Você está na página 1de 4

Savich 1

Ben Savich
Proffesor Karin Waidley
Film and Culture
September 23, 2015
Film Analysis of Bamboozled
Ever since the founding of the United States, racism has been a significant part of its
history. It can clearly be seen with how Native Americans were treated when white settlers
arrived, and with the practice of slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries and many years before. It
has carried over to present day, and clearly visible throughout media. In Spike Lees film
Bamboozled, which is a dark satire on race, Lee tries to educate the audience on how blacks
have been mistreated in the mainstream media over time with remnants from slavery. The title
itself implies that theyve been cheated or conned. Although one could argue that many of the
labels attached to majority of the black community apply because of the stereotypes Lee portrays
in the film reversing on themselves. In addition the dominant ideology of women being
objectified is shown, dulling Lees ability to construct an effective counter-narrative.
African Americans throughout history have been stereotyped as being lazy, trouble
makers, inferior to the white race, not able to think, can only sing, dance, and play sports. These
labels are not only connected to the history of their colonization, but have also been used to
exploit the black race into the present day. Although we have a black president, and members of
the black race have positions of power, this would make you believe that there would be less
discrimination against them. Yet, much of the black community still remains poor, unemployed,
and for the most part, negatively labeled. And institutional racism still exists in education,
economics, etc.

Savich 2

Stereotyping is evident in Lees film Bamboozled. Pierre Delacroix is a young,


educated writer at a television network, CNS. He is the only black writer on his staff, which can
be viewed as tokenism, for the network. This is referenced in the movie when all the writers
are sitting around the table in the conference room. Some speculations are voiced as to why that
is, but the reasons why Delacroix is the only black writer is evident. This is shown by various
incidents in the film including when he asked why he was the only black writer on the staff and
the uncomfortable responses were that there was no one else applying that was black or all
positions had been filled. He is also intelligent, ambitious, successful, follows the rules, and has
many of the characteristics of a white protagonist that we are used to seeing in most films
today; the only feature that differentiates him is his skin color.
Pierre Delacroix wants to create a show that will please his boss and at the same time
relieve him from his work because he feels unappreciated as a writer. The show he creates wants
to portrait that negro middle class does exist and it would be a great sitcom but his boss,
Dunwitty, believes that neither niggers or crackers want to see that junk. This results in the
creation of Mantan: The New Millennium Minstrel Show a show that has very racist images
such as, watermelon, and chickens, surprisingly becomes a big hit. As the show becomes more
popular, Pierre and his assistant Sloan, receive much criticism from their family, friends and the
public for remaking past stereotypes of blacks on television.
Sloan plays the role of Delacroixs assistant and the dominant ideology of how women
are viewed is clearly seen as she will never amount to Delacroixs status. As she becomes a threat
to him, all Delacroix had to do was bring to light of what she did to get to land the job. One
would assume that a black female, working as in intern would have difficulties to gain that kind
of status, especially a company she worked for, which is predominantly white. As she states in

Savich 3

the movie, although she is hard working and ambitious, it is overlooked because of the sexual
relationship she had with Delacroix. And the assumption that a black woman couldnt succeed
based on merit alone.
The film touches upon a very sensitive subject and even though black individuals do not
wear blackface, they are reminded of their blackness because throughout history nothing
significant has been done to make up for slavery the grave mistake of humanity. As offensive as
the film is, Spike Lee gets off the hook for many of the criticisms he might face because of his
race, an African American filmmaker, and the framework of the film, satire. Just imagine if the
writer and producer of the movie were white. This would definitely have a different outcome for
the film being produced, if at all.

Savich 4

Works Cited
Bamboozled. Dir. Spike Lee. Perf. Damon Wayans, Savion Glover, Jada Pinkett Smith
Los Angeles, CA: New Line Home Productions, Inc. 2000
Benshoff, Harry M and Giffin Sean. America on Film. Malden: Wiley & Sons, 2009

Você também pode gostar