Blog #6

During the last week of class, we screened the movie “The First Purge.” Perhaps the most terrifying thing about this movie, is the fact that in today’s political climate, it isn’t that unlikely for it to happen. I am going to write a stream of consciousness about my thoughts regarding the movie.

           First and foremost, the government in the movie is corrupt. They are literally paying people to go out and kill others. This is shown when they offer money to the individuals living in the projects who participate in the purge. I feel like this was the government’s way of forcing black people to kill and rid of each other.

           As stated in class by Dr. Due, the idea that guns were being shipped into the projects by the NFF white supremacist group is not so far off from the same idea that crack cocaine was shipped and pushed through similar communities throughout the 1990’s. In fact, these mirroring metaphors persist throughout the film.

           For example, those participating in the purge were required to insert blue contact lenses. While there are varying explanations for this, I believe the NFF did this to make African-Americans a little bit more “like them.” Since white people are stereotypically the ones with blue eyes, I think that these lenses allowed the NFF to mirror themselves in these individuals.

           Since this movie was technically the prequel to all of the other purge movies, it makes me question why the purge continued year after year, considering the obvious racial disparities in those murdered in the first purge. However, one could ask the same questions now.

           Our current president is blatantly racist, and he gets away with crude comments and illegal activity on a seemingly daily basis. How are we allowing someone like that to be our president? And more importantly, how and why was he elected to be our president when his behavior started during his campaign?

           The imagery in this movie was also quite disturbing to me. I remember the first time I watched it, I got the chills and became a little bit anxious when the Klan was driving through the streets with their hoods on. Not only this, but the militia with the black face and monkey masks made me angry. It felt like mockery. Lastly, those dressed in gas masks reminded me of the Nazis.

           While this imagery was hard to look at, I think it was important for the movie. I think the message in these images was the idea that this movie is not farfetched whatsoever. These are real-world issues that still exist in what some believe is a “post-racial” society. While racist individuals both on and off screen may not always show their true colors publicly, I think that they become more comfortable doing so when they’re backed and supported by a government or power that influences them.

Blog #5

This week in discussion, we analyzed the work “Vulcanization” by Nisi Shawl. Upon first reading this work, I was unaware of the significance regarding the character King Leopold. The work’s premise is about a machine that makes ghosts seemingly come to life. While the story itself is well-written, I am going to use this blog to further research King Leopold. I think fully understanding his reign is key to understanding work.

           King Leopold was the King of Belgium from 1865-1909. He is best known for the massacres that occurred during his rule. He undertook the Congo Free State (present-day Democratic Republic of Congo) and eventually colonized it. He claimed the desire to improve the lives of Congo’s natives, however, like previous colonizers, he disregarded them.

           Leopold initially began extracting ivory from Congo, but when the demand for rubber increased, he forced the natives to harvest rubber instead, and process it in a practice called vulcanization. In an effort to obtain more personal wealth, King Leopold became greedy. He went as far as to amputate the limbs of men, women, and even children who failed to meet his requirements. Not only this, but he also sold many into slavery. The acts of murder and mutilation are estimated to be around 10 million.

           “Vulcanization” is an example of retribution horror. Although King Leopold selfishly took the lives of millions, it is those he has murdered who will have the last laugh. It is clear throughout the work that Leopold has no remorse for what he has done. While he could use the machine to perhaps apologize to these individuals or ask for forgiveness, he chooses instead to pursue his own self-interests. To Leopold, the atrocities committed were necessary in order to extract wealth.

           Leopold wants to use the machine to tell the individuals he murdered to stop haunting him. He only feels for the fact that he has to face the consequences of his actions. Instead of providing an end to his suffering, the machine haunts him more, making him pay for all he has done. He intends on confronting the black spirits specifically, however, he is faced with Lily, a young white girl whom he had killed for aiding a black individual in escape.

           After being haunted by the machine, Leopold returns to reality, only to find that he was still being haunted by the same ghosts he had aimed to get rid of. In King Leopold’s case, wealth is a curse when it comes to colonization. It directly and indirectly affects native groups not only in the present, but in the future as well. Just as the Congo natives had and continue to suffer, so must King Leopold.

Works Cited--

http://www.congoreformassociation.org/leopolds-reign-of-terror

Blog #4

After reading Fledgling by Octavia Butler, I recognized some interesting points of which I’d like to address. When I hear the word “vampire” I think of the Twilight saga, where all of the vampires are white. The characters are very pale, and it seems as though they applied makeup in order to make them look almost translucent in appearance.

           In Fledgling, most of the vampires were also white. However, some of them craved to be like Shori. Shori was black, and she was also half human. Her melanin allowed her to be outside in the sunshine, and the human aspect of her allowed her to stay awake during the day fairly easy compared to other vampires.

           While some vampires praised Shori for her strengths, other vampires saw her as a threat. This alludes to a real-life metaphor in the sense that black individuals are judged and stereotyped in much the same way that Shori was. They are feared, as though their skin color is something “dangerous” to their wellbeing and society.

           Octavia Butler’s main point in the book was the idea of hierarchy. The tendency towards hierarchy in the United States is that of white males at the top and everyone else at the bottom. However, in the Ina, the females were at the top, in a matriarchy. Shori also seemed to be at the top of this hierarchy, not just because she was female, but because she was stronger than the rest.

           From the beginning of the novel, it is made known that Shori lost all of her memory in a raid that killed other members of her family. This alludes to the idea that when Africans were brought to America as slaves, they too were robbed of their memories which included their culture, faith, language, etc.

           I also found it interesting how during the trials, Shori was told multiple times that she had to keep her emotions together. Just how in today’s society, women are told they are too emotional, it seems as though Shori must also contain herself in order to be taken seriously by those in power during trial. Any outbreak of emotion could ruin her chances of getting justice for her family.

           This could also be due to the fact that, because of her skin color, Shori had to keep it together in order to ensure she is taken seriously. This reminds me of how the criminal justice system holds blacks at a higher standard than whites; in the sense that whites can get away with crimes of which blacks cannot. This is shown clearly in U.S. prison demographics.

Blog #3

In this past week’s discussion, we discussed the short comedy horror “The Blackening.” While the film itself was comical in nature, it also pointed out the commonly held stereotypes amongst black individuals. They took the stereotypes, such that black people don’t like to camp or that black people always carry hot sauce in their bags, and portrayed them in a humorous way.

           As I’ve said before, I can only speak from my own experiences. I will never understand or know what it is like to be a black individual in America. However, I do know what it is like to be a Mexican individual in America. Therefore, I think I can use my own experiences to attempt to understand and sympathize about similar things.

           There are many stereotypes about Mexicans. For example, throughout my life, I have often heard various beliefs about Mexicans (or Hispanics in general) being labeled “uneducated immigrants” or “drug criminals.” For goodness sake, even the president himself has publicly claimed these stereotypes. Not only that, but they are also often portrayed as lazy and bound to low-wage jobs, such as housekeeping, gardening, and other domestic work.

           While these stereotypes can be hurtful, they are by no means true for every Mexican or Hispanic individual. My father is a Mexican immigrant, and he owns his own contracting business. He is not a gardener. He works from five in the morning to six at night every day but Sunday. He is not lazy. Rather, he is well-educated, motivated, and has a strong work ethic.

           In regards to the film “The Blackening,” I think humor serves as a way for those in minority groups to take power over the stereotypes held over them by those “in power.” Rather than letting the stereotype hinder their sense of equality in society, underlying the humor itself is real social commentary about race, racism, etc.

           While there is a sense of truth in all stereotypes (many domestic workers actually are Hispanic), intertwining this fact in a humorous context almost takes away, or lessens, the offense or hurtfulness. For example, had the things said in the film “The Blackening” been said outside of a humorous context, they would be unacceptable, and not funny at all. In other words, the humor seemingly numbs the wound.

           I think that comedy horror regarding stereotypes can be useful in a way that can critique real social issues and push for change. Likewise, using stereotypes in a humorous way can help obstruct the perpetuation of minority group status and the formation of self-fulfilling prophecies.

Blog #2

This past week, we had to watch the movie Tales from the Hood. Although this movie is from 1995, it’s quite frightening how in 2019, almost 25 years later, each and every tale is still relevant. In particular, the tale “KKK Comeuppance” seemed all too familiar in regards to our current administration and political climate.

           Prior to taking over the White House, Donald Trump was scrutinized during his campaign for his crude (and quite frankly, racist) rhetoric. For example, he regarded Omarosa Manigault Newman as a dog, Mexicans as rapists, and refused to condemn white nationalists their rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He has also referred to immigrants as “animals,” not people.

           Duke Metger, the senator campaigning in the tale, is also criticized for his prior affiliation with the KKK and obvious racism. Duke’s assistant, Rhodie, is African-American himself, and refuses to stand up for what is right. Not only this, but it almost seems as though Rhodie is being used by Duke to make a statement, perhaps that he is not racist. I equate this to racist individuals saying, “But I have friends that are black!”

           Trump has also stated himself that he has “never used racist remarks” and is “the least racist person.” However, I personally, along with many others, find many of his remarks to be racist in and of themselves. For example, he has frequently used the gang MS-13 to denigrate all immigrants and he banned Muslims from entering the country. Not only that, but he also claimed that Haitian immigrants all have AIDS and implied that Nigerian immigrants live in huts. This rhetoric is racist, it perpetuates the beliefs that those who are anything but white Americans are inferior. My question to those who defend Trump: if these comments aren’t racist, then what are they?

           After Rhodie falls to his death, Duke learns that the house he resides in could be haunted by dolls inhabited by the souls of previous slaves on the plantation. After this, Duke is warned that he should leave the house before something bad happens to him as well. Instead, he stays, and eventually meets face to face with one of the dolls from the painting in his office. At one point, he uses the American flag in his office to beat Miss Cobbs (the woman in the painting with the dolls). In this case, the flag stands as a patriotic image. Duke tries to defend himself with the flag.

Similarly, Trump’s slogan to “Make America Great Again,” implies that a great America is a white America. He uses patriotism, or perhaps white nationalism, to defend the country from “foreigners.” As stated in class by Dr. Due, here lies the gap between what the flag is supposed to stand for and what it actually does.

After being chased into his office, Duke finds himself being ambushed by not just one, but all of the dolls. Figuratively and literally, Duke tries to protect himself by covering his body with the American flag. He fails.

I think the takeaway here is that, race is something arbitrary. America is a melting pot of different races, ethnicities, cultures, and religions. Thus, the flag, or what it actually stands for, is not white nationality, but rather strength and unity.

Blog #1

I want to start out by saying that I have been a horror fan for most of my life. As a young girl, I remember watching scary movies when my parents were out doing errands, knowing that they wouldn’t allow me to watch them if they were home. That being said, I have seen many films throughout my time, but I have found recent ones pretty monotonous and predictable. However, if I had to choose the best horror movie I have seen in the last few years, it would definitely be Get Out.

This film was so intriguing simply because it opened up conversation and allowed individuals to view real life black horror. While blacks have appeared in films since the early 20th century, they never really appeared in a way that reflected their story or gave them any sense of identity. When included, black actors were often the first to die, sacrificial, or spiritual/magical. These tropes are problematic because they perpetuate demeaning images and stereotypes of black individuals.

Jordan Peele, the director, used this film to examine the impact of white supremacy by making racism the metaphorical monster. In many films, white individuals are often portrayed as the saviors. My first time watching Get Out, I found myself shocked to see the box of photos of Rose with other black men and women. It made me think, did Rose really put on that good of a show, or was I watching the movie with the notion that Rose would be Chris’s savior?

The fact that I have to ask myself this question proves that this is not just another horror film, but rather, a film with an important message about the current system we live in. This was a way for me, and I’m sure many others, to experience the world through a black individual’s perspective. Like Peele told Oprah in an interview about his film, “White people watching the movie don’t identify with the white people in the movie; they identify with Chris.”

I would like to end by recognizing that I will never know what it feels like to be a black woman in America. However, I do think I can sympathize in some ways since I am a Mexican woman. As Professor Due stated in class, although I am unable to feel exactly what it’s like to be black, I do know what it feels like to be stared at and judged for other reasons, such as speaking Spanish in public. In this sense, I feel like I can empathize with what it feels like to experience being “out of place” or “isolated” from everyone else in the room.