Using Movies to Improve Awareness of African American Culture

Ki, tai Kim

Article

Journal of English Teaching through Movies and Media 2007;8(2):1-20.
Published online December 30, 2007.

Using Movies to Improve Awareness of African American Culture

Abstract

Hollywood films have historically portrayed African Americans in a negative manner. Because Hollywood films are distributed and seen around the world, many cultures and societies have been subjected to the same negative depiction of African Americans. This study attempts to examine how African Americans are viewed by Koreans and how Hollywood films may or may not have contributed to those views. The study examines many of the common negative stereotypes that continue to be presented in Hollywood movies such as Paul Haggis' Crash (2004) and Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989). The study proposes that most Korean students maintain a negative impression of African Americans even though they have not had personal contact with them. The study proposes that this phenomenon is linked in part to the negative portrayal of African Americans in Hollywood movies. The study suggests methods for identifying and teaching the awareness of the negative stereotypes presented in Hollywood films in order to improve the cultural awareness of African American culture.

Key Words: African American;cultural awareness;stereotypes