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Racism in ‘Get Out’
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Racism in ‘Get Out’
‘Get Out’ is a critically acclaimed 2017 film directed by Jordan Peele. It is a horror film centered on racial relations and issues in the United States. The film marked Peele’s directorial debut and earned multiple nominations and awards such as Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture at the 90th Academy Awards. Peele explained that one of the main motivations for the film was to expose race issues that most people still sweep under the rug. A perfect example of this is the fact that Obama had been president, which meant that racism was effectively dead. Peele also took aim at white liberals who think that they cannot be racist, minimizing the problem without recognizing their role in it. The film highlights many fears such as racial discrimination that minority groups in America go through, and the film employs various devices such as symbolism and metaphors to address race relations in the country.
Racial profiling is one fear that minorities face every day, shown in the interaction between Chris and the police officer. While on their way to meet Rose’s parents, Chris and Rose hit a deer and they call the police. When the police arrive on the scene, the officer asks Chris for his license even though Rose was the one driving (MovieClips Trailers 0: 45). Interactions between African-American males and the police have been a major part of racial profiling in the country. There have been multiple shootings and fatalities resulting from a simple interaction that quickly escalated, or even from unprovoked assault. Many black men fear approaching or being approached by the police out of fear that they might end up dead for no reason at all. There is some bias within the police force, and ‘Get Out’ highlights this issue in the scene between Chris and the officer. Rose protests, explaining that there is no need to ask Chris for his ID, but unfortunately Chris recognizes that this is what he expects from a police officer.
Another fear that minorities experience is the belittling of their everyday struggles, quite evident in the film. The idea of a post-racial America is one that was widely taunted especially after the US elected its first black president. However, many individuals still experience racial discrimination in their lives, and dismissing these struggles just because the president is a black man is unfortunate. During the party at the Armitage estate, Chris experiences a lot of racial micro-aggressions as everyone tries to prove that they are not racist. A perfect example of this is when Rose’s father said he would vote for Obama a third time. Tiger Woods is also mentioned as a way to show that black men hold powerful positions, and the white liberals accept and praise them. This can be explained as liberal racism, where people try to deflect from real issues by pointing out the positives and distancing themselves from the negatives.
Eyes and cameras are important symbols in exploring racism in the film ‘Get Out.’ The eyes are the organs with which we perceive the outside world and the happenings around us. Chris’ eyes are a major part of his craft as a photographer. When he and Rose go to visit her parents, he takes his camera with him. When he tries to take a photo of Logan who looks familiar to him, he sets off an unexpected reaction. Logan tells him to ‘get out’, a phrase Chris will later come to understand. Cameras and videos have become a crucial part of exposing racial discrimination today, which makes the camera significant in the film. Jim Hudson, a blind art dealer, wants to take over Chris’ body and see through his artistic eyes, which essentially translates to robbing him of Chris of his most important organs. Taking away Chris’ eyes takes away his vision and opportunities, something that minority groups have experienced.
Peele uses metaphors in ‘Get Out’ to highlight how inaction leads to grave consequences with regard to racial issues. Chris lost his mother at a young age and was not there when she passed away. Under hypnosis, Chris admits that he did nothing as his mother suffered. In an interview with the New York Times, Peele explained that the act of watching TV represents inactivity and complacency during critical moments (Zinoman 1). Everyone is aware that there is a serious race issue in the country, but most people would rather sit back and do nothing. Some of the grave consequences include death, exclusion and discrimination of minority groups. The fear of speaking up is because people want to downplay racism and avoid rustling feathers, an approach which will only exacerbate the problem.
In summary, the horror film ‘Get Out’ does an exceptional job of tackling a heavy subject in society today; racism. Peele brings a new perspective of what a horror film looks like and addresses serious topics in the process. There are many symbols and metaphors in the satirical film that enhance the theme of the movie. The movie is particularly relevant today as the country continues to grapple with race issues and a growing awareness of racism. The idea of liberal racism also comes out quite clearly, showing that people can be racist without intending to be, or cause further problems by minimizing the issue. Electing a black president should not be the end of it, every minority individual must be treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve just like any other person.
Works Cited
MovieClips Trailers. “Get Out Official Trailer 1 (2017)” YouTube. 5 October 2017. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzfpyUB60YYZinoman, Jason. “Jordan Peele on a Truly Terrifying Monster: Racism” The New York Times. 16 February 2017. www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/movies/jordan-peele-interview-get-out.html
Constitutional Pros and Cons of Arizona’s Immigration Law
Constitutional Pros and Cons of Arizona’s Immigration Law
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In April 2010, the state of Arizona implemented two laws concerning immigration, HB 2162 and SB 1070. These two laws added new requirements by the state, penalties and crimes related to the implementation and enforcement of immigration laws and were supposed to be implemented and used by the start on 29 July 2010 (Senate Bill 1070). However, before these laws could be implemented, the United States of America department of justice filed a lawsuit against the state requesting for an injunction against these two laws pointing out that they were not drawn according to the requirements and guidelines of the constitution. The judge appointed to handle the case, Judge Bolton granted the request by the justice department for the injunction on 28 July 2010 partly and directed those provisions related to the officers of state law determining the status of an immigrant during any unlawful stop; the requirement to carry around registration papers for aliens; the prohibition to apply for jobs without authority; and the permission for arrests without warrants if a probable cause is present the offense would make the individual is removable from the US. The governor to the Arizona state Jan brewer appealed the injunction, but the court still upheld the injunction (Fierros, 2010).
This paper will analyze the Arizona immigration laws, summarized under the two laws SB 1070 and HB 2162. It will also look at the cons and pros of these laws as reflected by the constitution and in the end take a position and support it showing and citing the perceptions as to why the constitution defends or does not defend the position.
The SB 1070 law, which supports the enforcement of law and safe neighborhoods. The law was approved by the legislature of Arizona on 19 April 2010 and was later signed into law on 23 April 2010 by Governor Brewer. The law includes laws and provisions that ass the penalties of the sate relating to enforcement laws on immigration including harboring, trespassing, alien registration documents, transport of illegal migrants, human smuggling and employer sanctions (Senate Bill 1070). The trespassing provision seems to be the first like it to be implemented in the US. In the most current reports on state immigration laws by the NCSL, few states have tried to come with violation of state trespassing rules for unlawful entry and presence. Arizona tried but failed to bring up these bills in 2009 and 2008 consecutively, Texas tried in 2009 and California in 2007. On the same day the bill was signed into law, the governor issued an order requiring all the peace officers standards and training boards in Arizona to come up with training programs to make sure that officials for law enforcement and agencies make use of the SB 1070 law according to the federal laws controlling immigration, protecting the civil rights of all individuals and respecting the immunities and privileges of the citizens of the US. The executive order also required clear guidelines as to what is defined as reasonable suspicion. The board is required to provide a list of the specific identification forms that provide a presumption that an individual is not an alien present in the US illegally (Senate Bill 1070).
Many individuals have raised numerous questions concerning the implementation and the applicability of the SB 1070 law in the constitution. Some questions and issues arise from questions concerning the costs to the state for enforcing and implementing federal immigration laws, especially with the tight budget and constrictive economy. Interested parties want to know how the state and those that follows will interpret reasonable suspicion of immigrant’s status, and the small list of papers eligible to demonstrate presence that is lawful. Challenges from the court have raised issues of the constitution including equal protection under the fourteenth amendment, due process, the prohibition on unreasonable seizure and search under the fourth amendment, and preemption as per the Supremacy Clause of the United States constitution (Senate Bill 1070).
On 29 April 2010, the Arizona legislature also approved the HB 2162 law, which the governor later signed that included provisions meant to address concerns of racial profiling. This particular law amended the first one to specify that officials of law enforcement cannot consider color, race and national origin when implementing and applying the provisions of the original law, except as allowed by the Arizona constitution and the US constitution. The law clarified the original language of the law concerning reasonable suspicion by requiring the local and state law enforcement to reasonably try to determine the immigration status of an individual only while in the process of a stop that is lawful and legal, arrest or detention. The HB 2162 law also indicated that a lawful detention, stop or arrest must be in the enforcement any other ordinance or law of a city, county or town of the Arizona state. These laws have both pros and cons, which have been cited widely by the supporters and those opposing the implementation of these laws (House Bill 2162).
The laws, for instance, have numerous pros. For example, the Arizona immigration law merely implements and enforces existing laws. There are already a lot of federal immigration laws on book that many states have not implemented yet. All Arizona did was take a step further from the rest of the other states who have not yet enforced the immigration laws they already have. Another pro is that the Arizona immigration laws are necessary, even though they are a bit awkward. These laws will place more restrictions to the entry of criminals and other unattractive individuals in the eyes of the law, therefore, making the state safer place for all of its citizens. Another pro is that this state has the right to fight against illegal immigrants. There has been a lot of crime and the laws will curb violence related to illegal immigration, which the governor thinks (Fierros, 2010).
With these few pros, the laws are also faced with other numerous cons, which those against the law have been relying on to fight their implementation and enforcement. One of the cons of the bill is that the illegal immigration law of Arizona in indecent and inhuman. Most have termed the laws as arbitrary, racist, mean- spirited, oppressive, and unjust to the affected individuals. Many have argued that the only positive thing about the bill is that it might have gone too far such that it became unconstitutional. Another con that is common in the debates concerning these laws is that the new Arizona immigration laws establish a new class of suspects, especially one based on ethnicity. This law and the new class of ethnicity suspects makes it harder for illegal immigrants to live void of scrutiny, but it also makes it harder for a number of American people to live without humiliation and suspicion (Fierros, 2010).
Another con is that the Arizona immigration laws create an environment of recrimination and fear. Most of the 2 million Hispanic people living in Arizona live in fear and the laws have denied them personal freedom. Many of them will without no doubt be afraid to walk outside, especially those without paper even when they are legally American. Another con is the statements against immigration laws of Arizona. Individuals are arguing that the laws that were signed in 2010 threaten numerous family values that many families have struggled to create in the state (Fierros, 2010).
Though the both sides of the debate present reasonable points in an attempt to defend their position, this paper takes the position that the Arizona immigration laws are unconstitutional and unfair to the Latino community and the American community. The American constitution was established on the basis of equality, fairness and freedom for all. With the new Arizona immigration laws, it is hard not to see that these laws do not support the American constitution and what it stands for. The laws are discriminatory; they are unjust, and unfair to the people concerned. They also deny these people their freedom and limit their ability to walk around and enjoy their whereabouts and homes. The Arizonian state should look for other means to control and regulate crimes; violence and any other repercussions they think are, as a result, of illegal immigrants, instead of violating the constitutional rights on millions of individuals.
References
Fierros, A. (2010). War on Arizona’s immigration law: DOJ is in. Examiner. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/border-and-immigration-in-los-angeles/war-on-arizona-s-immigration-law-doj-is-in
House Bill 2162. Retrieved from http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=2162Senate Bill 1070. Retrieved from http://www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=1070
The impact of the internet on traditional news media
The Impact of the Internet on Traditional News Media
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This essay explains the impact of the internet on the traditional conventional media which currently encounters challenges of maintaining its primary role of being the only source of public information. Internet has become a universal news medium and the traditional media is on the receiving end since many people can access to the high speed internet which has become a part of modern life hence making almost everyone a journalist. The argument of this writing is to carefully examine, evaluate and analyze both the positive and negative impacts of the internet based on the creation of information as well as network society on the conventional media.
According to Scherer (2008), Internet has really enhanced communication amongst many people by making it quick and at global scale. It is undeniable that the internet through blogs and many other social media has created a sense of freedom which has enabled expression of thoughts and feelings liberally. On the other hand, traditional media restricts the freedom by making one person to communicate to many after carefully choosing the information while the receivers receive every information got from the media. Additionally, interactivity enhanced by the internet cannot be assumed as it is experienced in the social media such as Facebook and online forums where the public participate and interact through airing their views and asking questions. The social media empowers people to make an option on what to react or participate in through narrowcasting that minimizes interference from others (Chadwick & Howard, 2009).
Moreover, the internet has created a base in which people can acquire information in a most flexible and suitable way thus making the process more fashionable and likable than the traditional media. Ahlers and Hessen (2013), argue that most people globally obtain information from the online resources because of the instant and efficient style associated with the internet. Nevertheless, conventional media resources have really been challenged by online resources and World Wide Web, in fact, in most cases, the traditional media also obtains information from the online resources (Scherer, 2008).
Additionally, rapid development of the internet has really brought information revolution. It is obvious that the internet has made information available everywhere around the world thus reducing the world to a small global village. According to Ahlers & Hessen (2013), people have the capabilities of accessing the latest dimension of any information and even gain superb experience and knowledge which empowers them to be autonomous media producers. Individuals can now upload a video or any information of their own to the rest of the world either on the social media or even YouTube thus changing their self-perception, identity and determining their own destiny.
Ahlers & Hessen (2013), feel that negative and damaging effects of the internet on conventional media are seen to expose the latter to extinction. Internet has proved superior to the traditional media in terms of information media since more people search online news and information. Television is nowadays substituted by computers which most people enjoy and find useful while searching for any information. Introduction of digital television has led to more complex network and even development of HDTV that enables people to watch high quality images via installation of the internet into the television. Moreover, the dominant role of newspaper in reaching a huge populace of audience is no longer in existence.
Chadwick & Howard (2009), online media has made some newspaper to lose their readership and their survival largely depends on their ability to embrace new technology, and maintain their relevancy through restructuring of their organization and content. Online newspapers have become dominant of late because they provide detailed information by including some vital links to the primary source of information after just a click. It is evident that the daily printed newspaper is in great shock and is therefore supposed to conform to the new technological advancement to appeal to the young readers. Perhaps the exploring nature of newspaper will be retained amid the transformations.
Radio is not left out in this case as most of the listeners browse or may be decide to listen to online news thus leading to many journalism crossover experienced. Ahlers & Hessen (2013), argue that the internet provides a base in which one can tune in to previous news or information from the radio which the traditional radio functions cannot do. This makes the internet more reliable and convenient to people who could have not listen to probably an interesting program the previously.
Radio has also been transformed by the internet in such a way that people listen to radio via other forms such as digital radio as well as internet radio. According to Scherer (2008), the internet has enabled online broadcasting which has grabbed ears of many listeners across the world thus providing a superior and efficient alternative to the traditional on air broadcasting. Additionally, the conventional on air broadcasting is limited by signal range thus limiting its spread to a wide geographical area or to a global perspective unlike the online broadcasting that is available everywhere provided there is internet coverage.
Generally internet has become the major source of information to the public due to its flexibility that enables individuals to find it easy sharing and responding to information. Individuals have gained incredible knowledge, experience and independence when it comes to creation of information thus making them more creative in the media environment. Traditional media should adopt and meticulously embrace the new information technology to ensure their existence and eliminate possible extinction. The internet has transformed the media environment in such a way that the needs of the public are met and even contributing to public journalists. Perhaps restructuring the traditional media and introducing regulation on the consumption of the internet media would rescue the conventional media whose content still remains vital.
References
Ahlers, Douglas & Hessen. (2013). Traditional Media in the Digital Age Data about News Habits and Advertiser Spending Lead to a Reassessment of Media’s Prospects And Possibilities. Nieman Foundation. Retrieved From Http://Www.Nieman.Harvard.Edu/Reports/Article/100642/Traditional-Media-In-The-Digital-Age.Aspx
Chadwick, A., & Howard, P. N. (2009). Routledge Handbook of Internet Politics. London: Routledge.
Scherer, Michael. (2008, March, 24). The Internet Effect on News. Time Swampland. Retrieved From Http://Swampland.Time.Com/2008/03/24/The_Internet_Effect_On_News/