The Representation of African American Women in Hollywood Films

120 Pages·2016·1.32 MB·English

The Representation of African American Women in
Hollywood Films

Abdulwahab Halima Jumoke

Submitted to the
Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Arts
in
Communication and Media Studies

Eastern Mediterranean University
June 2016
Gazimağusa, North Cyprus
Approval of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research

P r o f . D r . C e m T a n o v a
Acting Director

I certify that this thesis satisfies the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master
of Arts in Communication and Media Studies

A s s o c . P r o f . D r . Ü m i t İ n atçı
Chaır, Departm ent of Communication and Media Studies

We certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate in
scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Communication and
Media Studies.

A s s o c . P r o f . D r . A g a h G ü m ü ş
Supervisor

Examining Committee

1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tutku Akter
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metın Ersoy
3. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agah Gümüş
ABSTRACT
The study „The Representation of African American Women in Hollywood Films‟
was conducted to examine the portrayal of African American women in Hollywood
films from 2005 to 2015 from a feminist and black feminist stand point. The
depiction of African American women in various stereotypical ways have become a
serious issue, as it has been concluded in the mind of viewers that African American
women are exactly the way they are been portrayed in the mainstream.
Using the qualitative methodology of research, critical analysis was used to collect
primary data to understand the content and better explain the messages contained in
the three movies (The Help, I can do bad all by myself and Joyful noise) used for this
research. The secondary data was collected from online journals, books, e-books,
websites and motion pictures. The secondary data was used to support this study and
also find related literature to this study.
The findings of this study showed that aggression, over possession, stubbornness,
annoyance, sex objectification, intervention patriarchy, sexism and self-
discrimination with copious examples revealed in the selected films shows the true
definition of how African American women are represented. Based on the analysis,
African American women in the three movies were portrayed multiple times in the
mammy, jezebel, and sapphire historical stereotype.
Keywords: Hollywood, feminist, stereotypes, critical analysis, representation,
patriarchy, sex symbols
iii
ÖZ
Mevcut çalışma, “Afro- Amerikan Kadınların Hollywood Sinemasında Temsili” dir,
Hollywood sinemasında 2005-2015 yılları arasında Afro-Amerikan kadınların nasıl
tasvir edildiğini (betimlendiğini) feminist ve siyah feminist perspektifinden
incelemektedir. Özellikle ana akım medyada Afro-Amerikan kadınların tasvir edilme
biçimi, izleyicilerin zihninde bir algı oluşturmuş ve bu nedenle Afro-Amerikan
kadınların çeşitli stereotiplerle (önyargısal) tasvir edilme biçimi önemli bir sorun
haline gelmiştir.
Kalitatif (niteliksel) metodolojinin kullanıldığı çalışmada, metin analizi yöntemi ile
birincil veri toplanmış ve seçilen 3 filmin (The Help, I can do bad all by myself and
Joyful noise) analizi bu doğrultuda yapılmıştır. Online dergi, kitap, elektronik kitap,
web siteleri ve hareketli görüntülerden ikincil veri toplamak için yararlanılmıştır.
İkincil veriler hem mevcut çalışmayı desteklemek hem de bu çalışma ile ilgili
alanyazından (literatürden) faydalanmak için kullanılmıştır.
Saldırganlık, inatçılık, sıkıntı, seks nesnesi haline gelme, cinsiyetçilik, ataerkillik ve
kendi kendine ayrımcılık Afro-Amerikan kadınların seçilen filmlerde çeşitli örnekler
üzerinden temsil edilme –tanımlanma biçimleridir. Yapılan analizler ışığında, Afro-
Amerikan kadınlar seçilen üç filmde birçok kez dadı (mammy), Jezebel (ahlaksız
kadın) ve sapphire sterotipleri üzerinden tasvir edilmiştir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Hollywood, feminist, stereotip-önyargısal, metinsel analiz,
temsiliyet, ataerkillik, seks sembolleri
iv
DEDICATION
This research work is dedicated to my entire family for their support, both morally
and financially during this programme.

v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All thanks to God Almighty who gave me the life and strength to carry out this
project. I express my gratitude to my beloved parents Engr. A.Y.A Abdulwahab,
Alhaja Y.A Abdulwahab, and Alhaja S.A Abdulwahab for their moral and financial
obligations to my studies. They are my source of inspiration throughout my entire
period in school.
I am grateful and indebted to my project supervisor Prof. Agah Gümüş for his
guidance and support that made this research a success. To my distinguished
instructors who have been there for me from the beginning of this journey till the
end, and for the impacts they have made in my life, I say a big thank you.
To my wonderful siblings, your love and courage kept me going, love you so much.
To my entire family, thank you so much for your prayers and care.
My appreciation and gratitude goes to Deola Elega for his effort in the success of this
research work. Allah will reward you for all you have done for me immensely. I am
also grateful to Ugbanna Benson and Asaah Bih Crystel for their effort for the
achievement of this research work.
To my friends turn family Hani, Faegah and Faezah, I appreciate your love care and
support all through my studies. To my colleagues and those that assisted me in one
way or the other, God will grant each and every one of us with a bright and
prosperous future.
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. ii
ÖZ ............................................................................................................................... iv
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .......................................................................................... vi
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... x
LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... xi
1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of the Study .................................................................................... 1
1.2 Motivation of the Study ...................................................................................... 4
1.3 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................... 5
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study ....................................................................... 6
1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 7
1.6 Significance of the Study ................................................................................... 7
1.7 Limitations of Study ........................................................................................... 8
1.8 Operational Definitions of Terms....................................................................... 8
2 LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 10
2.1 Hollywood Movies ........................................................................................... 10
2.1.1 Hollywood Movie Industry ........................................................................ 10
2.1.2 Black Hollywood ....................................................................................... 12
2.2 History of the Code „Race‟ In Relation To Hollywood ................................... 15
2.3 Historical Stereotypes of African American Women ....................................... 18
2.4 Images of African American Women in Films ................................................ 22
vii
2.5 Repercussion of African American Women‟s Representation in Hollywood
Films ....................................................................................................................... 27
2.6 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................... 32
2.6.1 Feminist Film Theory ................................................................................ 32
2.6.2 Black Feminist Thought ............................................................................ 35
3 METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................. 40
3.1 Research Methodology ..................................................................................... 40
3.2 Data Collection Method ................................................................................... 41
3.3 Population and Sampling ................................................................................. 42
3.4 Reliability of the Research ............................................................................... 46
4 DATA ANALYSIS ................................................................................................. 47
4.1 African- American Women Portrayal in the Help, I Can Do Bad All by Myself
and Joyful Noise ..................................................................................................... 47
4.1.1 The Analysis of the Film the Help (2011) ................................................. 48
4.1.2 The Analysis of the Film I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) ................. 57
4.1.3 The Analysis of the Film Joyful Noise (2012) .......................................... 63
4.2 Historical Stereotype of the Mammy, Jezebel and Sapphire............................ 68
4.2.1 The Analysis of the Film the Help (2011) ................................................. 68
4.2.2 The Analysis of the Film I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) ................. 73
4.2.3 The Analysis of the Film Joyful Noise (2012) .......................................... 80
4.3 Sexual Objectification of African American Women ...................................... 83
4.3.1 The Analysis of the Film I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) ................. 83
4.3.2 The Analysis of the Film Joyful Noise (2012) .......................................... 85
4.4 Discussion and Findings ................................................................................... 86
5 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 92
viii
5.1 Summary of Study ............................................................................................ 92
5.2 Conclusion Drawn from Study ......................................................................... 94
5.3 Suggestions for Further Study ........................................................................ 100
REFERENCES......................................................................................................... 102
APPENDIX .............................................................................................................. 108
Appendix A: Filmography.................................................................................... 109

ix
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: List of 17 Hollywood films that represent black women from 2005-2015 . 43

x