Last class we talked a little about the background of Blaxploitation and it’s role in the 1970s. It was an important movement and as we learned virtually saved Hollywood. Last year in American Cinema we talked extensively about Blaxploitation in terms of Sweetback and Shaft  as well as small discussions of Coffy and Foxy Brown. This genre of film is very interesting and are some great movies, but what think is important to talk about is the other groups of oppressed people.

In the 1970s there were no other groups of minorities in film. The screen basically consisted of black and white, which is why I feel it is important to talk about other races in film. Bruce Lee broke the barrier of Chinese in American film bringing the Kung Fu genre which displayed strong women as well as a hero other than white or black. Cheech and Chong as well even though they aren’t heroes or women they open the doors for Latino actors and actresses.

I feel like this would be an interesting topic to look into. To look deeper into other groups of people and how woman are shown in these films. So far we have been very black and white, which I feel only confines us to two perspectives. Though this will be difficult as even today there are barely minority female stars in film.