Get Out, Queen & Slim: A Content Analysis of How Race is Portrayed in Two Mainstream Hollywood Films
Date of Award
Spring 5-1-2020
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
English, Linguistics, and Communication
Department Chair or Program Director
Gary Richards
First Advisor
Dr. Adria Goldman
Major or Concentration
Communication and Digital Studies
Abstract
This paper analyzes how African-Americans and race are portrayed in two mainstream Hollywood films: Get Out (2017) and Queen & Slim (2019). The goal was to compare emerging themes to what previous literature indicates about the portrayal of African-Americans and race in mainstream films and representation on-screen and behind-the-scenes in Hollywood. Previous literature suggests that African-Americans are often placed in stereotypical and limiting roles and that this is in part due to the lack of diversity behind-the-scenes. A content analysis along with open-source coding revealed racial solidarity as the key emerging theme throughout both films. A theme that was also challenged in Queen & Slim, resulting in a more complex race narrative. Findings suggest that African-Americans are being portrayed in more complex roles and that race in film reflects societal constructions of it. In other words, the portrayal of race in these films mirrors African-American’s lived experiences and the way race is portrayed in American society. I believe the diverse, predominantly black production team, plays a role in portraying race with more nuance and African-Americans with more complexity.
Recommended Citation
Ngambwe, Ronic, "Get Out, Queen & Slim: A Content Analysis of How Race is Portrayed in Two Mainstream Hollywood Films" (2020). Student Research Submissions. 307.
https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/307
Rights
Included in
Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons