Transforming Hollywood: The Deconstruction of Race and Gender Hierarchies in the U.S. Film Industry through Social Movements

Brian Smith, Oberlin College

Location

Virtual presentation

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-27-2020 8:00 AM

End Date

5-2-2020 5:00 PM

Abstract

The purpose of my research is to investigate how major film studios respond to social movements created and sustained through social media that seek to dismantle race and gender hierarchies upheld within the film industry. My research focuses on the period between 2010 to 2018, examining two major social movements: Black Lives Matter and Me Too. These social justice movements called out the racist and misogynistic systems of the contemporary sociopolitical climate of the United States. This inspired movements like Oscars So White and Time’s Up that were aimed specifically at race and gender-based discrimination in the U.S. film industry. I argue that the success of these movements are evidence of a growing demand to see increased representation of people of color and women in film which subsequently demands for representation within all professional sectors of Hollywood.

Keywords:

Diversity, Social movements, Black Lives Matter, Me Too, Hollywood

Notes

Click here to view this presentation at the Office of Undergraduate Research website from April 27-May 2, 2020.

Major

Cinema Studies; Africana Studies

Project Mentor(s)

Charles Peterson, Africana Studies

April 2020

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Apr 27th, 8:00 AM May 2nd, 5:00 PM

Transforming Hollywood: The Deconstruction of Race and Gender Hierarchies in the U.S. Film Industry through Social Movements

Virtual presentation

The purpose of my research is to investigate how major film studios respond to social movements created and sustained through social media that seek to dismantle race and gender hierarchies upheld within the film industry. My research focuses on the period between 2010 to 2018, examining two major social movements: Black Lives Matter and Me Too. These social justice movements called out the racist and misogynistic systems of the contemporary sociopolitical climate of the United States. This inspired movements like Oscars So White and Time’s Up that were aimed specifically at race and gender-based discrimination in the U.S. film industry. I argue that the success of these movements are evidence of a growing demand to see increased representation of people of color and women in film which subsequently demands for representation within all professional sectors of Hollywood.