In
the movie, “Straight Outta Compton, there are many rituals and stereotypes that
are demonstrated. Before I talk about
how these apply to the movie we need to know what the definition of the words. Ritual is defined as
any practices inspired by a myth either embedded in a particular culture,
community, family and etc. Rituals are also defined as any practice that is consisting
of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. An example of
this would be a person who all ways sits in the same sit on the bus every day.
Next is the word Stereotypes. Stereotype
is defined as a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea
of a particular type of person or thing.
This term has been used to label many things throughout our culture that
we as a community tend to not understand so we stereotype or pigeonhole
whatever it is into this category.
One
of the most prevalent rituals that the movie portrayed was the ritual of
writing and recording. The group N.W.A
would contently go in to the recording studio to write and record their music. Even
before the group signed their deal with their manager Jerry Heller, they would
gather up before, during and after school to discuss their ideals and lay down
some form of recording. Another ritual that was observed in the movie was the celebrating
or parting. After the group would have a
successful show or achievement, they would all gather up and have a celebration
or party. This ritual was an important
one, this ritual signified that the group had done something successful and a celebration
was in order to show proof of that. Many cultures observe this ritual in some
form or fashion and it can come in the form of just a few friends and family
members getting together in observance of it to hundreds of thousands of people
joining in to be a part of someone or somethings success.
One
of the most prevalent stereotypes that the movie depicted was the stereotype that
all young black males were nothing more than drug dealers, gangbangers or your
common criminals. No matter what each of the members did, this was the
common stereotype associated with them.
This is a common stereotype that has been used to label misunderstood or
intercity youth in today’s society. Another stereotype is that Rap music was
not a viable or respected form of music. When Gangster Rap music hit the scene
in the late 1980. America would dismiss it
value and deemed it inappropriate and ill moral and degrading in certain forms
of its content. The problem with this
was that it was overlooking the underlying message that the music was trying to
address. With any other music genre,
Gangster Rap music was really a platform for young African Americans to voice
what was going on in their community.
What main stream American didn’t understand was the language of the
streets that was being used to put it out there.
In
conclusion, there is a lot of insight that can be gained from this movie as
well as the ritual and stereotypes that are depicted in the movie as well. By looking at both stereotypes and rituals
that I have described above we start to see patterns set for success and
failure not just in the movie but life in general. Most ritual are uplifting
and have a positive reinforcement behind them but if theses rituals are derived
out of hate, anger rage then the outcome can have a negative impact. Stereotypes or “Stereotyping” is a practice
that needs to be eliminated in today’s modern society. This form of labeling is demeaning hurtful
and only causes discord between the people who use and it and the people who it
is being placed upon.
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