Code Switch The Horror, The Horror: "Get Out" And The Place of Race in Scary Movies
Feb 22, 2017
Jordan Peele, writer and director of 'Get Out', along with African-American filmmaker Ernest Dickerson and Robin Means Coleman, analyze the portrayal of race in horror movies. They discuss the exploration of race in 'Get Out', the historical context of horror movies, and the subversive nature of the film in making white people understand the experience of isolation felt by people of color. They also explore the reactions of black characters in horror movies and the racial lens through which they analyze the genre.
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Race in Horror Movies
- Horror movie tropes often reflect racial biases in society.
- The "black character dies first" trope is a prime example of this.
Damnation Alley Example
- In "Damnation Alley," Paul Winfield's character is eaten by cockroaches.
- This perpetuates the harmful idea that black lives don't matter.
Function of Black Character Deaths
- Killing off black characters early establishes the monster's dominance.
- It reinforces a hierarchy where the white hero who defeats the monster is seen as superior.