Cinema Civil Rights

Regulation, Repression, and Race in the Classical Hollywood Era

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Film, History & Criticism, Performing Arts
Cover of the book Cinema Civil Rights by Ellen C. Scott, Rutgers University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Ellen C. Scott ISBN: 9780813572925
Publisher: Rutgers University Press Publication: January 14, 2015
Imprint: Rutgers University Press Language: English
Author: Ellen C. Scott
ISBN: 9780813572925
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Publication: January 14, 2015
Imprint: Rutgers University Press
Language: English

From Al Jolson in blackface to Song of the South, there is a long history of racism in Hollywood film. Yet as early as the 1930s, movie studios carefully vetted their releases, removing racially offensive language like the “N-word.” This censorship did not stem from purely humanitarian concerns, but rather from worries about boycotts from civil rights groups and loss of revenue from African American filmgoers.

Cinema Civil Rights presents the untold history of how Black audiences, activists, and lobbyists influenced the representation of race in Hollywood in the decades before the 1960s civil rights era. Employing a nuanced analysis of power, Ellen C. Scott reveals how these representations were shaped by a complex set of negotiations between various individuals and organizations. Rather than simply recounting the perspective of film studios, she calls our attention to a variety of other influential institutions, from protest groups to state censorship boards.

Scott demonstrates not only how civil rights debates helped shaped the movies, but also how the movies themselves provided a vital public forum for addressing taboo subjects like interracial sexuality, segregation, and lynching. Emotionally gripping, theoretically sophisticated, and meticulously researched, Cinema Civil Rights presents us with an in-depth look at the film industry’s role in both articulating and censoring the national conversation on race.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

From Al Jolson in blackface to Song of the South, there is a long history of racism in Hollywood film. Yet as early as the 1930s, movie studios carefully vetted their releases, removing racially offensive language like the “N-word.” This censorship did not stem from purely humanitarian concerns, but rather from worries about boycotts from civil rights groups and loss of revenue from African American filmgoers.

Cinema Civil Rights presents the untold history of how Black audiences, activists, and lobbyists influenced the representation of race in Hollywood in the decades before the 1960s civil rights era. Employing a nuanced analysis of power, Ellen C. Scott reveals how these representations were shaped by a complex set of negotiations between various individuals and organizations. Rather than simply recounting the perspective of film studios, she calls our attention to a variety of other influential institutions, from protest groups to state censorship boards.

Scott demonstrates not only how civil rights debates helped shaped the movies, but also how the movies themselves provided a vital public forum for addressing taboo subjects like interracial sexuality, segregation, and lynching. Emotionally gripping, theoretically sophisticated, and meticulously researched, Cinema Civil Rights presents us with an in-depth look at the film industry’s role in both articulating and censoring the national conversation on race.

More books from Rutgers University Press

Cover of the book Tough on Hate? by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Walking on the Wild Side by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book At Translation's Edge by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Eating to Learn, Learning to Eat by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Dream Nation by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Lessons in Leadership by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Through the Crosshairs by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Junctures in Women's Leadership by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Shaping the Future of African American Film by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Imagining Asia in the Americas by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Our Caribbean Kin by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Falling Back by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Hidden Genocides by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Developing Faculty in Liberal Arts Colleges by Ellen C. Scott
Cover of the book Democracy Ancient and Modern by Ellen C. Scott
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy