So You Wanna Be a Gangsta?

Brian Bass

Essay Writing

Ceci Cravens

2.24.04

THESIS:  The transition from gangster to the recent embodiment of “gangsta” is a historical metaphor.

CASE: The evolving image of the gangster in American film.

1^st Frame:  The original gangster genre to the early 70’s

A.    Comparisons to the Western film genre

B.     Dealt with a crime oriented underworld

C.     Protagonist was generally from an ethnic background (i.e. Italy, Ireland)

D.    Protagonist went against the laws of American society.  There was a major emphasis on non-conformity and individuality

*important films include: Scarface (1932), The Godfather and Colors.

2^nd Frame: The African American response to the gangster genre

A.    The involvement of the mob in the black communities had a major impact in terms of drug distribution and violence.

B.     Blaxploitation films served as a counter attack against the mafia involvement in the black community

C.     White America and Mafia members were always the antagonist, and were portrayed in a very sinister fashion

D.  Films were overdone and unrealistic

*important films include: The Mack and Superfly

3^rd Frame:  The “G” Funk Era:

A.    The gangster was no longer a “gangster” but a “gangsta”.  Young, black male who from the streets.

B.     The gangster was no longer someone of vice but with class; now he was a thug, sometimes of little intelligence

C.  Films had political relevance against Reagan and Bush

D.  Boyz N’ the Hood depicted the disturbing and unfair society that had been created by white power.

E.  Films intended to be viewed as real and shocking

*important films include: Boyz N’ the Hood and Menace II Society.

TENSIONS:  The original gangster, which represented a cunning, rebellious protagonist Vs. the Gangsta, an impoverished, young black male in the midst of drugs and urban violence.

Vocab

Afrocentrism- Centered or focused on Africa or African peoples, especially in relation to historical or cultural influence.

Aryan-In Nazism and neo-Nazism, a non-Jewish Caucasian, especially one of Nordic type, supposed to be part of a master race.

Blaxploitation- A genre of American film of the 1970s featuring African-American actors in lead roles and often having antiestablishment plots, frequently criticized for stereotypical characterization and glorification of violence. While African-American filmmakers were substantially involved in making early movies in this genre, their participation in subsequent productions was minimal.

Nihilism- An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence