Throughout Chapter 3, Nakamura mentions several ways in which blacks and whites were portrayed in movies such as The Matrix and Minority Report. Nakamura talks about the different ways whites and blacks performed their jobs in The Matrix. She describes how Link, a black character, types on a keyboard while Zion, who is dressed cleanly in all white, is linked into the computer through gesture (99). These movies also relate whiteness to power. The lead characters in each film are white males, and everyone else is secondary to them. On page 98 Nakamura quotes Richard Dyer who says,
"the equation of being white with being human secures a position of power."
Now I know we are supposed to bring up another movie to support Nakamura, but what came to my mind when I was trying to think of a movie was Bruce Almighty (a guy who often complains about God is given almighty power from God himself... simply put if anyone hasn't seen it). This movie is about God, the all-knowing, all-powerful, supreme being. And who is he played by?? A black guy, Morgan Freeman. This completely goes against Nakamura's point that blacks are normally secondary to whites in movies. In this movie the black guy is the most powerful guy in the world!
This movie does support her point in several ways though. For one, when Bruce shows up to meet God, everything is white. The room is painted white, white columns, white floor, white furniture, God dressed in white. And I guess I wouldn't expect anything different, not to be racist. But going with the God theme, white, to me, represents purity and good, which is what God is all about. And ultimately the guy who is given God's power is white.
But I guess the question is why the directors chose to cast a Black actor?? Was that their plan all along or did Morgan Freeman just fit the role best? If God were a played by a white actor would the meaning be the same??
I think that the fact that they cast a black actor as God shows how our culture is changing. We are becoming more accepting of different races, and morphing into a melting pot of cultures. It is becoming a world that is less black and white, no longer saying that any one race is better than the other. We did elect a black president, which has to say something about our values as a culture.
In another movie, "Oh God!" God was played by George Burns. Pretty funny movie for it's day. John Denver was the dufus human. Both, white. I believe cultures assign a race and gender to God, but biblically, I don't thinkn there is an assigned a race or gender. We refer to God as our "father" so it's naturally assumed to be a man. Beyond that, I don't have much knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThank You!!! It's great to see that their are others in the class that have the same train of thought find Nakamura's notions to be somewhat "ancient". After reading her book so far, I find myself questioning her motives and undertone.
ReplyDeleteI think that you solidify your arugment by bringing up Morgan Freeman playing God and showing how this genration has elected a black president.
I think that the race card is played far to often. From reading many blogs on here regarding the suject I find that many people are scrutinizing what Nakamura is saying. I feel that people are tired of seeing the race card being played and are ready to see a more tolerant equilibrium amongst everyone. That's not to say that we still won't have ignorance and bigotry in the world. I do believe that in western society we will continue to see better racial acceptance amongst each other and roles of all levels filled by these races.
I like how you point out parts in the movie "Bruce Almighty" that do tie in with Nakamura's opinion, such as everything remaining white even though God is played by a black man. However, I do agree with you that we are moving away from a time where blacks are considered less than equal to whites. Great note on our first black president by the way! Things are no longer considered black or white, but rather shades of gray :)
ReplyDeleteI saw "Bruce Almighty" as well. I liked the movie. I like how you tie in God being a black guy in an all-white surrounding in relation to Nakamura's argument about white things having more power over black. Nakamura does argue that the white male has the most power and that white means more naturality and pureness. This movie contrasts that as there is a black God. I believe you drive a great route in your explanation of how culture IS changing, and now we DO have a black President. Nakamura is not always right! Nakamura is correct, however, about how the white guy gets God's power in the end. I like "Newbee"'s comment how "everything remaining white" even with a black God. So, we do see a little of Nakamura's arguments come into play in "Bruce Almighty". The white surroundings set a naturalized and transparent scene as we focus primarily on a black God.
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