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Final Exam Chart Documentary (-ies) Themes ONE Example of EACH Theme Modern Example of EACH Theme (Be Specific and Explain!) Films on Demand: Ethnic Notions and Color Adjustment Ethnic Notions Theme #1: If you can’t control the body, control the perception of the body Ethnic Notions Theme #2: Assimilation within degradation Color Adjustment Theme#1: If you can’t control the body, control the perception of the body Color Adjustment Theme #2: Assimilation within degradation Documentary (-ies) Themes ONE Example of EACH Theme Modern Example of EACH Theme (Be Specific and Explain!) Films on Demand: The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords Theme #1: Seekers and tellers of truth Theme #2: Power tries to silence truth Documentary (-ies) Themes ONE Example of EACH Theme Another Modern Example of EACH Theme (Be Specific and Explain!) You Tube (Free) Netflix (Subscription): 13th Theme #1: Legal slavery Theme #2: Economic gain from the abuse of Black and Brown bodies Theme #3: A stacked deck Documentary (-ies) Themes ONE Example of EACH Theme Another Modern Example of EACH Theme (Be Specific and Explain!) Films on Demand: Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Theme #1: Struggle Theme #2: Resistance Theme #3: Uplift
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This chart reflects various themes prevalent in seminal documentaries that explore race, media, and cultural evolution, along with modern examples that reflect similar messages or realities.
Documentaries and Thematic Examples
Ethnic Notions
Theme #1: If you can’t control the body, control the perception of the body
- Explanation: This theme examines how societal perception and representation influence behaviors and attitudes toward marginalized groups. The media often casts stereotypes that control the narrative surrounding Black bodies.
- Modern Example: The documentary The Hate U Give (2018) illustrates this theme through its portrayal of the protagonist, Starr Carter, who grapples with her identity in a racially volatile environment. The film critiques how society imposes narratives on Black individuals and how those narratives affect their lives.
Theme #2: Assimilation within degradation
- Explanation: This theme explores the idea that in order to be accepted in a racially biased society, marginalized groups must often degrade their cultural identities.
- Modern Example: Black Panther (2018) showcases this theme through the character of Erik Killmonger, who embodies the struggle between cultural assimilation and pride in one's roots. He represents a counter-narrative to traditional depictions of assimilated African Americans.
Color Adjustment
Theme #1: If you can’t control the body, control the perception of the body
- Explanation: Similar to the theme observed in Ethnic Notions, this theme suggests that media representation can manipulate societal perceptions, affecting how individuals are viewed and treated.
- Modern Example: The Netflix series Dear White People (2017-2021) addresses media representation and cultural perceptions of Black identity through a satirical lens. The show critiques how college life, and college media, create narratives that can ‘adjust’ perceptions of Black students.
Theme #2: Assimilation within degradation
- Explanation: This theme illustrates the notes of forced acceptance into mainstream (often white-dominated) culture at the cost of one’s identity.
- Modern Example: Get Out (2017) reflects this theme through its depiction of a racially charged social landscape where the lead character, Chris, is both celebrated and exploited by his white girlfriend's family. The film critiques the commodification of Black culture in white spaces.
The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords
Theme #1: Seekers and tellers of truth
- Explanation: Documentaries capturing this theme emphasize the responsibility of the press as a watchdog that challenges societal narratives and reveals truths often obscured.
- Modern Example: The Daily podcast by The New York Times provides a platform for investigating contemporary issues, often mirroring the investigative spirit of Black press advocates by uncovering systemic inequalities.
Theme #2: Power tries to silence truth
- Explanation: This theme delves into the darker dynamics of power as entities seek to suppress dissent and maintain control over narratives.
- Modern Example: When They See Us (2019) tells the story of the Central Park Five, illustrating how systemic power structures worked to suppress their truth and perpetuate injustice.
13th
Theme #1: Legal slavery
- Explanation: The theme discusses the 13th amendment's clauses that allow for involuntary servitude under criminal conviction, leading to disproportionately high incarceration rates for African Americans.
- Modern Example: The 13th documentary itself serves as a critical analysis but can be paralleled with reports about the prison-industrial complex highlighted in The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, showing the continuation of legal oppression.
Theme #2: Economic gain from the abuse of Black and Brown bodies
- Explanation: This theme critiques the economic structures that benefit from systemic racism and the exploitation of marginalized bodies.
- Modern Example: DA 5 Bloods (2020) explores the economic implications of the Vietnam War and how marginalized communities pay the price for systemic neglect and exploitation.
Theme #3: A stacked deck
- Explanation: This theme emphasizes the inherent inequalities in societal structures that disadvantage marginalized populations.
- Modern Example: The documentary I Am Not Your Negro (2016) highlights this theme by examining the life of James Baldwin and the systemic racism embedded in American society that creates an uneven playing field for people of color.
Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Theme #1: Struggle
- Explanation: This theme depicts the historical and ongoing struggles faced by HBCUs in providing education amidst systemic racism and scarcity of resources.
- Modern Example: The ongoing debates about funding for HBCUs highlight contemporary struggles, as seen in the We Are HBCUs campaign advocating for increased financial support and equity.
Theme #2: Resistance
- Explanation: This theme captures the resilience and resistance movements engaged by HBCUs against societal inequities.
- Modern Example: The protests and events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement highlight resistance in the adaptation of HBCUs’ roles in activism today.
Theme #3: Uplift
- Explanation: This theme discusses the importance of education and community support in uplifting the African American community.
- Modern Example: Programs like the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) actively embody this theme by providing scholarships and opportunities aimed at empowering Black students through education.
References
1. McElvaine, R. S. (2016). The Great Depression: America 1929-1941. Random House.
2. Alexander, M. (2012). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. The New Press.
3. DuVernay, A. (2016). 13th. Netflix.
4. Lee, R. (2018). Black Panther. Marvel Studios.
5. Jenkins, J. (2019). When They See Us. Netflix.
6. Ricks, D. (2013). Ethnic Notions. California Newsreel.
7. Simmons, G. (2020). Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. PBS.
8. Netflix. (2021). Dear White People.
9. Peebles, A. (2017). The Hate U Give. 20th Century Fox.
10. Baldwin, J. (2016). I Am Not Your Negro. Magnolia Pictures.
This analysis outlines crucial themes within historically significant documentaries and examines modern examples that echo the societal issues they address. Each theme is carefully selected to emphasize the ongoing conversation about race, identity, and media representation in contemporary society.