Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Clip Analysis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py5qAH7wELY

I chose a clip from the movie Hitch. In this clip Hitch, who is played by will smith is teaching, Albert how to dance before the party. I think hitch came out in early 2005. I think the release of the movie and how America portrays the white culture as not having rhythm is evident in this clip. The movie is a romantic comedy aimed at young couples and singles, trying to teach them at Love is not something that can be manipulated.

The clip shows Albert ( the uncoordinated white guy) doing all of these outrageous dances, while Hitch ( the cool calm and collected black guy) is trying to persuade him not to do all these crazy moves. It seems like the stereotype portrayed here is that blacks know ahow to be cool calm and collected, while whites do things they don’t need to. The clip, to me gave the message that white people could do things like become successful lawyers, but cannot handle simple things like dancing or talking to females. I think the clip also sends the message that all black people can dance, but I don’t think that is the case in every situation. I don’t think the movie is making these connections in a discriminatory way. But the idea that a black man, knows everything about finding love is not easy to believe. I think the idea that being yourself can go along way, is being promoted in this film. But the clip promotes kind of do what fits the mainstream so you don’t stand out.

This film promotes stereotypes, I think but not necessarily in a negative way. This film shows the black man knowing everything about females, how to be cool, how to go from nerd to mr. everything. Although it is possible but it is not very likely. In the clip Hitch is calmly dressed telling Albert how to dance. Every black man does not know how to dance and dress. I think it is a stereotype that black people can dance and white people cannot. Although in the clip Alberts moves were “different” they were him. The stereotypes in this clip or even the movie, are not very offensive at all. It is good humored fun, its funny to watch how hitch tried to teach him, but in the end he ended up doing his own thing. The idea of this clip is soley from the mans perspective. The clip and the movie has Hitch (will smith) in control throughout the entire movie. Mainly towards the end he loses control of everything, because Albert ends up leaving him and doing his own thing. In the clip Albert is doing everything Hitch tells him, with a twist of his own stuff as the clip moves forward. But through the clip Albert is disciplined when he does something hitch doesn’t like. But Albert gets his way in the end.