Representations of identity in film.
How many of you can confidently say that you have seen a film that delved so deeply into a topic that it forever changed the way that you view your everyday life? It is the responsibility of today’s filmmakers to use their platforms to bring attention to serious topics. Because a good film should be able to challenge and confront its audience's preconceived notions by highlighting issues that are relevant in the world around us. Good morning, esteemed members of the organising committee of the Sydney Film Festival. It is my honour to be standing in front of you today and inform you of the meaning behind four films that have been able to highlight tremendously important social justice issues while appealing …show more content…
The Hate U Give carries similar messages regarding multiple aspects of racism, inspired by a multitude of true stories as it is directed towards a more mature audience. Released in 2018, The Hate U Give is a film adaptation of the book by Angie Thomas which shows examples of police brutality in America, racism, gang violence, and classism. The title of the movie is an abbreviation of THUGLIFE, which stands for The Hate You Give Little Infants F***s Everyboy. Main character, Starr Carter is a sixteen year old, African American girl who struggles to balance her life between Garden Heights, a low socioeconomic area that has a high black population and Williamson, a majority white high class area. While attending the private high school in Williamson, Starr keeps her head down, avoiding any possible conflict as to doge racial stereotypes. She keeps clear of confrontation and averts the use of slang in fear of being affiliated with the notion that black people are violent or uneducated. In her own words, “Slang makes them cool, it makes me hood”. The only person in her whole school that Starr is comfortable enough to be around is Chris, her boyfriend, although the fact that Chris is white makes it hard for Starr to publicly be affectionate towards because people ask …show more content…
It follows her as she has to deal with her home life and the discrimination that she faces at work. Ginsburg’s influence can be seen through generations, and the film makes sure to highlight the fact that she was such a detrimental part of women’s history. During her lifetime Guinsburg fought for equal pay and championed laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. A woman who also changed cultural beliefs by fighting for her place in Harvard Law School was Elle Woods, the main character in Legally Blonde, a film about what it means to be a woman on top of addressing very serious issues that occur in regards to power dynamics between men and women. Elle Woods is a stereotypical blonde girl; she loves pink and studies fashion. At the beginning of the film, she is ecstatic, believing that she is going to get engaged to her 10-year-old boyfriend, Warner Huntington III. Later, at dinner, Warner blindsides Elle by breaking up with her because he doesn't view her as being serious enough to date someone who is going to be attending Harvard Law School. Essentially, he is breaking up with her because she is too feminine to be taken seriously, assuming that her feminine and ditzy personality is a reflection of her intelligence. In order to prove Warner wrong, Elle is determined to also
How many of you can confidently say that you have seen a film that delved so deeply into a topic that it forever changed the way that you view your everyday life? It is the responsibility of today’s filmmakers to use their platforms to bring attention to serious topics. Because a good film should be able to challenge and confront its audience's preconceived notions by highlighting issues that are relevant in the world around us. Good morning, esteemed members of the organising committee of the Sydney Film Festival. It is my honour to be standing in front of you today and inform you of the meaning behind four films that have been able to highlight tremendously important social justice issues while appealing …show more content…
The Hate U Give carries similar messages regarding multiple aspects of racism, inspired by a multitude of true stories as it is directed towards a more mature audience. Released in 2018, The Hate U Give is a film adaptation of the book by Angie Thomas which shows examples of police brutality in America, racism, gang violence, and classism. The title of the movie is an abbreviation of THUGLIFE, which stands for The Hate You Give Little Infants F***s Everyboy. Main character, Starr Carter is a sixteen year old, African American girl who struggles to balance her life between Garden Heights, a low socioeconomic area that has a high black population and Williamson, a majority white high class area. While attending the private high school in Williamson, Starr keeps her head down, avoiding any possible conflict as to doge racial stereotypes. She keeps clear of confrontation and averts the use of slang in fear of being affiliated with the notion that black people are violent or uneducated. In her own words, “Slang makes them cool, it makes me hood”. The only person in her whole school that Starr is comfortable enough to be around is Chris, her boyfriend, although the fact that Chris is white makes it hard for Starr to publicly be affectionate towards because people ask …show more content…
It follows her as she has to deal with her home life and the discrimination that she faces at work. Ginsburg’s influence can be seen through generations, and the film makes sure to highlight the fact that she was such a detrimental part of women’s history. During her lifetime Guinsburg fought for equal pay and championed laws like the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. A woman who also changed cultural beliefs by fighting for her place in Harvard Law School was Elle Woods, the main character in Legally Blonde, a film about what it means to be a woman on top of addressing very serious issues that occur in regards to power dynamics between men and women. Elle Woods is a stereotypical blonde girl; she loves pink and studies fashion. At the beginning of the film, she is ecstatic, believing that she is going to get engaged to her 10-year-old boyfriend, Warner Huntington III. Later, at dinner, Warner blindsides Elle by breaking up with her because he doesn't view her as being serious enough to date someone who is going to be attending Harvard Law School. Essentially, he is breaking up with her because she is too feminine to be taken seriously, assuming that her feminine and ditzy personality is a reflection of her intelligence. In order to prove Warner wrong, Elle is determined to also