Hairspray Film Analysis

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The 1960s were a time of great progression for African Americans across the United States. From the Civil Rights movement in art that depicted what it was like to be a minority in America. For the first time, people across America were fighting to make a change for the better. In Hairspray, the year is 1962 and the Corny Collins’ show is in full swing. Complete with an all-white dancing group of teenagers and one day a month dedicated to African Americans titled “Negro Day.” Back then TV is black and white but it is not Black and White. In 2016, TV is in color, it is Black and White, but that does not mean that racisms is disbanded. In both the 1960s and 2010s marches and protests have made a difference. Things got better for Tracy Turnblad, …show more content…
In a lot of cases, most of the protests about creating equal rights for Blacks/African Americans have been rather peaceful. The protests that the news chooses to highlight, are the ones that have become less peaceful and often erupt into violence. It is the way that the news keeps TV interesting for its audiences. In Hairspray, during a peaceful protest to turn television into a multi-racial form of entertainment, Tracy “assaulted” a police officer. As the play continues, and the audience hears different news reports from the news, the story about how Tracy hurt the police officer got more and more violent in the description.
SPRITZER: (v.o.): …Elsewhere in local news, teenage TV personality and rabble rouser, Tracy Turnblad, has escaped from the Baltimore Women’s House of Detention. Authorities believe she may have been aided by the once promising, formerly wholesome teen idol, Link Larkin. If sighted, citizens are asked to notify police or, if phone service is not available, simply shoot to kill. In entertainment news, Eva Marie is no saint… (Shaiman and O 'Donnell and Meehan and Wittman

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