Blog Post #1 - Sunken Place



    After reflecting on the first few days of class, I am happy to be back in another one of Professor Due’s classes. I took Professor Due’s Afrofuturism course last year and really enjoyed it. I did not know much about Afrofuturism or African American studies in general, and because I enjoyed that class so much I was excited to see that she was teaching the Black Horror course. So far, this course is not that different from what I was expecting. In terms of the actual structure, it is identical to her previous courses. I also watched the movie Get Out when it came out a few years back; I really enjoyed it and read more about the story behind the movie, the intended takeaway, and even more about Jordan Peele and his works. I also watched Sinners by Peele a few months ago when it came out, so I was a little familiar with his work and its deeper meaning. 

Something that I really enjoyed about the movie Get Out was how uniquely framed it was. It is a satire about the racism and injustice that the Black community face in America. This Black Horror film has so many intricacies and small details that are in the movie and are maybe not so easy to understand to everyone who watches. For example, in the film when Rose tells the cop to not check Chris’s identification, it is understandable for the viewers, including myself, to think that this was an act of protection and ally. But, after really dissecting the movie and watching until the end, I can understand that Rose did this to make sure that there was no trace that could connect Chris back to her. This is just one tiny example that came to mind, but Peele’s amazing direction for this film shows the depth and complexity in every single scene. 

Another component of the film that I really enjoyed was how we sort of were able to watch Chris’s life through his eyes and point of view. From the mistreatment from Rose’s family to the blatant racism, throughout the film I felt like as the viewer I could try to imagine myself in his shoes. Although I am a middle-eastern woman and will never fully understand any Black person’s life, I felt like the way this film was created, I was able to imagine it slightly. 

Overall, Get Out is definitely one of the most meticulous and powerful movies I have ever watched. As mentioned before, each and every detail and scene packs a large message behind it. I am also happy to see the recognition that Peele received for this movie since its release in 2017; this movie is genuinely one of the best movies I have ever watched. I am excited to analyze more works and films throughout the course and learn more about Black Horror! 

 

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