Stereotypes In Africa Speaks

How has the image of Africans develop from being savages to being portrayed as more human individuals? In other words, in what ways has the roles of African reversed over time? Refer to five or more of the assigned readings to support your assertions.
A stereotype can be defined as a “representational practice” that categorizes an individual or group of individuals based on their differences, often classifying them with a positive or negative label. For example, the classification of an individual based on their racial and ethnic backgrounds (Hall 225). The image of Africans as savages is a common stereotype seen in American and European films that show Africans as barbaric and primitive creatures. Specifically, a savage can be defined as an
The concept of “splitting” is defined as what separates the normal from the abnormal eliminating anything that doesn’t qualify as correct. The term is emphasized in the film as it allows the white race to be elevated while degrading the opposite race, Africans. Specifically seeing Africans ways and traditions as “wrong” and “unacceptable” because they are different, and therefore, seen as savage (258). Hall elaborates how this unbroken stereotype between Africans and being “extreme opposites” characters is what creates an unequal relationship between the races as Africans actions will never be correct or considered normal unless it matches the white individual (Hall n.d., 243).This can be reflected in the film though Hoefler’s self perception of superiority as he is portrayed as adventurous, brave, and strong while the Maasai individuals are seen as savages and weak. Because of this “splitting,” Africans are limited to expressing themselves without feeling dehumanized in their own
In the first film, The Gods Must Be Crazy, the director continuously compares the tribe’s way of life with the the city life, such as busy individuals working all day being surrounded by technology, while the Africans live a more care-free life, not showing a sign of stress or financial pressure. According to Linda Hunter, the directors use satire to ridicule the Bushman using Ar. The director over simplifies common objects and symbols, such as reading the time as “eight- zero, zero” instead of saying “eight o’clock,” inferring that not doing so would be too complex for Africans to understand. The Bushman’s life quickly changes when an unknown object to them, a bottle, falls from the sky. The director takes the opportunity to ridicule the Bushman for not knowing the actual use and “refus[ing] to adapt to the environment” and not knowing basic objects. Linda Hunter explains how explains like this are to show that the film was produced with the only purpose of showing uncivilized and savage ways of the San tribe. She further elaborates how the director is constantly making jokes on the Bushman tribe, yet because they are uncivilized, they are not away of the damage the director is doing as he is pushing the negative stereotypes. Dunn further elaborates that people the director never portrayed the Africans performing