Lawrence analyzes Hollywood film portrayals of Black bodies
Black Film Center & Archive Director and associate professor Novotny Lawrence discusses the portrayals of Black bodies, slavery, and plantations in Hollywood films in his article, “White mansions, black bodies: ‘Get Out’ and the New Age slave plantations.”
The work was recently published in JUMP CUT, a journal that focuses on the analysis of film, television, video, new media, and related mediums. JUMP CUT publishes essays, reports, editorials, and other works that present media criticism from various perspectives.
Lawrence analyzes several historical films and their portrayal of slavery and the Civil War in his article, notably Jordan Peel’s “Get Out” from 2017 and David Butler’s “The Littlest Rebel” from 1935. As the BFCA director and a scholar, Lawrence researches Black cinematic experiences and popular culture and the historical racial discrimination faced by Black people in those areas.