Examine the Ways in Which Hollywood Cinema Has Conventionally Represented African Americans.

I will be examining some of the ways in which Hollywood cinema conventionally represents African Americans with relevance to the film Trading Places. Trading Places (1983) is a good example of how Hollywood cinema represents African-Americans because it does so in different ways. It is a typical black and white �buddy’ film in which it has paired together an African American star with a white star in order to attract both audiences, however, not bypassing the representations that Hollywood imply.

Billy Ray Valentine is a down-and-out con artist whose life abruptly gets turned around when two elderly stock brokers place a bet, a bet that will see if he can change into a wealthy businessman from his criminal background. In the process the two stock brokers or the �Dukes’ will be putting one of their best employees, Louis Winthorpe III, drastically out of business, framed for crimes he didn’t commit to see if he will turn to crime in the end. A nasty plot over a one dollar bet turns out to have a humorous twist.

The most noticeable representation is that of Eddie Murphy put into the comical role rather than a serious snob that Dan Aykroyd plays. By being a comical character, he is put into situations where rather than a serious debate he is able to use humour as a defence mechanism making it slightly more light hearted, demeaning his intelligence and fulfilling what a prejudiced audience has begun to expect of this sort of role. Ed Guerrero has said “And while Murphy gets the upper hand in almost all filmic encounters and confrontations, the ultimate result of such a challenge is integration and acceptance on White terms in these film’s plots and resolutions.” (1993: 244)

As I mentioned earlier, Eddie Murphy’s character Billy Ray Valentine is a type cast. He has been placed in this role for comedic purposes. It is typical of Hollywood to have a black man