Critical Race Theory and Jordan Peele's Get Out

This book provides an introduction to critical race theory and interprets Jordan Peele's Get Out through this lens, highlighting key concepts such as Black masculinity, white privilege, and the Black body. It offers an analysis of the film within the context of contemporary debates in critical race theory and film studies, making it a valuable resource for scholars and students of these fields.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

This comprehensive book offers a succinct yet profound introduction to critical race theory, providing a valuable framework for interpreting Jordan Peele's groundbreaking film, "Get Out." It delves into the latest developments in critical race studies, introducing key concepts that have profoundly shaped the field, including black masculinity, white privilege, the black body, and miscegenation. By analyzing "Get Out" within the broader context of American horror films, the book showcases how contemporary debates in critical race theory and approaches to analyzing mainstream Hollywood cinema can mutually enrich and enlighten each other. This insightful exploration not only serves as a valuable reference guide for students and scholars interested in critical race studies and film analysis but also makes significant contributions to these fields through original scholarship.

Introduction:
Critical race theory (CRT) is a multidisciplinary framework that examines how race shapes American society and institutions. It originated in the legal field but has since expanded to include various disciplines, including sociology, history, literature, and film studies. In this book, we will explore how CRT can be used to interpret Jordan Peele's film "Get Out."

Recent Developments in Critical Race Studies:
In recent years, critical race studies has experienced significant growth and evolution. Scholars have been exploring new topics and approaches, such as the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality, the impact of colonialism and slavery on contemporary society, and the role of popular culture in perpetuating racial stereotypes. These developments have greatly enriched our understanding of race and its implications for society.

Key Concepts in Critical Race Theory:
Several key concepts in CRT have been instrumental in shaping the field. These include black masculinity, white privilege, the black body, and miscegenation. Black masculinity, for example, refers to the ways in which black men are often portrayed in popular culture as violent and hypersexualized. White privilege, on the other hand, refers to the systemic advantages that white people enjoy in society due to their race. The black body, meanwhile, refers to the way in which black people are often perceived and treated as objects or symbols rather than full human beings. Miscegenation, which refers to the mixing of different racial or ethnic groups, has been a controversial topic in American history and has been used to justify racial discrimination and segregation.

Interpretation of "Get Out" within the Context of Critical Race Theory:
In "Get Out," Jordan Peele explores the intersectionality of race and gender through the story of a black man named Chris Washington. Chris travels to the rural town of Rosewood to meet his white girlfriend's parents, and he quickly realizes that something is amiss. He begins to suspect that his girlfriend's family is harboring sinister intentions toward him, and he discovers that they have been using a mysterious ritual to extract the brains of black people.

Black Masculinity and White Privilege:
One of the key themes in "Get Out" is black masculinity and white privilege. Chris is a successful black man who has achieved great success in his career. However, he is constantly subjected to microaggressions and stereotypes by his white colleagues and friends. For example, they make jokes about his race or suggest that he is not as smart as they are. Despite his success, Chris is never fully accepted by his white counterparts, and he feels like an outsider in his own community.

The Black Body and Miscegenation:
Another key theme in "Get Out" is the black body and miscegenation. The film explores the ways in which black people are often perceived and treated as objects or symbols rather than full human beings. The family that Chris visits in Rosewood uses a mysterious ritual to extract the brains of black people, and they see Chris as nothing more than a specimen to be studied and experimented on. This theme highlights the ways in which race and gender intersect to create systems of oppression and discrimination.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book provides a concise yet comprehensive introduction to critical race theory and its application to the interpretation of Jordan Peele's film "Get Out." By exploring the latest developments in critical race studies and introducing key concepts such as black masculinity, white privilege, the black body, and miscegenation, the book offers a valuable framework for understanding the complexities of race and its impact on society. "Get Out" serves as a powerful example of how film can be used to raise awareness about social issues and promote social change.

Weight: 212g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501351297