Black Masculinity on Film: Native Sons and White Lies

by Daniel O'Brien

Overview

This book provides wide-ranging commentary on depictions of the black male in mainstream cinema. O’Brien explores the extent to which counter-representations of black masculinity have been achieved within a predominately white industry, with an emphasis on agency, the negotiation and malleability of racial status, and the inherent instability of imposed racial categories. Focusing on American and European cinema, the chapters  highlight actors (Woody Strode, Noble Johnson, Eddie Anderson, Will Smith), genres (jungle pictures, westerns, science fiction) and franchises (Tarzan, James Bond) underrepresented in previous critical and scholarly commentary in the field. The author argues that although the characters and performances generated in these areas invoke popular genre types, they display complexity, diversity and ambiguity, exhibiting aspects that are positive, progressive and subversive. This book will appeal to both the academic and the general reader interested in film, race, gender and colonial issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781137593238
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date:	09/06/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	221
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Daniel O'Brien is Film Tutor in Medical Humanities at the University of Southampton, UK. He is a writer and historian in film studies and a film tutor in Medical Humanities. His recent publications include Classical Masculinity and the Spectacular Body on Film: The Mighty Sons of Hercules (Palgrave Macmillan 2014).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction.- 2. The Natives Are Still Restless: Black representation in whitened Africa from Tarzan to Mandela.- 3. A King Among Bit Players: Noble Johnson and the art of racial ambiguity.- 4. Also Known as Rochester: Eddie Anderson, black stardom and World War II.- 5. Tall and Black in the Saddle: How African-American cowboys rode out of the shadows and into the sunset.- 6. Due afro-americani a Roma: John Kitzmiller, Woody Strode and remoulding stereotypes in Italian popular cinema.- 7. Bond and Blackness: Challenging racial schism in the 007 universe.- 8. Leaving the Overlook: Black heroism and white nightmare in The Shining.- 9. Saving the World for White Folks? Will Smith racializes science fiction as black man and man in black.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Black Masculinity on Film is a very strong volume. O’Brien is thoroughly familiar with all of the major literature out there on black masculinity…He is also completely aware of the major (and minor) films which address black masculinity in both the United States and in Europe. Rather than attempt a strictly chronological progression, O’Brien chooses to organize by genre or screen personality, a wise move…adding much to this discipline by his chapters on Noble Johnson, Eddie Anderson, Woody Strode, John Kitzmiller and the 007 universe.” (Gerald Butters, Professor of History at Aurora University, USA)