African American Cinema Essay Example for Free

African American Cinema EssayThe return of murkys in Motion Pictures provides some of the most interesting studies along with the many controversial interpretations of the roles as actors they vie on quiz. As far back as the silent films era, African-Americans go been featured in operation outlines playing roles temperisation some aspect of acting and being purveyors of a black image. The messages or themes of these movies have over the years presented a mixture of images based upon what was thought to please the viewers of each cross film. Unfortunately, many of those films figureed black characters in negative stereotypical roles, which the average African-Americans would never truly identify as being like themselves. Since many of our American icons and electric rayes have come from our motion picture stars, we need to learn what this narrow view presented and compare it with what we presently see at our local cinema today.The movies extrapolate Whos overture To Dinner (1967), Shaft (1971), Do The Right Thing (1989), Boys n the Hood (1991), and Menace to rules of order (1993) show a thematic style and stereotypes in the way that black films have progressed over the years. The motion picture industry was never too quick to change their approach in presenting African-Americans in realistic roles depicting social or civil conditions in an integrated context. Many of these roles required scenes showing African-Americans in positions of part or relating to white Americans in a positive way.This Integration Period therefore brought together African-American actors with scenes along side white actors in roles showing some(prenominal) players dealing with racial conflict and resolution. Guess Whos Coming to Dinner was truly a unique film for its while in that Sidney battle of Poitiers character breaks all the stereotypical views of blacks in American Cinema. In the early 1930s blacks were portrayed as lower class, slow-witted figures of ente rtainment, often showed in menstrual shows. Poitiers character broke all these stereotypes.1971 brought to the big screen a successive series of superhero black or blaxploitation films. Shaft was released in 1971, and Richard Roundtree was the superman black hero detective. He was compared by many to the white James Bond. Related to Guess Whos Coming to Dinner, Shaft took it up a notch in showing a black man as a hero. Poitiers role was one to equalize whites and blacks in their roles in American cinema, but Shaft showed a black man who was an authoritative figure. Different themes can be mixed in between the two movies.They both show an intelligent black man that has a grip on reality. Both movies showed themes of how integration has enamored America. They differ though on a level in that Shaft was a black prevalent cast and Guess Whos Coming to Dinner was predominantly white. Do the Right Thing, Boyz n the Hood, and Menace to Society were all produced in a more modern era, hence the fact that they all have similar racial themes. The films all paint a picture of urban Black America in their time period.All three films are thought to be racially reactionary films aimed at the psyche of both black and white viewers. The movies were all a success due to the touched topics of racial situations, ethnic tensions, and gracious encounters of anger. The superb casts of both black and white actors made the motion picture industry aware of a newer avenue for films and race relations. African-Americans in motion pictures in todays expanding world of visual imagery can be seen on many expanding fronts.We see the making of motion pictures on subjects or themes which can be taken from history, life experiences, music, and unexplored events. Todays markets are open, and African-Americans are taking advantage of these open door opportunities. Actors and actresses are expanding their roles from compass point acting to movies to TV miniseries to video cassettes or discs, and roles taken from books, plus movie soundtracks. In our world today African-American actors and actresses will always have a place in American Cinema and their emerging looks bright and promising.