Activity 3.14- Stereotypes in Film

 As media changes and stylistic choices shift between genres, there is one thing that has seemed to keep constant during the history of film; stereotypes. Whether this regards racial stereotypes, or even stereotypes for certain occupations, creating a character that seems recognizable and relatable for the audience has been a widely used technique to gain viewership in the film industry. 

Mean Girls, directed by Mark Waters, is a highly popular movie classified as ‘classic’ today. However, even the most popular films do not stray shy from controversial stereotypes in their characters. Regina George, the leader of the mean girls in this film, portrays many stereotypes. She can be perceived as a ‘dumb blonde’ due to her tone-deaf dialogue in many scenes, as well as her obsession with superficial things such as popularity, clothes, and boys. While Regina George is a comical character that has stolen the hearts of many viewers, there is no doubt that her character traits highlight the worst of people with blonde hair.  

Another popular stereotype that can be noticed within many films is the ‘single friend’ stereotype. This type of stereotype can be seen in media such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days directed by Donald Petrie. Michelle, one of the leading characters in this film, portrays common stereotypes of what life is like for the single friend; they can never catch a break. This can be reflected in a character's behavior and loud dialogue, portraying the character as unwanted. 

Movies utilize the ‘evil stepmother’ stereotype in many films to create conflict between characters and add to the storyline. One film that shows this is The Parent Trap. The stepmother, Meredith, in this film is portrayed as a gold-digging wife who is only with her husband for a luxury lifestyle. She despises her husband's kids due to them taking time and money away from her. This form of stereotype can be displayed in many different storylines, however this movie is one of the most recognized of its kind.  

There are stereotypes regarding age, as well. In the film, Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi is portrayed as a wise old man who acts as a guide for Daniel. He coaches Daniel to become a fighter but teaches life lessons along the way. This correlates to the common stereotype that elders are noble and wise. On the other hand, young people can be portrayed as the complete opposite. It is common in the film industry for teenagers to be portrayed as reckless and immature. The movie Project X displays teenagers as reckless, as they are defying their parents and throwing an illegal party. Teenagers are displayed as reckless, love driven and lost individuals in many movies. 

There are many ethnic stereotypes in film as well. In the Netflix Original show, Sex Education, English people are portrayed as rude, obnoxious, and cold. This is a blatant generalization to classify an entire geographical area as sharing the same personality traits. Along with this, Americans are portrayed as criminal, money obsessed, and usually overweight in foreign films. The film Squid Game portrayed these stereotypes, as the men funding the squid game were all wealthy white men who were overweight. This portrays white men as immoral and selfish. It can be assumed that many countries view Americans in a negative light, as we are commonly placed as the antagonists in these films.  

Hispanic characters also portray false stereotypes that could be harmful for audiences' perspectives. In many films, Latin men and women are defined by their ‘sex appeal’, which is a false stereotype and is highly objectifying. Latin men are portrayed as attractive “Latin lover’s”, whereas Latin women are portrayed as the “spicy Latina”. This stereotype can be seen in movies and shows such as Jane the Virgin.  

While all these races are constantly portrayed in a negative light, African American stereotypes are one of the most recognizable generalizations in the film industry. Movies such as the Medea series directed by Tyler Perry portray black women in a negative light, displaying Medea as the role of “angry black woman” in all his films. Tyler Perry's co-stars are also often portrayed in a negative light, such as the children getting bad grades, and relatives going to jail. These are all harmful stereotypes that negatively reflect African Americans on a widespread media form. 

Classism is also a common stereotype, portraying rich people negatively, as well as people in poverty. In the movie Wolf of Wall Street, the main character, Jordan, is portrayed as a narcissistic and money driven individual who is willing to ruin relationships to gain financial success. This film is not the only film that portrays rich people in this light; in fact, there are many films who use a rich character as the antagonist. Poverty-stricken individuals in films are also portrayed negatively, as they are commonly displayed as lazy, dirty, and unintelligent. In the film McFarland, the Hispanic runners are all portrayed negatively, as in most shots they are wearing dirty clothing, and their characters are all either unintelligent, lazy, or criminals. This generalization does not reflect accurate and positive aspects.