The article notes Lincoln held some of the racial prejudices of the time; e.g., he attended minstrel shows, which are racist comic skits performed by people in "blackface." Here's an example of blackface:
I'm sure blackface and "darky" stereotypes are the subject of entire college courses. Me, I celebrated my freshly minted The Week & Wikipedia University degree by watching a rerun of "There's Something About Mary." God, this movie is hilarious. Classic. Even the horribly edited TBS version. Anyway, it has a blackface character:
If you don't consider MHO "authority" on this matter, check out this googled gem of an article: "Lin Shaye as the dog-loving next-door neighbor Magda, who is always working on her tan. The character verges on blackface as this comedy stretches the limits of what it can get away with." If you're one who's more likely to believe something when a lot of people say it, there you go. This guy is a professional critic for a respectible publication; he's not some asshole anonymous blogger. But he does equivocate: the character "verges" on blackface? C'mon, take a position, man.
I haven't analyzed the meaning, if any, of this. I would need to sit through the whole movie again to do that.
I haven't analyzed the meaning, if any, of this. I would need to sit through the whole movie again to do that.
2 comments:
That's ridiculous. She isn't in black face because she isn't affecting "blackness" in her speech or mannerisms. She just has a hideous tan.
Thanks for the comment!
Magda unmistakably has the physical characteristics of blackface: (1) skin color; (2) "wooly" hair; and (3) exaggerated lips.
Your point is well taken, though, that surely the character does not invoke the non-physical aspects surrounding blackface. Like I said, I'd have to see the movie again to look for these issues. What about Magda's dog fascination? I remember studying art in college that depicted slaves on the same "level" as the house dogs. I'm sure anything like that is an impossible stretch though and not intended by the filmmakers.
Or maybe it is a modern manifestation of racism. On a subconscious level, is that why the character is so funny? Seeing such a weird-looking character. Or, there are no original ideas anymore, could blackface be part of the inspiration behind Magda? Possible.
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