The Black Lives Matter movement and representations of black male identity

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in Three Historical Films

Black Cinematic Representation and the Concepts of Double-Consciousness and Postmemory

The Visualization of Double-Consciousness in Footage of Police Brutality

Old Wine in New Skins: Constructing Black Masculinity in the Three Films

Gender as Power

The Hero as an Embodiment of Societal Values

The Transformation into a Hero: An Investigation in Three Scenes

A New Representation of Black Manhood Paves the Way

Chapter 2: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in its Unofficial Anthem “Alright”

Masculinity and Agency: Encoded Hip Hop Elements in “Alright” and To Pimp a Butterfly

The Street Code of Nihilism: Lamar's Tragic Narrative and “Second Sight”

A New Representation of Black Agency: “Alright” as a Leading Narrative

Objective & Themes

This master's thesis examines the incongruity between the original inclusive principles of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and its public representation in pop-cultural works, specifically focusing on how these productions utilize the figure of the black male tragic hero to embody societal values and redefine black masculinity.

• The impact of historical dramas and hip-hop music on the cultural discourse surrounding BLM.
• The application of W.E.B. Du Bois' "double-consciousness" and Marianne Hirsch's "postmemory" to contemporary black identity.
• The construction of the black male "tragic hero" as a guiding figure in media representation.
• Gender relations and moral superiority as primary instruments for defining black agency.
• The critical engagement with traditional hip-hop tropes and street codes in Kendrick Lamar's work.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: This chapter outlines the emergence of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and its subsequent integration into the American cultural discourse, highlighting the tension between the movement's inclusive founding principles and the male-centered narratives often projected onto it.

Chapter 1: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in Three Historical Films: This chapter investigates how three historical dramas—12 Years a Slave, Selma, and The Birth of a Nation—utilize the trope of the black male hero and traditional gender relations to establish moral superiority and challenge white hegemonic representations.

Chapter 2: The Guiding Principles of #BlackLivesMatter in its Unofficial Anthem “Alright”: This chapter analyzes how Kendrick Lamar’s "Alright" and his album To Pimp a Butterfly navigate the nihilistic elements of traditional hip-hop to transform the artist into a tragic hero, thereby creating a new narrative of black agency that aligns with BLM’s principles.

Keywords

Black Lives Matter, #BlackLivesMatter, Black masculinity, Tragic hero, Double-consciousness, Postmemory, Hip-hop, Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly, Gender relations, Racial injustice, Representation, Agency, Cultural discourse, Moral superiority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this thesis?

The work investigates the cultural representation of black male identity in the context of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, specifically looking at how pop-cultural productions like film and music create a sense of black agency.

What are the primary themes discussed?

The central themes include the construction of black masculinity, the role of gender as a power category, the function of the "tragic hero" in cultural discourse, and the critical intersection of race, memory, and media.

What is the main research objective?

The objective is to explain the discrepancy between the inclusive, decentralized principles of #BlackLivesMatter and the movement’s frequent public association with a black male heterosexual narrative.

Which scientific methods are employed?

The thesis utilizes filmic and literary analysis, specifically applying theoretical frameworks like W.E.B. Du Bois' "double-consciousness" and Marianne Hirsch's "postmemory," alongside gender analysis based on Joan Scott’s theories.

What does the main body cover?

The main body focuses on the analysis of three historical films (12 Years a Slave, Selma, The Birth of a Nation) and Kendrick Lamar’s album To Pimp a Butterfly, exploring how these works negotiate historical and cultural narratives to establish black heroes.

Which keywords characterize this work?

The most relevant terms include #BlackLivesMatter, black masculinity, tragic hero, double-consciousness, gender relations, and cultural representation.

How does the author analyze gender in the selected films?

The author argues that gender relations are used as a "category of power." By framing black men as morally superior to white oppressors within the domestic sphere, the films use gender to solidify the black male protagonist's heroic status.

What role does the "reversed hamartia" play in the hero's development?

A "reversed hamartia" is a flaw that does not destroy the hero but rather negotiates traditional stereotypes. It reveals a moral dilemma—such as a father's choice to prioritize family survival—that ultimately elevates the protagonist into a morally superior figure.

How does Kendrick Lamar use hip-hop codes in his music?

Lamar uses traditional, often nihilistic or misogynistic elements of street code not to glorify them, but to critically interrogate them. He positions himself as a "tragic hero" to address the inescapable reality of systemic oppression while advocating for self-accountability.