Lecture on Get Out - Wisecrack Edition

Introduction

• Focus on the film Get Out directed by Jordan Peele.
• Explores themes of racism, specifically highlighting white liberalism.
• Film inspired by the misconception of a post-racial America following the Obama presidency.

Film Recap

• Main character: Chris Washington, a black man meeting his white girlfriend's family.
• Initial interactions highlight awkward, overly accommodating behavior from white liberals.
• A plot twist reveals a horrific reality of a modern-day slave auction.

Themes and Analysis

White Liberalism

• White liberals in the film exhibit awkward attempts to connect with black people.
• Their actions often reinforce racial differences instead of eliminating them.

Negrophilia

• Describes white fascination with black culture, termed 'negrophilia'.
• Originated in 1920s Paris.
• In Get Out, white characters are obsessed with black culture and physical traits.

Psychological Impact

• Explores the psychological experience of black Americans in predominantly white settings.
• Chris's interactions illustrate a need to balance cultural identity with external expectations.

Sunken Place

• Metaphor for the marginalization and silencing of black voices.
• Involves a hypnotic state where the individual passively witnesses their own experiences.

Double Consciousness

• Concept by W.E.B. Du Bois describing internal conflict in black Americans.
• In Get Out, Chris experiences this duality through the expectations and desires of white society.

Plot Developments

• The Armitage family uses a procedure to implant white consciousness into black bodies.
• Chris's journey involves recognizing and overcoming this control.

Symbols and Metaphors

• Cotton: Chris uses cotton to block out hypnotic suggestions, symbolizing resistance using the oppressor's tools.
• Bocce Ball: Used as a means of resistance, representing elite white culture.
• Deer: Symbolizes Chris's fight against feeling powerless and passive.

Conclusion

• Chris escapes the Armitage family, regaining autonomy.
• Rod, Chris's friend, plays a crucial role in rescuing him.

Final Thoughts

• The film's alternate ending highlights systemic racism's persistent threat.
• Real monster in Get Out is not fictional but the systemic racism in society.

Miscellaneous

• Mention of Blue Apron sponsorship and promotion for meal delivery service.