Gender and Social Exclusion

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According to bell hook's "Reconstructing Black Masculinity," what is the portrayal of women in black male phallocentric ideology?

Equal and deserving of respect

Immoral and incapable of reason (correct)

Rational and capable of reason

Smart and independent

According to bell hook's "Reconstructing Black Masculinity," what is the message conveyed through the film Harlem Nights?

Black men are tough, violent, and willing to assert power (correct)

Black men are peaceful and non-violent

Black men are submissive and passive

Black men are cowards who cannot confront racist white males

What is the characteristic of the black male identity portrayed in Harlem Nights?

Submissive and passive

Tough, violent, and willing to assert power (correct)

Rational and empathetic

Peaceful and non-violent

According to bell hook's "Reconstructing Black Masculinity," what is the impact of black male phallocentrism on black women?

It excludes them from the conceptual community Signup and view all the answers

According to bell hook's "Reconstructing Black Masculinity," what is the primary critique of Spike Lee's film Mo' Better Blues, according to the text?

Its perpetuation of patriarchal ideals and objectification of black women Signup and view all the answers

What is bell hooks' stance on black male complicity in perpetuating patriarchal ideals?

Black men are equally responsible for perpetuating patriarchal norms Signup and view all the answers

What is bell hooks' critique of the conventional portrayal of black women in film?

They are frequently objectified and reduced to sex objects Signup and view all the answers

What is bell hooks' primary concern regarding the representation of black masculinity in film?

That it reinforces patriarchal ideals and objectifies black women Signup and view all the answers

According to bell hook's "Reconstructing Black Masculinity," what is the primary goal of the black liberation struggle, according to cultural nationalists?

To recover black manhood and promote black male agency Signup and view all the answers

What is bell hooks' critique of black men's response to sexism?

They deny sexism as a problem and attribute it to racism Signup and view all the answers

According to Ed Guerrero's "Be Black and Buy," what is evident of the 'new black film wave' in Hollywood?

A number of rising black filmmakers Signup and view all the answers

According to Ed Guerrero's "Be Black and Buy," what has been the common aim among black filmmakers?

To portray black humanity honestly on screen Signup and view all the answers

According to Ed Guerrero's "Be Black and Buy," what was the focus of early black films, such as The Realization of a Negro's Ambition and The Birth of a Race?

Rebutting white supremacy in films like The Birth of a Nation Signup and view all the answers

According to Ed Guerrero's "Be Black and Buy," what is the implication of the shift from 'be black and die' to 'be black and buy'?

Black people are becoming more focused on consumerism Signup and view all the answers

According to Ed Guerrero's "Be Black and Buy," what is a common route taken by independent film-makers, regardless of orientation?

Producing low-budget, self-financed films Signup and view all the answers

In "Be Black and Buy" what does Spike Lee say about the current state of being an African-American filmmaker?

It has never been better Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Exclusion of Women

The refusal to perceive females as persons is a conceptually profound exclusion that affects how females are treated and perceived in society.
This exclusion is sustained by an active manipulation of circumstances that is systematic, habitual, and unacknowledged.

Phallocentrism and Black Masculinity

Black male phallocentrism constructs a portrait of woman as immoral, irrational, and incapable of reason.
This representation of womanhood suggests that women have no knowledge to share and do not deserve respect or listening ears from men.
The film Harlem Nights reinforces this phallocentric representation, portraying black men as tough, violent, and willing to assert power over women.

The Objectification of Women

In the film, the nightclub represents a world outside the home where creativity and uninhibited eroticism flourish, but this world is also one of risk and objectification.
Indigo, a female character, becomes the vessel for the reproduction of Bleek, a black man, through having a son.
Self-effacing, Indigo identifies Bleek's phallocentrism, but ultimately rescues him, and her actions reinforce the notion that women are responsible for redeeming men.

Black Male Sexism and Accountability

Despite individual black women critiquing black male sexism, many black men continue to act as though sexism is not a problem in black life.
Black men often blame racism rather than acknowledging and addressing their own sexism and phallocentrism.
Cultural nationalism and the struggle for black liberation are often seen as a struggle to recover black manhood, rather than addressing the oppression of women and children.

Black Masculinity and Emotional Vulnerability

Contrary to the phallocentric representation of black masculinity, the film shows that black men are in need of love and care from females.
Quick, a character in the film, demonstrates emotional vulnerability and a willingness to share, but is ultimately rejected and humiliated.

Black Sexual Politics and Complicity

The notion that black women are complicit with white patriarchy and betray black men is a fixed idea in the minds of many black men.
This idea is rooted in historical ignorance, as historical documents show that black women have typically acted in solidarity with black men.
Black men who advance this notion of complicity often deny their own complicity in perpetuating sexism and patriarchy.

Historical Context of Black Independent Cinema

In the US, all aspects of black life were socially and institutionally segregated, creating a stable market for black independent cinema.
The early black film-makers aimed to portray black humanity honestly, contrasting with Hollywood's dehumanizing stereotypes.

Rise of Black Film-Makers and Actors

A number of rising black film-makers have contributed to the 'new black film wave', including Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Gary F. Gray.
The success of films like Do the Right Thing, Boyz N the Hood, Friday, and Waiting to Exhale has marked a shift in the industry.
Black actors and movie stars, such as Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Wesley Snipes, Samuel L. Jackson, and Angela Bassett, are finding work in the industry.

Changes in Black Audience and Consumer Culture

The black audience has mutated, recognizing themselves as a complex, heterogeneous social formation.
African Americans now engage with pressing issues of color, caste, class, interracial romance, and sexual orientation.
The black audience, as consumers, is increasingly enlightened and colonized, shifting from 'be black and die' to 'be black and buy'.

Evolution of Black Film-Making

Black film-makers have expressed a common aim to portray black humanity honestly, from early rebuttals of The Birth of a Nation to present-day films.
The new black film-makers are subtly shifting the terrain of the contest for popular representation of blackness by taking their depictions to higher levels.
As Spike Lee proclaimed, "There has never been a better time to be an African-American film-maker."

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Description

This quiz explores the concept of exclusion of women in society, including how they are perceived and treated. It also delves into the representation of womanhood in black male phallocentrism.