Kareem on BIRTH OF A NATION, Racial Stereotyping

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AndyDursin
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Kareem on BIRTH OF A NATION, Racial Stereotyping

#1 Post by AndyDursin »

Don't always agree with Kareem but his analysis is usually thoughtful and intelligent.

I found this passage from his review of the Nat Turner film BIRTH OF A NATION and the controversy surrounding its star/director, Nate Parker, to be particularly striking -- racial stereotyping, but not exactly what you'd expect...
A filmmaker is under no obligation to balance the portrayal of whites and blacks, but it can hurt the veracity of the film to have almost all whites portrayed in such stereotypically villainous fashion when all the black characters are portrayed as humble, loving, heart-of-gold men, women and children. If this film is meant to preserve African-American history, this lopsided racial presentation makes it less accessible. The single exception is the wife of Nat’s owner, who, in a limited way, encourages his education. The dinner scene in which she has tears in her eyes as she watches her drunken son act in the same loutish way as her deceased husband is truly touching. More of that kind of nuanced characterization would have helped.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/n ... eakingnews

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