After watching today's video on the many racial stereotypes in movies throughout the years, I was surprised to see some very recognizable and popular movies as examples. I had never thought about these movies being racially hurtful and slandering cultures. I guess, this is mainly because when I watch movies - I am being taken into a world that has nothing to do with ours. Movies take me away from the reality that is our lives.
Taken out the context that is the present, so many things in movies are left completely to imagination and have no more depth and truth than a book. Some books could have the same racial issues and hardships and people would never know (mostly because reading books has become less and less of a hobby for our current cultural world).
I do beleive that some of the cartoons and movies and shows from the past (the 20's through the early 70's) had some very questionable and troubling stereotypes. These situations, however, would never happen today in such a commonly accepted way. Many movies do push the bar, however, and it is most always to prove a point and make a message clear and really hit home to as many people as possible. And if you think about it, isn't that beneficial to us?
I'm not saying that racial slurs and slander and religious jokes are okay for everyone else. That is very obviously not true... But, sometimes a great piece of art has to get right up to the line and show people what it means and what it does to others. Some don't take see what their actions do to others, and movies let them see all sides to the story.
Again, I am a defender of film. I want to work in all aspects... acting, writing, producing, etc... So i choose to believe that there is a good side to it.
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