Media Literacy Topic #3 - Part B

Subjective or Objective

PART B: Stereotypes & Genres

·        List as many as you can.

Nerd, athlete, goth, prep, Italian mobster, African-American gangsta, flamboyant homosexual, promiscuous woman, hooker with the heart of gold, corny Caucasian, brainy Asian, blonde ditz, hot-tempered Latin American, greedy Jew, punk rocker, Bohemian drug addict, detached doctor, emo Asian, Middle-Eastern terrorist, drunk Russian….

·        Is there any truth to the stereotypes you listed? If yes, how?

Some of these stereotypes do exist in real life. With that said, to an extent, yes, these stereotypes have truth to them. There are almost 7 billion people on this planet. Stereotypes are simply archetypes that have been spotlighted. Every individual is different but some people do fit into certain categories, profiles, or stereotypes

·        Give an example of one of the stereotypes being used in a movie and why you think it was used.

The Godfather is the first film that popped into my mind. It portrays Italian Americans as organized crime figures in the Mafia. I believe this stereotype was used to highlight the dangerous yet lavish lifestyle of being in the mob. I also believe that America has had a fascination with organized crime since Prohibition began. Boardwalk Empire is a great example of this. Al Capone & Lucky Luciano are prominent characters on the HBO series.

·        Was your reaction to the stereotype positive or negative, and why?

My reaction to the stereotype was of mixed emotions. The Mafia is not a fairytale. It has its roots in Sicily, Italy and arrived on American shores in the early 1900s. New York and New Jersey were their ‘stomping grounds.’ In regards to my reaction, it is negative because some Americans will buy into the idea that this is how the Italian-American family/individual is. In regards to a positive reaction, the stereotype made for great performances and an entertaining movie. Stereotypes are not always helpful but it is the context in which you use the stereotype. A great actor finds a way to portray more than just a stereotype- they have to generate depth to their character so that we remain attached and not bored.

·        List as many film genres or types as you can.

Sci-fi, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Horror, Gore, Thriller, Drama, Animation, Mystery, Foreign, Documentary, Comedy, Westerns, Crime, Gangster, War, Musicals…

·        Do any of the genres you listed use specific stereotypes? What are they and how are they used?

Crime and Gangster genres tend to use stereotypes. They can target Italian Americans, greedy Jews, Russian mobsters, or British crime syndicates.

90s Action genres are very stereotypical. They usually involve an innocent man who doesn’t want to get involved, eventually does, has to beat the antagonist, save the girl, and flex his muscles at some point.

Westerns are rather stereotypical. These usually involve visions of the Old West, miners, saloons, clever prostitutes, sheriffs, outlaws, Native-Americans, gunslingers, coach wagons, and horses. True Grit is a great modern example but let us not forget about films starring John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.

Horror movies can be stereotypical as well; especially those involving a single killer knocking off victims one by one. It’s been done countless times. Classic examples are Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Child’s Play, and Friday the 13th. More current examples are Scream, The Ring, The Grudge, and Silence of The Lambs.