A summaryThis Oscar award winning movie, Get Out has created many conversations about the underlying racial issues that are still problematic in our society today. While putting these issues into a nail biting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot of the movie is our main character, Chris (showed in the picture to the left) is going to his girlfriend Rose's house. Rose is white as well is her family, when Chris asks her before their trip if her family knows he is black; she insists it isn't a big deal. At first it isn't, but something just does not seem right about Rose's parents, the Armitages. When they first arrive at Roses secluded country home, is where things begin to get uncomfortable for Chris and we begin to see the extremely subtle racism that escalates and in full makes the movie what it is. Oh! yeah... Roses family has a plot to lure in black males to perform lobotomies and put the brains of white people into the black bodies. See how this could be a controversial film? |
The subtle racism
When they first Arrive at the house, they are greeted by Rose's parents. Her mom is a hypnotherapist and her dad is a surgeon. In a conversation amidst small talk Roses parents both mention how they "would have voted for Obama again" if they could of. An awkward comment to make because it clearly shows how they are focused on his race already. All the while a black maid is pouring them drinks, which Chris takes immediate notice of, among other things.
Mrs. Armitage is a hypnotherapist and to get Chris into a vulnerable and controllable situation she hypnotizes him one night, when he is walking back in the house after a cigarette. She asks Chris to sit down to talk, but when she begins to stir the spoon (hypnotizing him) in her tea Chris finds himself paralyzed, and trapped in "The sunken place."
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The sunken place as shown in the tweet below from director Jordan Peele is a symbol systematic oppression. In recent years it has become a political as well as social mood to talk about being in the "sunken place." The sunken place is symbolic because it stands for how people are marginalized or silenced. Especially people of color. Being marginalized or not being looked at as a person is what the sunken place represents. It's a black void where nobody can hear you or help you, and that is why it is terrifying. Jordan Peele told us that he wanted to have an film that could represent the horror of racial issue that African Americans face. It is the perspective of a black male and his fears, which Peele says has really never been done before.
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The Party Scene
The party scene is where most of the racism rears its head in the movie and as an African American I can say that it made me uncomfortable because I understand that feeling of being the "only one in the room." Being one of only two black people at the party Roses parents are having immediately alienates Chris. (The party is actually just an auction to see who is going to get Chris's body). Every conversation he finds himself in seems to be revolving around him being black. A casual talk about golf, leads to someone bringing up Tiger woods. Chris spot a fellow African American and goes to say hello to him, only to be greeted by a man he thinks he knows, but this guy sounds, or acts nothing like the one he knew from the city. In fact, this black man is acting predominately "white." To add to the fact, he is married to a much, much older and whiter woman. When Chris tries to take a picture of the guy to send to a friend back home, the flash goes off and triggers a reaction. He had been snapped out of the hypnosis that we can assume he was put in for a brief second before being carried off screen. When he comes back he acts the same way he had before the flash went out, but something doesn't seem right to Chris after.
As you can see from this clip their are so many comments that are directed at Chris because of his Race. From golfing, to sexual sterotypes, to how black is "back in fashion." Also notice how Logan is being shown off to the older white men, and he does it willingly, evening spinning around so they can get a full look at him. I got the feeling of white men checking out their prospecticve slave like they would do during the times of slavery. You can tell everyone is scouting Chris's body for their own use if they get so lucky to get it. This is especially shown when the older man wants to see Chris's golf form.