The Representation of African American Women in Hollywood Films
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The Representation of African American Women in Hollywood Films Abdulwahab Halima Jumoke Submitted to the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies Eastern Mediterranean University June 2016 Gazimağusa, North Cyprus Approval of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Prof. Dr. Cem Tanova Acting Director I certify that this thesis satisfies the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ümit İnatçı Chaır, Department of Communication and Media Studies We certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agah Gümüş Supervisor Examining Committee 1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tutku Akter 2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metın Ersoy 3. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agah Gümüş ABSTRACT The study „The Representation of African American Women in Hollywood Films‟ was conducted to examine the portrayal of African American women in Hollywood films from 2005 to 2015 from a feminist and black feminist stand point. The depiction of African American women in various stereotypical ways have become a serious issue, as it has been concluded in the mind of viewers that African American women are exactly the way they are been portrayed in the mainstream. Using the qualitative methodology of research, critical analysis was used to collect primary data to understand the content and better explain the messages contained in the three movies (The Help, I can do bad all by myself and Joyful noise) used for this research. The secondary data was collected from online journals, books, e-books, websites and motion pictures. The secondary data was used to support this study and also find related literature to this study. The findings of this study showed that aggression, over possession, stubbornness, annoyance, sex objectification, intervention patriarchy, sexism and self- discrimination with copious examples revealed in the selected films shows the true definition of how African American women are represented. Based on the analysis, African American women in the three movies were portrayed multiple times in the mammy, jezebel, and sapphire historical stereotype. Keywords: Hollywood, feminist, stereotypes, critical analysis, representation, patriarchy, sex symbols iii ÖZ Mevcut çalışma, “Afro- Amerikan Kadınların Hollywood Sinemasında Temsili” dir, Hollywood sinemasında 2005-2015 yılları arasında Afro-Amerikan kadınların nasıl tasvir edildiğini (betimlendiğini) feminist ve siyah feminist perspektifinden incelemektedir. Özellikle ana akım medyada Afro-Amerikan kadınların tasvir edilme biçimi, izleyicilerin zihninde bir algı oluşturmuş ve bu nedenle Afro-Amerikan kadınların çeşitli stereotiplerle (önyargısal) tasvir edilme biçimi önemli bir sorun haline gelmiştir. Kalitatif (niteliksel) metodolojinin kullanıldığı çalışmada, metin analizi yöntemi ile birincil veri toplanmış ve seçilen 3 filmin (The Help, I can do bad all by myself and Joyful noise) analizi bu doğrultuda yapılmıştır. Online dergi, kitap, elektronik kitap, web siteleri ve hareketli görüntülerden ikincil veri toplamak için yararlanılmıştır. İkincil veriler hem mevcut çalışmayı desteklemek hem de bu çalışma ile ilgili alanyazından (literatürden) faydalanmak için kullanılmıştır. Saldırganlık, inatçılık, sıkıntı, seks nesnesi haline gelme, cinsiyetçilik, ataerkillik ve kendi kendine ayrımcılık Afro-Amerikan kadınların seçilen filmlerde çeşitli örnekler üzerinden temsil edilme –tanımlanma biçimleridir. Yapılan analizler ışığında, Afro- Amerikan kadınlar seçilen üç filmde birçok kez dadı (mammy), Jezebel (ahlaksız kadın) ve sapphire sterotipleri üzerinden tasvir edilmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Hollywood, feminist, stereotip-önyargısal, metinsel analiz, temsiliyet, ataerkillik, seks sembolleri iv DEDICATION This research work is dedicated to my entire family for their support, both morally and financially during this programme. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT All thanks to God Almighty who gave me the life and strength to carry out this project. I express my gratitude to my beloved parents Engr. A.Y.A Abdulwahab, Alhaja Y.A Abdulwahab, and Alhaja S.A Abdulwahab for their moral and financial obligations to my studies. They are my source of inspiration throughout my entire period in school. I am grateful and indebted to my project supervisor Prof. Agah Gümüş for his guidance and support that made this research a success. To my distinguished instructors who have been there for me from the beginning of this journey till the end, and for the impacts they have made in my life, I say a big thank you. To my wonderful siblings, your love and courage kept me going, love you so much. To my entire family, thank you so much for your prayers and care. My appreciation and gratitude goes to Deola Elega for his effort in the success of this research work. Allah will reward you for all you have done for me immensely. I am also grateful to Ugbanna Benson and Asaah Bih Crystel for their effort for the achievement of this research work. To my friends turn family Hani, Faegah and Faezah, I appreciate your love care and support all through my studies. To my colleagues and those that assisted me in one way or the other, God will grant each and every one of us with a bright and prosperous future. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. ii ÖZ ............................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .......................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... xi 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study .................................................................................... 1 1.2 Motivation of the Study ...................................................................................... 4 1.3 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................... 5 1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study ....................................................................... 6 1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 7 1.6 Significance of the Study ................................................................................... 7 1.7 Limitations of Study ........................................................................................... 8 1.8 Operational Definitions of Terms....................................................................... 8 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 10 2.1 Hollywood Movies ........................................................................................... 10 2.1.1 Hollywood Movie Industry ........................................................................ 10 2.1.2 Black Hollywood ....................................................................................... 12 2.2 History of the Code „Race‟ In Relation To Hollywood ................................... 15 2.3 Historical Stereotypes of African American Women ....................................... 18 2.4 Images of African American Women in Films ................................................ 22 vii 2.5 Repercussion of African American Women‟s Representation in Hollywood Films ....................................................................................................................... 27 2.6 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................... 32 2.6.1 Feminist Film Theory ................................................................................ 32 2.6.2 Black Feminist Thought ............................................................................ 35 3 METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................. 40 3.1 Research Methodology ..................................................................................... 40 3.2 Data Collection Method ................................................................................... 41 3.3 Population and Sampling ................................................................................. 42 3.4 Reliability of the Research ............................................................................... 46 4 DATA ANALYSIS ................................................................................................. 47 4.1 African- American Women Portrayal in the Help, I Can Do Bad All by Myself and Joyful Noise ..................................................................................................... 47 4.1.1 The Analysis of the Film the Help (2011) ................................................. 48 4.1.2 The Analysis of the Film I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009)