EXAM PRACTICE

 To what extent can the films you have studied for this topic be seen to reinforce rather than challenge stereotypes?

Stereotypes are often used as a mechanism within film to create characters which are three dimensional, possessing a level of depth and realism, films can either manipulate and reinforce these stereotypes in order to to create characters that can immediately be recognised within society, or challenge them. This challenging of stereotypes bringing a level of controversy to the film as the audience are provided with a different viewpoint on a particular type of person they may not of yet accumulated. Often these subverted stereotypes can be seen to revolve around films that focus on the oppressed in society, people that are often misrepresented and consequently fit into a stereotype that is believed by audience members . Filmmakers can play a vital role in challenging these stereotypes through various stories within film, providing the audience with a more detailed insight into the lives of people that are constantly associated with a particular stigma due to well established stereotypes , I believe my selected films for this topic can be seen to both reinforce and challenge the stereotypes they are faced with, displaying key characters in a different light as appose to following all conventions usually used when representing the particular ethnic background the individuals come from.

My focus films within this topic are effective in challenging these stereotypes rather extensively throughout the duration of the films, in particular I will explore how the characters are seen to subvert stereotypes usually associated with them. Due to the poverty evident within the two films a stereotype is immediately built as we are introduced to the locations which are consequently thriving with conflict , this conflict only sparked by the constant oppression faced by the minorities featured within the two films. We gain an insight into the harsh environments surrounding the characters within the films and soon come to realise that these situations are almost unescapable for the protagonists due to the dominant power lying generally with people that possess money, this causing a prominent power struggle between the oppressors and oppressed as conflict ensues, resulting in many bold stereotypes forming the characters we follow throughout the two films.