Analysis of a Film Essay Example
Blacks in the Media:
A Critical Analysis of Spike Lee’s Bamboozled
Bridgette’ L. Miller
ENG225 Introduction to Film
October 25, 2010
Blacks in the Media:
A Critical Analysis of Spike Lee’s Bamboozled
In the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary one definition of bamboozled reads: “to deceive or get the better of by underhandedness; hoodwink (p. 105)”. In Spike Lee’s movie, Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), he explores how society buys into the stereotypes of African American in the media. Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), is a satirical film that explores many different genres; including drama, comedy, perhaps black comedy, and music. Lee's basing the movie in satire form was a brilliant move because in it he was able to push the envelope harder than drama or straight comedy would have allowed.
Spike Lee’s purpose throughout Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), is a strong one, and the use of blackface, while extreme, serves as a readily inspiring figurative sign of how the racism of yesterday still exists, but in different forms. Spike Lee’s purpose was to show how blacks are portrayed in the media and sets out to either get fired and/or erase black stereotypes from the minds of the American society. In this film it really had all of the “Marxist Approach” because it included consideration of racial issues, “Humanistic Approach” because the film makes a statement, cultural experience, human nature or human experience, and the “Thematic approach” because of the films unifying central concern, the element that unifies the work plot, a single character, emotional mood or effect, creation or certain style or texture” (cited from “The Art of Watching Films” p. 410-412). The movie was a mix of many approaches that I saw and all were put together very well.
When I first watched Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), it seemed as though it was just exploring the demeaning act of minstrel shows, but there were other submerged themes. The submerged themes being that minstrel acts have not gone away, but
A Critical Analysis of Spike Lee’s Bamboozled
Bridgette’ L. Miller
ENG225 Introduction to Film
October 25, 2010
Blacks in the Media:
A Critical Analysis of Spike Lee’s Bamboozled
In the Random House Webster’s College Dictionary one definition of bamboozled reads: “to deceive or get the better of by underhandedness; hoodwink (p. 105)”. In Spike Lee’s movie, Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), he explores how society buys into the stereotypes of African American in the media. Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), is a satirical film that explores many different genres; including drama, comedy, perhaps black comedy, and music. Lee's basing the movie in satire form was a brilliant move because in it he was able to push the envelope harder than drama or straight comedy would have allowed.
Spike Lee’s purpose throughout Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), is a strong one, and the use of blackface, while extreme, serves as a readily inspiring figurative sign of how the racism of yesterday still exists, but in different forms. Spike Lee’s purpose was to show how blacks are portrayed in the media and sets out to either get fired and/or erase black stereotypes from the minds of the American society. In this film it really had all of the “Marxist Approach” because it included consideration of racial issues, “Humanistic Approach” because the film makes a statement, cultural experience, human nature or human experience, and the “Thematic approach” because of the films unifying central concern, the element that unifies the work plot, a single character, emotional mood or effect, creation or certain style or texture” (cited from “The Art of Watching Films” p. 410-412). The movie was a mix of many approaches that I saw and all were put together very well.
When I first watched Bamboozled (Lee, 2000), it seemed as though it was just exploring the demeaning act of minstrel shows, but there were other submerged themes. The submerged themes being that minstrel acts have not gone away, but