This thesis raises and addresses the intellectually challenging and socially relevant question why three recent films and a hip hop album that are often associated with the Black Lives movement (BLM) feature black heterosexual male heroes while the BLM movement itself was founded by Queer women and has an explicit LBGT agenda. The thesis shows solid knowledge of the historical context and the existing scholarly, theoretical and public debates, and offers an interesting and very original contribution to these debates. It is based on an impressive amount of research and the research methodology, applying gender and race theory to cultural and film analysis, is explicitly named.
The movement gained great popularity not only with hashtag-users and participants in protests, but it was also immediately picked up by the media and in public debates, while numerous variations of the slogan emerged to either mock or hijack the movement. The media attention can be divided into three different kinds: reports about the movement in connection to the police shootings, reports about protests and current incidents, and a wider field in which BLM was connected to the cultural scene in the US from 2012 to the present, which will be referred to as the cultural discourse.
Part of this cultural discourse are Steve McQueen's movie 12 Years A Slave (2013), Ava DuVernay's movie Selma (2014) and Nate Parker's movie The Birth of a Nation (2016), all three historical dramas, as well as Kendrick Lamar's album To Pimp A Butterfly (2015). All four cultural productions were directly connected to BLM by the media. They were brought up in discussions about and within the movement, and, even though BLM was initially created in response to racially motivated police brutality, the three movies also triggered debates about other cultural and societal issues, such as the acknowledgment and representation of Black directors and actors in US cinema. Although Lamar's album provided the anthem of the movement, “Alright”, and addresses police brutality in the other songs as well, it also uses a number of common rap themes, treating women, for instance, from a male-centered and at first glance misogynist perspective. Especially when we look at other Hip Hop artists connected to BLM as well, it becomes clear that the pop-cultural narrative that is associated with BLM is actually about black heterosexual men.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in Three Historical Films
- Black Cinematic Representation and the Concepts of Double-Consciousness and Postmemory
- The Visualization of Double-Consciousness in Footage of Police Brutality
- Old Wine in New Skins: Constructing Black Masculinity in the Three Films
- Gender as Power
- The Hero as an Embodiment of Societal Values
- The Transformation into a Hero: An Investigation in Three Scenes
- A New Representation of Black Manhood Paves the Way
- Chapter 2: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in its Unofficial Anthem “Alright”
- Masculinity and Agency: Encoded Hip Hop Elements in “Alright” and To Pimp a Butterfly
- The Street Code of Nihilism: Lamar's Tragic Narrative and “Second Sight”
- A New Representation of Black Agency: “Alright” as a Leading Narrative
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis examines the representation of Black male identity within the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, focusing on the apparent discrepancy between the movement's inclusive principles and its portrayal in popular culture. It analyzes how this representation is shaped by historical context, the concept of double-consciousness, and the phenomenon of postmemory. The study explores how cinematic and musical representations contribute to the construction of Black masculinity and agency within the broader cultural discourse surrounding BLM.
- The portrayal of Black male identity in the Black Lives Matter movement.
- The tension between BLM's inclusive ideals and its representation in popular culture.
- The role of double-consciousness and postmemory in shaping Black identity.
- The impact of cinematic and musical representations on the construction of Black masculinity.
- The influence of intergenerational dynamics and the decentralized structure of BLM on its public image.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in Three Historical Films: This chapter analyzes the representation of Black male identity in three historical films—12 Years a Slave, Selma, and The Birth of a Nation—in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement. It explores how these films visualize concepts like double-consciousness and postmemory, examining how the portrayal of Black masculinity is shaped by historical context and societal perceptions. The chapter investigates how these cinematic representations contribute to the ongoing conversation about race, justice, and identity within the BLM movement, focusing on the evolution of the depiction of Black men as heroic figures challenging systemic oppression. Specific scenes are analyzed to demonstrate the transformation of these figures from victims to agents of change.
Chapter 2: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in its Unofficial Anthem “Alright”: This chapter examines Kendrick Lamar's "Alright," the unofficial anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement, and its place within the broader context of his album To Pimp a Butterfly. The analysis delves into the encoded elements of masculinity and agency within the song, exploring how Lamar's narrative contributes to the ongoing dialogue about Black identity and resistance. The chapter also addresses the apparent incongruity between the song's message and the movement's stated principles, highlighting the complexities of representation and the diverse perspectives within BLM. The chapter unpacks the themes of nihilism and agency, demonstrating how Lamar's lyrics weave together a narrative of struggle, resilience, and hope, reflecting the experiences and aspirations of many within the movement.
Keywords
Black Lives Matter, Black male identity, double-consciousness, postmemory, cinematic representation, hip hop, Kendrick Lamar, racial justice, police brutality, cultural discourse, masculinity, agency, representation, identity, historical context.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this thesis?
This thesis examines the representation of Black male identity within the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, focusing on the apparent discrepancy between the movement's inclusive principles and its portrayal in popular culture. It analyzes how this representation is shaped by historical context, double-consciousness, and postmemory.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
Key themes include the portrayal of Black male identity in the BLM movement; the tension between BLM's inclusive ideals and its representation in popular culture; the role of double-consciousness and postmemory in shaping Black identity; the impact of cinematic and musical representations on the construction of Black masculinity; and the influence of intergenerational dynamics and BLM's decentralized structure on its public image.
Which sources are analyzed in this thesis?
The thesis analyzes three historical films (12 Years a Slave, Selma, and The Birth of a Nation) and Kendrick Lamar's song "Alright," considered the unofficial anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement, alongside his album To Pimp a Butterfly. The analysis focuses on cinematic and musical representations of Black masculinity and agency within the broader cultural discourse surrounding BLM.
What are the key concepts used in the analysis?
The analysis utilizes key concepts such as double-consciousness, postmemory, masculinity, agency, and the complexities of representation within a decentralized movement. It explores how these concepts shape the portrayal of Black male identity in both cinematic and musical contexts.
What is the structure of the thesis?
The thesis is structured into two main chapters. Chapter 1 analyzes the representation of Black male identity in three historical films, exploring how these films visualize double-consciousness and postmemory and examining the portrayal of Black masculinity. Chapter 2 examines Kendrick Lamar's "Alright," analyzing its encoded elements of masculinity and agency and exploring how Lamar's narrative contributes to the dialogue about Black identity and resistance.
What are the chapter summaries?
Chapter 1 analyzes the representation of Black male identity in three historical films in relation to the BLM movement, exploring how these films visualize concepts like double-consciousness and postmemory, and how the portrayal of Black masculinity is shaped by historical context and societal perceptions. Chapter 2 examines Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" and its place within To Pimp a Butterfly, delving into the encoded elements of masculinity and agency within the song, exploring how Lamar's narrative contributes to the ongoing dialogue about Black identity and resistance, and addressing the apparent incongruity between the song's message and the movement's stated principles.
What are the keywords associated with this thesis?
Black Lives Matter, Black male identity, double-consciousness, postmemory, cinematic representation, hip hop, Kendrick Lamar, racial justice, police brutality, cultural discourse, masculinity, agency, representation, identity, historical context.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Ingeborg Morawetz (Autor:in), 2017, The Black Lives Matter movement and representations of black male identity, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/371884
