Blaxploitation Films of the 1970's: Blackness and Genre (Studies in African American History and Culture) (Hardcover)

by Novotny Lawrenc (Author)
Key Phrases: discovery plot, cop action genre, big rental films, The Mack, Cleopatra Jones, Super Fly (more...)

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Product Description

During the early years of the motion picture industry, black performers were often depicted as shuckin’ and jivin’ caricatures. Specifically, black males were portrayed as toms, coons and bucks, while the mammy and tragic mulatto archetypes circumscribed black femininity. This misrepresentation began to change in the 1950s and 1960s when performers such as Dorothy Dandridge and Sidney Poitier were cast in more positive roles. These performers paved the way for the black exploitation or blaxploitation movement, which began in 1970 and flourished until 1975. The movement is characterized by films that feature a black hero or heroine, black supporting characters, a predominately black urban setting, a display of black sexuality, excessive violence, and a contemporary rhythm and blues soundtrack. Blaxploitation films were made across varying genres, but the questionable elements of some of the pictures caused them to be referred to as blaxploitation films with little or no regard given to their generic categorization.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (November 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415960975
• ISBN-13: 978-0415960977
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,473,628 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)