Seeing is Believing

Upon watching bell hooks and Melissa Harris-Perry in class this week, I must say not only did I enjoy watching these two scholars interaction, it open me to look at some things with a different perspective.

One of the things that intrigued me was when bell hooks spoke about how she frustrated, tired even, of watching in films the “beaten, victimized” (paraphrasing) black female body. She criticized a movie “12 years A Slave” because the lead female role was portrayed in the status quo of which you live and take care of your man needs before yours, with no self complexity. Basically, she was only there to uplift and support the male lead in which the story is about. 

At first I did not understand why she is so frustrated, after all it is an autobiographical story. Therefore the character’s role is just being played as it happened. Yet, she made a great point in saying that it is time for a change. Some aspects of non-fiction no matter how real to life it is given life on the screen is dramatized a bit for entertainment and to make money. So why not alter these character’s roles in a way to empower them and facilitate change as far as black/ minority representation in films. 

That totally makes sense. I remember my sister telling me (she is persuing her grad degree in creative writing, and she earned one of her undegrads in film) that media affects our lives more than we realize. She said what people see on the screen they can believe it to become a reality. So thinking of my sister’s statement and bell hooks it made me think, of course we can have films that make black representation more meaningful and complex without watering down the integrity of the plot. 

As she stated, we already (most of us) know the pain and ugliness of the past, so why stay in a sentimental state of which nothing is accomplished outside of the 2 hour or so movie? There should be films to entertain and engage people not only to think beyond what is displayed in the film, but to take action against injustice and work towards positive change. The very true fact is it starts with media, more so movies; like the saying goes, “seeing is believing.”

Do you think that showing black characters as more complex, and in central roles will change the integrity of an non- fiction movie? What is a fair compromise when scripting roles for black characters in non- fiction?