Adit's Blog

The most crucial part of this production comes in the end. Bigger in the movie is killed after cops shoot him because they "mistakenly think that he  had a gun in his hand". This death reminds me of Tod Clifton's death from Invisible Man. It seemed like lazy production because of its difference from the original. While it is supposed to be modernized, I found his death to be the easy way out. As for Bigger's depiction in the movie, his physical appearance struck me. His striking green hair and overall demeanor was different that I had envisioned when reading Richard Wright's work. However, something that directors did a great job of reenacting, was Mary Dalton’s relationship with Bigger. He never seemed too comfortable around her, just how I had imagined. Mary’s actress made it her character seem so oblivious and that was perfect. The scene of her death was also a lot like the book, barre the cremation part. Overall, as a movie hoping to modernize Richar...

Paul Beatty's White Boy shuffle is a novel navigating through Gunnar Kaufman's delicate growing up process and along the way, addressing the various stereotypes pertaining to African Americans. Among these, include the 'black people are good at basketball'. Beatty applies the stereotype to her two main characters Gunnar and Scoby, one of whom somehow literally can't miss a jump shot. Our author, like we've discussed in class, loves to twist popular culture into something almost unrecognizable. Poetry takes the place of modern Hip-Hop in basketball and gangster culture for example. Weird to even think about in the real world. I found the most crucial impact of the sport was when Gunnar finally realizes the power that he has over the school crowd when at the free-throw line. With the score tied he finds himself with the chance to ice the game, a position that is dreamt of by young adults throughout America. Ironically, it is in this position, at this moment, th...