One troubling moment that really spoke to me was in
Bamboozled where Pierre Delacroix and Sloan come up with the idea of the TV
show. I believe Pierre Delacroix said something
along the lines of the network doesn’t want to see Negroes on TV unless they
are buffoons. This line stood out to me
because I think it sets the tone for the rest of the movie. The show is supposed to be funny, but I think
it is really sad that black people have to act like idiots in order to be
successful. In this sense, the network
is being really racist (but probably unknowingly so). Spike Lee was able to provoke an emotional
response by having these two characters talk about it as if it was normal everyday
life. They were upset but this fact, sure, but it
was still a part of life for them. Delacroix
set out to change this, but ended up letting the fame and success go to his
head. Spike Lee is commenting on two things here. First, Lee is commenting on how people betray their
own ideals and beliefs for something they want.
For example, Pierre since betrays a part of himself for fame and
success. Pierre, in the beginning, was
trying to be a dignified person by acting and dressing very “proper,” but in
the end he acts like a fool when it comes to selling the show when accepting
awards and creating publicity. Secondly,
Spike Lee is trying to open our eyes (as audience members but also as
Americans) to the fact that racism and issues dealing with race are far from
over. People still face discrimination
and the same issues that they faced 50+ years ago, but I think that Americans
are generally less aware of it now. Yes,
my response is ideological since I’m talking about beliefs and ideas. I’m commenting on my own beliefs, for example
how I believe that Americans are less aware of issues of race now. I’m also commenting on what Spike Lee is
trying to say and his commentary on ideology.
In my personal opinion, I believe that you do a very good job at touching on the presence of a denial of self and the presence of systemic racism in America. In regards to the denial of self, you claim Lee discusses "how people betray their own ideals and beliefs for something they want." Do you think Delacroix is actively choosing to deny his true self while in pursuit of a goal? Or is it possible that Delacroix while in pursuit of a goal is subconsciously or unknowingly suppressing his true self with a false identity assigned to him? Additionally you point out that Lee is addressing systemic racism in society. In what ways is Lee identifying systemic racism through the film "Bamboozled"? Does Lee provide any remedy for systemic racism in America? Furthermore, is it possible that both your perspective and Lee's perspective are both victims of racial ideological structure in society? I would contend that the dichotomous racial ideological structure continually imposes itself onto both white and black Americans through reinforcing mechanisms in society such as hegemony. In your opinion, do you think Lee provides a solution to break free from this dichotomy?
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