Monday 2 April 2012

Stereotyping in the Movies

Every movie we see we become immediately attracted to the drama of the characters and their story. Stereotyping in movies is a way the viewers can clearly make assumptions about the character.  Usually they are based on sex, race, religion, profession or age. Everyone stereotypes people, it's a way we try to make sense of the world.  
"Filmmakers often rely heavily on stereotypes, because they're a quick and simple way to establish a movie character's traits. Blonde women are dumb, for example; foreigners are villains, Mexicans are lazy, and blacks are great athletes. Teenaged characters are variously shown as sex-crazed, uncivilized, moralistic or shallow, and they tend to be lumped into groups of either popular kids or geeks." Media Awareness Network
When I read the statement above I thought wow, this is so true. When we see a particular sex, race, age etc in movies or a TV show and we immediately guess their life story and try make connections through out the duration. That's what the director wants us to do. Their aim is to hook in his/her audience early. 
I would never want to watch the end of a movie or TV show if the first 20minutes doesn't make me want 
to watch the till the end. We have all had the moments when we have bought a movie ticket, walked in to the cinema, sat down, the movie begins and we think what a waste of money this is. 

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