Blacksploitation
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BLACKSPLOITATION Paige Tittman THTR 3611 Drama of Diversity Blacksploitation Before 1970, black citizens were only seen as things like train porters, waitresses and shoe- shine boys. This stereotype started changing with the release of blacksploitation films. Blacksploitation also known as blaxploitation is a genre of movies that began appearing in the United States in the 1970s. The genre is an ethnic subgenre of exploitation films. The flicks were originally created exclusively for an urban black audience. However, the audience quickly began appealing to a much larger audience of different races and ethnicities. Blacksploitation The term blacksploitation, black and exploitation combined, was coined by the head of the Los Angeles National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Junius Griffin in the early 1970s. Junius was also an ex-film publicist. Among many other reasons this genre was ground breaking due to the facts that it regularly included soundtracks of funk and soul music and that the movies had predominantly black casts. Most blacksploitation films got bad reviews from critics. However, they were typically commercially successful. Characteristics and Qualities Blacksploitation films that were set in the Northeast or West coast generally took place in poor neighborhoods. Ethnic slurs aimed against whites like the terms honky, cracker and womb as well as offensive white characters were common elements of blacksploitation flicks. Many white characters had to play the roles of corrupt cops, drug dealers, gangsters and pimps. If the pictures were set in the South or the Wild West slavery and miscegenation were common elements. While blacksploitation is a subgenre of exploitation films there were also many subgenres of blacksploitation itself including action/ martial arts, comedies, coming-of-age/courtroom dramas, crime, horror, musicals, nostalgia and westerns. The soundtracks to these films featured funk and soul jazz tunes. The blacksploitation soundtracks were complex and they were unique from funk songs that were heard on the radio during the 1970s. As blacksploitation grew in popularity other genres of film began to feature black characters who played stereotypical blacksploitation roles. Many blacksploitation movies provided mainstream Hollywood producers a cinematic way to show plantation slavery including all of the brutal racial controversies and inconsistencies about things like sex and rebellion. Controversy In the United States the way that blacksploitation explored and shaped race relations became controversial. Some people thought that the films were a token of black empowerment but other thought that they perpetuated common stereotypes that whites had about black people. Groups like the NAACP joined together to form the Coalition Against Blaxploitation. Due to the influence they had the demise of the genre came about during the late 1970s. American Cinema American cinema has been immensely influenced by blacksploitation films. Quentin Tarantino is a perfect example of someone who has referenced blacksploitation in his own movies. There is a long list of movies that span across decades that feature pop culture hints to the blacksploitation genre including Austin Powers in Goldmember, Death Proof, Inglorious Basterds, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, Superbad and Undercover Brother. These are only a few movies that touch on ideas about blacksploitation there are many more as well as a number of TV shows and parodies. Hip-hop culture and Blacksploitation Not only has blacksploitation affected cinema but it has also made an impact on contemporary hip-hop culture. Hip hop artists including 50 cent, Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg, Too Short and many artists from YMCMB took on the pimp persona that was predominant in many blacksploitation films. Many hip-hop artists have shown this persona through their lyrics and their lifestyles. They embrace scantily-clad women, bling, luxury cars or “pimpmobiles” and money. Conclusion The combination of angst caused by civil rights movements, the hippie culture of the 1960s, war fear during the 1970s, the undeniable popularity of bright colors and the excessive drug use of this time period created a genre of film that is truly unique and can never be recreated. Trouble Man (1972) “This is T, Chalky is dead. Now I’m coming to get you’re honky ass.” Starring Robert Hooks, Trouble Man is about a malicious private detective named Mr. T. The film takes place in South Central LA. Mr. T had adversaries in the police as well as the mob due to his arrogance so he must take justice into his own hands. The film mixes all of the elements that were known to make a typical blacksploitation film. Racist white criminals avenged by a rebellious black character. The film is famous for its soundtrack by Marvin Gaye. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_K5IEqmrUio&feature=player_embedded The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972) “Somebody war the west. Nigger Charley ain’t running no more.” Possibly one of the more mutinous films of the genre. The Legend of Nigger Charley is the story of three blacks who have escaped slavery in the West. Charley is one of the token empowering black characters. He is openly opposed to slavery and he gets retribution on racist white characters. His character represents the defiant struggle of living in a world dominated by racist whites that all black men know of. He proudly calls himself a nigger despite the fact that most of the time nigger was used by whites as an insult against blacks. This film was one of the highest grossing pictures in 1972 and was followed by two sequels, The Soul of Nigger Charley and Boss Nigger. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=yy0DqQ4NqTA&feature=player_embedded Boss Nigger (1975) “He’s Black. He’s Brutal. He’s Boss.” Written, produced and starred ex-American Football player Fred Williamson. The sequel to The Legend of Nigger Charley, Boss Nigger was a very popular blacksploitation western. This film is about two black bounty hunters who pursue an infamous fugitive though a white town in the Wild West. The town has no sheriff of its own so Boss Nigger assumes the position. The two bounty hunters shake down racist locals and chase women all while waiting to catch the main fugitive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i- Fig_LoBy4&feature=player_embedded Coonskin (1975) “Natural black Jesus is the reverend’s cousin, too. He gives people the strength to kill whites.” A cartoon about an African American rabbit, fox, and bear that climb their way to the top of the organized crime ranks in Harlem. They come across shady law enforcement, con artists and the mafia. The film received mixed reviews and wasn’t as commercially successful as most other blacksploitation films. However, it is a remembered film of the genre because it is one of the only animated blacksploitation pictures. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=LdfcKBuKjY0&feature=player_emb edded Blacula (1972) “He’s Dracula’s soul brother! Deadlier even than he.” This film is possibly the most bizarre horror pictures ever. Blacula was the inspiration for other blacksploitation horror films like Blackenstein and Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde. However, no other blacksploitation film was at popular as Blacula. The film is about an African prince who while visiting Transylvania gets turned into a vampire by Dracula. He is sent back to America in a coffin where he then takes off on a blood- sucking rampage. Blacula won the first Saturn Award for Best Horror Movie. A sequel was released in 1973 called Scream Blacula Scream! http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=26jvG4THLIE&feature=player_embedded Blackenstein (1973) “To Stop This Mutha, Takes One Bad Brutha.” With the main concept based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Blackenstein attempted to cash in on the blacksploitation horror film success. It is about a black Vietnam veteran who after DNA surgery he turns into a monster similar to Frankenstein. He then goes on a killing rampage. It didn’t reach quite the success it had hoped for in comparison to other blacksploitation horror films. If being known as the worst and least scary horror film of all time is what they had hoped for then it was successful. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=iREWNIHoUKA&feature=player_embedde d Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976) “A monster he cannot control, has taken over his very soul!” Starred ex-American Football player Bernie Casey. Similar to Blackenstein Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde is loosely based off of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The film is about the lift of a scientist who accidentally produces a serum that turns him into a prostitute killing albino vampire. When taken the serum turns his skin from black in color to white. The director Henry Crane has cited that the film was made to faintly confront the negative effects of drug addiction. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=a6lztwNQLDY&feature=player_embedd ed Cleopatra Jones (1973) “You better put that down before I make you eat it!” Starred Tamara Dobson. Cleopatra Jones is a fast-paced action film. This marks the beginning of the new black female roles in trendy action films. Cleopatra Jones replaces the long-established white male action hero with a authoritative and confident black heroine. The film was very successful and well liked by critics. It was followed by a sequel, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975). However, this sequel didn’t quite live up to the reputation of the first Cleopatra Jones. Foxy Brown (1974) is a similar blacksploitation film that was very popular. The character of Foxy Cleopatra from the Austin Powers sequel is based off of both Cleopatra Jones and Foxy Brown. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=6OyH0RZMdBM&feature=player_embedded Coffy (1973), Foxy Brown (1974), and Friday Foster (1975) All starring Pam Grier who was a blacksploitation icon.