Diversity in film

In class this week, we focused on the depictions of different minorities in film. We examined stereotypes and how they are used in Hollywood. But I believe that it is most important that we understand why movies use stereotypes when presenting minorities.

In the movies, the top priority at all times is to keep things believable. And not just believable to the filmmakers, but to the target audience. For that to be possible, the filmmakers try to keep things simple.

But simplifying things in a make-believe world can have consequences in real life. This is because of the immense power Hollywood can have on public opinion. Movies have gotten so believable that much of what is in them is believed.

This can be especially problematic because many people tend to get much, if not all, of their experience in different areas from movies. Take war movies for example. Many, probably most, people have never fought in a war. They’ve never used a gun, seen an explosion, or had their lives threatened. But through movies, they have an experience with it, or at least a Hollywood version of it.

This is true in other types of movies, including those that present other cultures or races. It is common for people to spent more time with others of their own race or culture. They often don’t have their own experience with people of other cultures and sculpt their opinions of these cultures off their depictions in movies.

It is important that people get out and experience other cultures for themselves so that they can build their own relationships with those cultures. But it is equally important that the movies do more to promote diversity.

Instead of using stereotypes to simply describe groups of people, Hollywood should explore new cultures and open eyes to diverse stories. Movies like Slumdog Millionaire where the main characters are not white, and that don’t take place in America, are essential to changing the mindset about minorities because they don’t just promote stereotypes.