Dinosaurs, Social Justice, and Tarantino

     "Dinosaurs in the Hood" by Danez Smith immediately stood out to me. Its words, references to current social justice problems, and pop culture create such a clear and standout story. Smith urges society to stop allowing real social issues be portrayed in movies and tv by famous actors. This never-ending cycle takes away the validity away from these situations, and replaces it with glamour, fame, and seemingly impossible outcomes. If we are going to properly show real-world issues, we need a real-world cast–heroes who aren't famous, rather they come from broken homes, different races, and are all sorts of ages. 

    Smith's ideal movie alludes to the fact of racial injustice is understood through film. There are so many stereotypes surrounding race driven films. Smith is tired of seeing mainstream actors like Will Smith play the hero in a story that is cheesy and unrealistic. These movies end with some sort of progression, but in reality, that usually isn't always the case. We need to break the mold of black stories in the film industry. Smith says, "But this can't be a black movie. This can't be a black movie. This movie can't be dismissed because of its cast or its audience. This movie can't be dismissed because of its cast or its audience,". For me, the takeaway of this quote is that a movie about race, and black society cannot be dismissed as simply a genre. Being black doesn't fall into the categories of Netflix alongside Romance and Comedy, rather it is a way of life. It is the film industry's job to tell real stories filled with real people, with real outcomes. It cannot just be a feel good movie that society knows all too well and is comfortable with. The sole purpose of this movie is to empower those who are marginalized by injustice. It's about giving young black children hope and faith that they will play the starring role in society. 

Focusing on the verse on Quentin Tarantino, this resonated with me because two weeks ago I studied Tarantino's Django in EN 409 Honors. We talked a lot about how Tarantino is a controversial director due to the amount of violence and also humor he uses to create shock-value. In my opinion, I believe that Tarantino can make light of real horrific social issues. He plays on stereotypes to gain as large of an audience as possible. I think it's important that Smith mentions Tarantino because him and other directors tend to 'white wash' movies. Tarantino can do more harm than good, as it can be argued that his works have undertones of micro-aggressions. 

In conclusion, Smith's words are so powerful as he ends with, "...the little black boy on the bus with a toy dinosaur, his eyes wide and endless,". It all comes back to creating a place safe for young black children where they are uplifted by society, and see themselves as strong powerful heroes. We need to give every single kid a chance at life that is unbiased and works in their favor–not against them. 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hamilton's understanding of National Time

Lin-Manual Miranda’s masterful hip-hop musical, Hamilton , eloquently ties together time theories that show the impact time’s understanding has on the development of a character and the motivation behind their actions.  Miranda’s work could not avoid discussion of the implications of understanding time, as he draws on history with his own lens, exposing his personal beliefs in time.  Miranda draws on national time in consideration of the creation of the United States, developing an understanding of the U.S.’s construction with a more modern and diverse perspective. The understanding of national time within this musical is seen through the creation of the nation, and Miranda’s understanding of ‘double time’ that was not considered in America’s history.  The U.S. Constitution was not written with consideration for those who were not experiencing life the same way as those writing it.  It did not consider the humanity of slaves, Native Americans, or women, who all experienced (and continu
Read more

Stability of "Creative Solitude"

     Every member of the Bechdel family household lives in their own world.  Alison's father lives in a trapped world--living in the same town and hiding his true sexuality--though he seeks stability in restoring their Victorian home and expressing himself through literature.  For instance, on page 13, there is an image of her father recording his voice to describe the influences on the house's design: "This owner changed the roofs, the porches, the chimneys, the fireplaces, the walls, the woodwork, until it became a stylish town house suitable for a prosperous lawyer's family."  His focus obsessively draws his attention and focus to the past, as he attempts to piece together the home's story.  This also alludes to his obsession with literature, as he chooses to live in a world different from his own reality, in order to escape his trapped life.     In addition to Alison's father, her mother, too, has her own sense of "creative solitude" (p. 133)
Read more

Home in Others

      Woodson’s own concept of home, I feel, evolves throughout the story’s progression. In the beginning, she is very focused on places and the feelings they provoke. Her geographical position greatly impacts her and the other characters’ mood, feelings of belonging and coincidentally, their comfort levels, which, in turn, all impact behavior. It is true that Jackie and her family must behave differently depending on their location. For example, take their obvious demeanor and mannerism change as the children make those journeys from North to South.       However, I would submit that Jackie’s concept of home takes on a less tangible form later in the story. While she does notice the comforting, home-like vibrations radiated from her various family members, the two remained coincidental until the climax of the book, aligning with Jackie’s increased self-awareness. She finds feelings of “home” and belonging while thinking of people, while reading, and in some way while she’s projecting
Read more