A FILM ANALYSIS
HAND COCK
by J. Singh, A Matrix Contributor
You know what really chaps my nifkin? The first time I see a major motion picture that features a black, male superhero it turns out to be a steaming pile of racist drivel. I’m not sure why I would expect more out of Will Smith. Now I know the Scientologists have subverted any shred of individuality and pride he might have once held. Muhammad Ali would be ashamed.
Brief plot synopsis: Black man (Will Smith) is a superhuman, alcoholic bum. When he tries to fight crime Hancock ends up destroying public property and people generally hate him because he is an “asshole”. Bum saves happy go lucky white guy (Jason Bateman) from an accident. White guy convinces black super dude to change his poor public image by voluntarily going to jail, talking about his feelings, wearing a fruity outfit and generally conforming to the expectations of greater white culture. Black guy willingly listens to the wisdom of his new Caucasian buddy. Yeah team!
Along the way, struggling hero meets happy go lucky’s lovely blonde wife (Charlize Theron) who can’t keep her eyes off him. Their attraction to one another is undeniable and must be addressed in secret. Low and behold, the love of black man and white woman leaves them both vulnerable to the violent resentment of an unforgiving society.
According to Hancock, even though they may have superhuman powers akin to modern day sports super stars or entertainers, black men are in need of an image overhaul by going to jail, apologizing for their anger and being compliant with the sensible demands of white folks. Also, they are trying to steal white women from their husbands by using their super human sex drive! White men are still physically weaker, more intelligent and deserve the credit for helping get the misguided black folk back on track.
For all those involved in producing this piece of subversive neo-racist crap; you should be ashamed of yourselves. Dating back to the 1940’s black superheroes have been the subject of the same prejudices that their real life counter parts have endured. It’s high time we move beyond the epitaphs of minstrel shows and blaxploitation movies, not reinforce them.
As the U.S.A. faces the possibility of electing its first black president, modern society is teeming with opportunities to recognize the strength, wisdom and grace of black heroes, super or otherwise. None of us can afford to allow the media to dictate our self image. It is essential to our social progress that all people be given the opportunity to see themselves as intelligent, capable, resourceful and astute, not just happy go lucky white folks.
Our choices dictate the media market economy. I saw a pirated copy of this shitty ass movie, (Public Service Announcement: pirating is stealing), and I am relived I did not contribute to the $600+ million dollars it has made so far. Can you imagine the good that money would have done in the education system? They could have fed a small nation for a year in the developing world but instead chose to make Hand Cock!
Go out and find a black super hero or any other hero who appeals to your better self image and Vote Obama!
HAND COCK
by J. Singh, A Matrix Contributor
You know what really chaps my nifkin? The first time I see a major motion picture that features a black, male superhero it turns out to be a steaming pile of racist drivel. I’m not sure why I would expect more out of Will Smith. Now I know the Scientologists have subverted any shred of individuality and pride he might have once held. Muhammad Ali would be ashamed.
Brief plot synopsis: Black man (Will Smith) is a superhuman, alcoholic bum. When he tries to fight crime Hancock ends up destroying public property and people generally hate him because he is an “asshole”. Bum saves happy go lucky white guy (Jason Bateman) from an accident. White guy convinces black super dude to change his poor public image by voluntarily going to jail, talking about his feelings, wearing a fruity outfit and generally conforming to the expectations of greater white culture. Black guy willingly listens to the wisdom of his new Caucasian buddy. Yeah team!
Along the way, struggling hero meets happy go lucky’s lovely blonde wife (Charlize Theron) who can’t keep her eyes off him. Their attraction to one another is undeniable and must be addressed in secret. Low and behold, the love of black man and white woman leaves them both vulnerable to the violent resentment of an unforgiving society.
According to Hancock, even though they may have superhuman powers akin to modern day sports super stars or entertainers, black men are in need of an image overhaul by going to jail, apologizing for their anger and being compliant with the sensible demands of white folks. Also, they are trying to steal white women from their husbands by using their super human sex drive! White men are still physically weaker, more intelligent and deserve the credit for helping get the misguided black folk back on track.
For all those involved in producing this piece of subversive neo-racist crap; you should be ashamed of yourselves. Dating back to the 1940’s black superheroes have been the subject of the same prejudices that their real life counter parts have endured. It’s high time we move beyond the epitaphs of minstrel shows and blaxploitation movies, not reinforce them.
As the U.S.A. faces the possibility of electing its first black president, modern society is teeming with opportunities to recognize the strength, wisdom and grace of black heroes, super or otherwise. None of us can afford to allow the media to dictate our self image. It is essential to our social progress that all people be given the opportunity to see themselves as intelligent, capable, resourceful and astute, not just happy go lucky white folks.
Our choices dictate the media market economy. I saw a pirated copy of this shitty ass movie, (Public Service Announcement: pirating is stealing), and I am relived I did not contribute to the $600+ million dollars it has made so far. Can you imagine the good that money would have done in the education system? They could have fed a small nation for a year in the developing world but instead chose to make Hand Cock!
Go out and find a black super hero or any other hero who appeals to your better self image and Vote Obama!
posted by Malik Isasis at
11:56 PM
3 Comments:
Shane,
I think you make a wonderful point. However, Obama has brilliantly played the paradox game of white supremacy, and used white folks' just as politicians have used blacks in order to get into office.
Look at it like this: sure he's pandered, it's what politicians do, and if he wins, guess what? He'll be the most powerful black man in the universe. Go chew on that.
Malik
Okay I here you Malik, but what I am worried about is what Obama is really standing for, if not white supremacy itself. Yet, in saying that, we do not what this man will do when he gets into office, but I feel once he steps out of the larger goals of the "white supremacist" free market economy, he will be disposed of much like Kennedy and the many rulers of U.S. corporate exploited countries. Now, despite saying this, your point was that Will Smith let the forces define and alter an authentic expression of blackness, but blackness itself is defined in opposition to whiteness and therefore, a discredited form of expression regardless of who mouth it comes from, black or white. i.e. anytime a white or black person emulates blackness that person is never met with open arms from any racial polarity.
This is to say Obama will not become the most powerful "black" man in the world he becomes a powerful racially ambiguous politic figure much like Will Smith becomes a average run-of-the-mill superhero. There is no foundation or tangible structure for Obama to claim supremacy over in term of "black." There is no "black" Fortune 500 company and there is only a literal handful of "black" CEO's in the same class. Now Obama much like Will Smith or Michael Jordan are diverse faces on a white product. Black is a made up construction much like white that serves as a dilute to the authenticity in human expression and as long as we continue to let it inform our lens in which we judge character then we will continue to be frustrated in the depiction and constant pandering the cultural "other" has to navigate to appeal to the dominant culture.
Shane,
I think in many ways, all people of color living in Western countries have been emotionally, and psychically affected by white supremacy. There is definitely some internalizing of racist mythology. MLK once said that white folks have a false sense of superiority and black folks have a sense of inferiority.
I get your point, of course blackness and whiteness is a political construct, but it has real consequences--like incarceration rates, high unemployment, no structural power in government, banking, military or medicine.
Change begins in this country by infiltrating the system. Now that he is part of the system, I think he can make changes with those of us pressuring him not to triangulate like Clinton did.
Malik
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