Print
Email
While you ask "Why?" Perry asks, "Why not?"
After talking to a friend about Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself, I realized that his very presence in the film industry continues to create a stark cultural divide. Many on the ground enjoy watching his films and television shows; others recoil, perplexed at how these characters and stories make millions, while other filmmakers continue to struggle. Cinema vanguards like Haile Gerima, for instance, are most often seen on the international film circuit, rarely penetrating U.S. distribution channels, while the most prolific and arguably most gifted black filmmaker, Spike Lee, scarcely garners theatrical releases for his films.
How is it that Perry—an actor, writer, director and yes, studio owner—has become the face of black filmmaking? For now, I choose not to delve into Perry’s work—the stories, characterizations and the cultural and political subtext that they bring to the surface. I simply argue that those of us whose cultural vision does not neatly align with Perry’s might still be able to learn a thing or two.
Simply, you “can’t knock the hustle.” Like many of us who dare to chart a difficult course, Perry is a visionary who understands more than we know, and he will continue to grow in ways that will make many of his critics reconsider their harsh comments. He is learning how to craft films and has his sights on more than the next Madea flick. Perry and Oprah Winfrey co-executive produced the latest work of provocative and gifted director Lee Daniels, whose upcoming film, Precious, will be released this fall. Perry has amassed a fortune, and he will use it to open more doors to other voices and directors, hopefully bringing his audiences to the other side to explore other kinds of cinema that they may not have considered viewing.
As a burgeoning writer, producer and scholar, I am influenced by the likes of Lee and Gerima, whose work presses into the twin spheres of aesthetics and meaning, and inspires critical dialogue about the work and its relationship to our social landscapeAnd I will admit that I turn up my nose at the thought of Tyler Perry’s brand of entertainment hitting the big screen. It was only last year that I made my first trek to see a Tyler Perry movie, Madea Goes to Jail, in a theater. By now, most of us are aware of the stalwart criticisms—the low production values, predictable storylines and characters, and the lack of attention paid to the nuances of filmmaking. While his work differs from that of the black cinematic masters, over time I have realized that Perry and his work are far more significant than many of us have realized.
Perry has never claimed to be a brilliant filmmaker. He has made black audiences—or at least a portion of them—bankable. He has mastered what I’ll call “the Spike Lee effect”—employing hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, many of whom would not have been able to get jobs in the film industry. But we have often overlooked his sheer brilliance, courage and resilience. Perry’s personal story is one of the most amazing you’ll ever hear, but his business acumen is equally as compelling. For students of media industries, he is the ultimate case study. He has created a media empire (yes, empire) in fewer years than it took Oprah Winfrey, and his business prowess should be studied, not belittled.
Many intellectuals and cultural critics have challenged his work and even his right to make it, yet offer little by way of salient critiques. Perhaps his work, in their eyes, is not worthy of analytical discussion. As viewers and cultural critics, we must sharpen our own critical chops, yet resist the need to simply cut the work down. In the academic sphere, his name is a bad word, synonymous perhaps with chitlin’ circuit entertainment. Yet so much of what black popular culture has produced has often been relegated to the realm of “low culture” and marginalized, only to be reclaimed when it can serve our own political ends.
To those who may not value the work, I challenge you to watch as he moves beyond Madea helping to make black entertainment and black producers more viable. Many of us are talking about it, but Tyler Perry is doing it. And if you’re nice, maybe he’ll finance one of your projects.
Michele Prettyman Beverly is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication’s Moving Image Studies Program at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Comments
Spike Lee, scarcely garners theatrical releases for his films. free games
All of those who see comedy in this..Where is the outrage? What is with some who bounce the african off the wall..yet choose to support pedohiles who are dancin with wolves, howling at the moon and calling on God?
Our children are coming up missing..Our daughters are being convinced that choosing white men is ok..There is something wrong when no coverage is given about our daughters but rather more about uncle toms like tyler perry..
The first story here smacks of incest..i would bet weeks salary..that this adopted father..is the father..why else would a man run?
African women beware.there is a concerted effort in this country..to turn black white..Now what are you going to do..watch amos and andy?
I will be back next week..
http://www.thegrio.com/2009/09/north-carolina-sisters-missing.php
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20091005/OPINION/710049903/1080/NEWShttp://www.rubymccollum.net/
http://www.blackcommentator.com/21_re_print.html
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8458821
http://news.spreadit.org/elizabeth-smart-testimony-transcript-elizabeth-...
Movies about ordinary families having ordinary problems is lowbrow? did you think American Beauty and Lonestar were lowbrow? I've seen some really terrible movies in my lifetime.. None of them were made by Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry's movies are better than 75% of the movies out there but you feel the need to criticize him because his movies aren't' better than the other 24%? Where the article complaining about how much money national lampoon made? for that matter why don't al those people who hate gangster rap so much throw a little criticism at people like Al Pacino and Francis Ford Coppola.
The thought that black people are only supporting gay religious black films,scares me. Why stage shows and reality shows are only source of entertainment for us these days? Why only gay comedy and slavery,with the touch of religion's views, the only topic in everyone of T. Perry films? Greatness is defined by uniqueness,not from religiousness, doing the same thing over and over,like Mrs. Perry Madea,not teach noone . Why T.Perry only interest is to make women style films,when the main problem is with us young black men? TP is just doing his job, targeting all the problem,with a dress on,til that problem becomes a bigger problem,LOL.
Tyler has crossed boundaries. Tyler has made possible something some of us never envisage happening in our live time. Tyler is an artist that have distinguished himselves from the rest. He has taken movies to another level. Artistrilly, he makes us to believe you are who you are and you can be what you want to be if you put your mind in it.
God bless his heart. He is a true master, hero and a model. If at all there is one on the face of this earth.
At times I seek the hard to find intellectual films and I know for some watching say TP's Meet the Browns is like a scratch across a blackboard, However TP has a genre and specialized film that appeals to our basic instincts as human beings, such as, relationships, drama, humor and simple stuff that doesn't make us think too hard. TP is successful because he has found a bankable marketing niche - black folks who are one of the largest consumers who flock to see simple movies on the first days. Have we not seen films like "Beloved" and other sad black tales flop? Many Black folks as a community and bankable market don't want to see and pay for anything that will remind them of slavery and the pain, so Iv'e been told. Roots was lucky to run on TV. Have we not seen the latest gross figures for the horribly made, but high in drama video series from Nigeria and Nollywood - they are making a killing all over the world like soap operas everywhere. From time to time over the ages mere simplicity and ventures that appeal to the basic instincts of man seems to be a win-win successful enterprise, e.g. lipstick on a stupid pit bull that keeps winking.
thanks
شات-
دردشة-
شات كتابي-
شات حبي-
شات حبي
منتدى حبي-
منتدى-
يوتيوب-
شات صوتي-
قصص-
العاب:
حبي:
شات الحب-
حبي:
العاب حبي:
-رسائل وسائط عيد الفطر:
-توقيع رمضان:
-رسائل تهاني العيد-
-رسائل وسائط العيد-
-رسائل تهنئه بمناسبة العيد:
دردشة حبي:
حرب الملوك:
مواقع جديدة:
دردشة حبي:
نكت
برامج
صور×صور:
صور:
صور حبي:
fgdhv],:
صورسنوات الضياع:
صور ماسنجر-
دليل مواقع-
دردشة كتابية-
مركز تحميل:
سرقة الايميل:
:حرب الملوك:
زخارف-
youtube-
توبيكات ملونه:
شات سعودي-
شات خليجي-
حظك اليوم:
شات الود-
شات الشله:
شات الود-
فوركس:مواقع فوركس:
منتدى حبي-
شات حبي-
صور-
جريدة الرياضي-
افلام-
لعبة امل الشعوب-
لعبة ايكاريام-
سيدتي-
منتديات سيدتي-
lkj dhj fkhj g-
:منتدى العروس
-اناشيد طيور الجنه
توبيكات جديدة:
نت لوق:
سبق-
شات بنات:
توبيكات:
جريدة الرياض:
:برنامج بروكسي:
شات العين
:شات الحب
:الحب
:شات حبي
:تعب قلبي
:ازياء 2009-
مكياج-
رسائل حب:
قصص جنسي-
صورهانامونتانا:
ترافيان:
فساتين-
فواصل لتزيين المواضيع-
شات مصرى:
مسلسلات رمضان-
حروف مزخرفه-
بنات:
-قصص واقعية:
بيني وبينك 3-
-ديكورات:
-توبيكات جديدة:
-قوقل ايرث:
العاب قتال-
العاب كرتون-
العاب مكياج
العاب اكشن-
العاب طبخ-
فوركس:
العاب بنات-
:دليل مواقع حبي
:صورلمناظرطبيعية:
:صورتامرحسني:
لطيفة العاب بنات-
العاب سيارات:
صورهيفاوهبي الفاضحة-
صورهانامونتانا-
العاب متنوعه:
العاب سيارات 2009:
مباشر الراجحي:
رسائل وسائط رمضان:
رسائل وسائط فيديو:
صورياسرالقحطاني:
مغامرات كالندور:
العاب باربي-
كملنا بلوت:
حرب الفضاء:
لعبة البلوت:
لعبة ترافيان:
2009:
ahj-
7be-
ازياء-
مركز تحميل الصور:
حلويات
hguhf fhvfd-
hguhf 'fo-
hguhf h ak-
مكياج 2009:
فساتين سهرة:
توصيات فوركس:
فيلم كابتن هيما:
العاب مغامرات:
مترجم قوقل:
العاب بنات فقط:
العاب بنات هاي:
العاب براتز:
العاب سبايدر مان:
العاب تلبيس:
مصرف الراجحي:
hguhf
gamezer:
صورها في الحمام:
صورهمتارو:
صورانيمي:
لعبة مكياج حقيقي:
لعبة البلياردو:
بلياردو:
sitemap:
map:
pfd:
47:
:93::110:
:92::46:
:69::33:
:45::95:
:15::26:
:11::12:
:13::9:
:10::87:
:53::42:
:2::29:
Sir, I appreciate your well thought out and positive approach to this topic-but do kids go to see Madea for religious instruction, or to get their laugh on? I used to LOVE Sanford & Son when i was a kid, Aunt Esther was one of my favorite characters. Her Bible thumping and mis-quoting scriptures at Lamont n'em still keeps me in stitches years later on Youtube, and I have never regarded her as anything more than comedic entertainment. We're in a bad state if any pop culture phenomenon has to lead young people to family values and old time religion-that should be coming from families. My brother explained to me once that he saw nothing funny about a Black man dressed up as a woman, and didn't want his two kids to accept what he called "tomfoolery" either. (side note: i wonder if the majority of Perry's fans are womenI cracked up at Sheneneh on the Martin show also, and I also get disappointed when the few quality Black dramas that make their way to tv are cancelled due to low ratings.
I guess my point is, why does everything with us have to be soooo dumbed down in order to resonate? I have seen some fantastic indie films by directors like Giancarlo Esposito (very underrated talent) and others who only received very limited distribution, or for cable tv markets (which isn't too shabby either). Its a shame they can't get the same shine because they don't have a hustle, or niche market. Why does critique against mainstream stuff referred to as "high minded", or bourgie-it's like so many Black folks don't have critical thinking skills sometimes when it comes to culture, even if it's pop.
Maybe a doctoral student isn't the right person to use the "Brotha jus' tryin' to get his hustle on, "argument. But I think the premise that this is a hustle is wrong as well. In a time when moral relativism reigns supreme. Perry's films do remind of us of that ol' time religion that many of the young people who flock to Perry's movies wouldn't get otherwise. Is Madea over the top and outrageous, of course, but her flaws seem to give her basic morality more resonance.
and your entire article is based on the "don't knock the hustle" response crowed from all of Perry's rabid fans, who usually include variations of the word "hateration" in their replies? Good luck paying back those student loans.
And re: all of the hoopla about Perry, why can't his success just be chalked up to the fact there are hordes of Black people who like silly, lowbrow entertainment? There is no "he knows more than the rest of us", and his critics are not bourgie, over-educated haters. Personally I am tired of the most base, low brow type of entertainment being the mainstream for us.
And before anyone brings up the trite 'well start your own studio/production company, etc.'-I don't get this mindset either. Music nowadays sucks, should I learn how to sing/play an instrument/start my own record label if I want to listen to music for adults? Someone above mentioned that maybe he will become involved with more complex projects involving Black filmmakers, I certainly hope so. I hate to think the most important contribution made to contemporary Black cinema is a franchise of church plays adapted for movies.