Description
Book SynopsisImages of violent black masculinity are not new in American culture, but in the late 1980s and early ''90s, the social and economic climate in the country contributed to an unprecedented number of films about ghetto life. And while Hollywood reaped financial gains from these depictions, the rest of the country saw an ever widening opportunity gap between marginalized groups and mainstream society, as well as an increase in juvenile violence. These events added to the existing discomfort of the viewing public with representations of young black males living in urban ghettos. Black on Black: Urban Youth Films and the Multicultural Audience tackles the under-examined subject of black, male-focused, coming-of-age films in American society. Of central concern is an analysis of responses made by culturally diverse young adults to selected Hood films of the early 1990s. Grounded in Reader-Response Theory and utilizing qualitative research design and analysis, author Celeste Fisher examines s
Trade ReviewUsing reader-response theory and qualitative research and analysis, Fisher describes how black, male-focused coming-of-age films are affecting American society, particularly the legacy of the "hood" films of the early 1990s. She delineates the messages of such films by re-reading Menace II Society, Juice, Boyz n the Hood and similar films to locate ghetto-centric films within both African American and white American communities, gauging the impact of the aggression and violence depicted on high school students, policy makers, and ordinary citizens. She explores how "blackness" changes as different cultural groups view these films. She also examines the violence outside the theater when these films were shown, and the lingering aftereffect felt in identity politics. * Reference and Research Book News, August 2006 *
Table of ContentsPart 1 Acknowledgments Part 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1. Readers and Response Chapter 4 2. "America's Worst Nightmare": Reading Menace II Society Chapter 5 3. "Money, Power, Respect": Reading Juice Chapter 6 4. "Increase the Peace": Reading Boyz n the Hood Chapter 7 5. Negotiated Meanings Chapter 8 6. Epilogue Part 9 Appendix A: Course Films Part 10 Appendix B: Additional Films Part 11 Appendix C: Background Questionnaire Part 12 Bibliography Part 13 Index Part 14 About the Author
