Reference no: EM131202129

Though times may change, and certain representations and media tropes may fall out of use, either because of complaints from minority advocacy groups or because of evolving cultural norms, it is disheartening to observe that oftentimes just as one marginalizing image dies off, another one appears to take its place. Take for example, the representation of the “Magical Negro ” like the character Bagger Vance played by Will Smith in the movie of the same name, which emerged in ?lms during the past three decades to join the images of the mammy, the bad buck, and the tap-dancing butler. In this representation, the African American character has mystical powers, relies on folk wisdom instead of intelligence, and often sacri?ces him or herself and his or her interests to save the white main character. Some argue that this is simply the transformation of old negative caricatures in less obvious depiction of a safe representation of a Black Man. Why do you think a film like Bagger Vance is more easily accepted by mainstream audiences than a film like 12 Years a Slave that won the Academy Award for Best Picture but earned less than $60 million at domestic box offices (compared with more than $131 million in foreign receipts)? This magical minority representation is not reserved solely for African Americans, however. Mystical or mysterious representations have also been associated with Native Americans and Asian Americans as well. What other examples can you and that you believe simply have evolved from old representations?