns will affect the human’s mindset by raising their self-esteem, encouraging them to be more objective, and breaking bias against women that they need protection

According to Campbell and Kean, teen movies are filled with stereotypes which can be divided into five categories: jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, goths and stoners (Campbell and Kean 274). For the purpose of this essay, they will be referred to as princesses (formerly cheerleaders), loners (formerly goths) and rebels (formerly stoners). In this essay, I will argue that 10 Things I Hate About You does not have the mentioned stereotypes.

Harmful racial stereotypes have plagued the entertainment industry since blackface minstrel shows began in New York in the early 1800’s. Although the structure of minstrel shows changed over time; the images, blackface, and the caricatures of blacks continued. Early Hollywood films sustained the racist tradition of white actors performing in blackface with numerous silent movies that included white actors playing non-white characters in a particularly stereotypical fashion. Eventually non-white actors were allowed to play themselves in film, however they were cast in extremely prejudiced roles that degraded themselves like “the coon”, “the tom”, “the black buck” or “the mammy” for African American actors, and “the bandito”, “the greaser”, “Latin lover” or the “spitfire for Latino actors. Although there are some productive ambiguities within some of these roles, they are ultimately damaging.

Throughout this chapter, Korgen main arguments pertained to the media’s portrayal of Black and White biracial characters in movies. Typically the media portrays people with lighter skin to have more positive characteristics while people with darker skin more negative characteristics. Media is one first place young children get these images from and it can have a huge impression on them without even knowing it. They are placed within this social class of existence. “Viewers tend to pay the most attention to characters who share their age, race, and gender and those they wish they could be like” (Korgen, 2010, pg. 89). Biracial Americans go through the toughest scrutiny by both races on whether they fit into either group. I know my brother and sister have this issue from the time they were little especially my sister, she is lighter skinned and was never truly accepted by the black or white girls at school.

In many films and modern tv shows there are a lot of gender stereotypes, but many of the racial stereotypes are in front of our faces and we do not even notice. For example, in the movie “Caucasian Chicks” directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans most people do not notice that the main characters are trying to be a stereotypical Caucasian female. When you watch the movie for the first time, you may not notice all the racial stereotypes in the movie; you just see a comedy movie starring two African-American males. What we don’t notice is that the movie is based on the stereotypical Caucasian female and how they act, how they are more “privileged” then everyone else, and the portrayal of their beauty standards.

Where can one start when talking about this movie? This movie definitely penetrates through each stereotype threat that can be imagined in the world. Hollywood has seemed also emphasize and exaggerate to point out the racism in the world. From non-driving Asians to an African-American detective that cannot seem to correctly identify the appropriate race of his Hispanic girlfriend. The stereotype threats are throughout this movie. (Haggis, 2005)

On an abandoned meadow, six boys played together and were having the time of their lives. The colorful graffiti on the walls and used mattresses on the grounds gave the place a homely feel and was their getaway. Even if someone were a mile away they could hear the clanks of sword fighting, and odd combination with jovial laughter, something he hasn’t heard in a while.

In many aspects of society, there are often unfair and inaccurate stereotypes on full display of certain people who belong to various demographics. Media, or more specifically TV shows, are no different in this regard. For example, men are painted out to be leaders, unemotional, and sometimes aggressive individuals who should be admired. Women tend to be shown as secretive and manipulative in order to get their way in a men driven society. It is also noteworthy that several homosexual characters are depicted as attempting to hide the fact that they are homosexual, and as feeble minded, even if the person in question is a male. While many times these stereotypes are untrue of the entire demographic being portrayed, people who attract to popular

Media plays major roles in our today’s society. Almost everyone grew up watching Disney films; we remember the characters and the story lines well. Most of us watch more than once for our favorite movies. Many little girls wanted to grow up to Cinderella or Snow White and many little boys wanted to be Aladdin or Hercules. These characters were our idols and role model; they represent everything that we wanted to be when we were young. Especially, Disney is the best company out there which kids are learning from for both good and bad. Disney is one of the first experiences we have with these ideas of beauty. A lot of them have major stereotyping on men and women behavior, appearance and expectation with impossibility. Fairy tales are something

“You can’t really divorce women’s struggles in the world from women’s in the cinema. As long as there’s hierarchy it means that women are somehow secondary or second class or less than” (Sally Potter). While moving pictures, “movies,” have existed since the late 19th century, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that narrative films grew into such a significant part of popular culture. The occupation of screenwriting involves developing and creating scripts for movies and television shows. Since the birth of the industry—as far back as silent movies—women have played roles in filmmaking, whether it be directing, producing, or writing. While female screenwriters in Hollywood do not arrive in large numbers, women are more than capable of meeting

Film has played a profound effect on popular culture and the world, but it seems that the same Caucasian male faces appear in all films. People of color and women fail to see their self in film, as “the film industry still functions as a straight, white boy’s club” (Moraes, 1). James Baldwin is an activist and social critic concerning the rights of minorities, mainly African Americans. He notes that African Americans today are “worthless human beings” (Baldwin, 1) and are “not expected to aspire to excellence” (Baldwin, 1) as laid out by society. This is evident in Hollywood’s practice of underrepresenting minorities and women in film, just as nations fail to prevent the undercutting of women and minorities in all walks of life. To address

Throughout the film, another important part of its cinematography is the vibrant colors included in the shots. For numerous night scenes in the film, the shots feature flamboyant red, and fluorescence, which strengthen the dynamics that is going on between Travis and the scene. For example, in a scene that takes place outside a diner, where these cabbies usually hang out, Travis is talking to another experiences cabbie named Wizard about his frustration. The main light source of this particular scene is the red light from the neon signs outside the diner; it envelopes the two figures who are having a conversation about cabbie and life, and sets out an eccentric feeling to the dynamics between the characters. The neon signs and the traffic lights

American films often have underlying themes that are hidden beneath the central plot. Racism, although it may not technically be considered a “theme”, is a subliminal message that can be seen in numerous films throughout the years. These masked implications often mock or make hateful references to people of different ethnicities. For example, Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, released in 1955, blatantly mocks the Asian culture through the Siamese cat characters. In the film, the cats speak with heavy accents and poor grammar. They are portrayed having bucked teeth and squinted eyes, and are also deemed to be quite dangerous. This film, nevertheless, can partially attribute to having racist qualities due to the era it was produced in. However, the relatively recent, 2009 film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen displays obvious racist comments aimed directly at African Americans, and portrays

I am a movie fanatic. My friends count on me to know movie trivia. If one asks who was the pigtailed little girl in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, I know the answer: Drew Barrymore. I also remember every big Oscar awarded since I was in grade school. What was the best picture 1994? It was Forrest Gump. My friends, however, have stopped asking me if I want to go out to the movies. While I love movies as much as ever, the inconvenience of going out, the temptations of the theater, and the behavior of some patrons are reasons for me to wait and rent the video.