kaylahak

[kaylahak]

Blog Post #6

Throughout the class I have enjoyed many works that we have encountered. One of my recent favorites we discussed a little while back was Candyman, the newer version. Watching this film I truly got chills up and down my spine at each instance throughout the film. It takes me back to when I was little and there were stories going about similar to the plot of this one. Such as the boogie man and if you say his name enough he will show up or like the popular film and musical Beetlejuice and saying his name three times he will appear. This film at the start confused me in the fact I did not understand why the main character was so drawn to Candyman as if he was being reincarnated into him at one point. The first sight of Candyman in the film did not seem like he could be a harmful man until that hand appeared and my viewpoint on him changed dramatically. Throughout this class it has helped me discover how to be able to deeper analyze films and understand the racial standpoint behind some of these films. Deeper understanding of the changes with the films and the older and newer versions were so incredibly eye opening to me. Seeing the way that there was little to no change or great change with the films and the meanings behind them. Being able to decipher and see what the messages and intents of the works are was something I could have never done before but after watching the films such as Candyman and understanding the intentions behind them was so fascinating. I would have never guessed that racial inequality was a part of this film and in some ways police issues with the film towards African American people before. Seeing as how Candyman was able to keep his legacy alive and be able to continue to live on through the job of killing was something thrill catching in the movie that I enjoyed and the name attached with him was something that I haven’t really seen put together with each other before. The interesting thing I observed with the film was the fact that he would  bring the spirits of people to the hive creating bees with their spirits. I found this film to be one of my favorites throughout the class. 

[kaylahak]

Blog Post 5

So far throughout this class, I have been intrigued by a lot of aspects in this class. When thinking about the multiple films and readings we have gone through I have truly enjoyed The Night of the Living Dead the most out of all of the films so far. I loved the whole aspect of the film and the hidden messages hidden throughout the film. Something I loved in the film was how they portrayed the African American character in the film, Ben, in which he had moments being portrayed as not a man with good intentions to the white people. However, they did have their differences within the film Benw was the only one who made it out alive and in the end was killed by people misunderstanding the situation. In this film when deeper evaluating it, I see how the African American people were portrayed in a bright light and seen as those who can help and be leaders. Another film I also enjoyed within the class was Candyman, that film truly sparked real fear in me and I jumped multiple times when watching it. I was watching it and was sitting at the edge of my seat throughout the film. This film in the beginning confused me as I didn’t understand the artist's deep connection with the Candyman and why he was so intrigued with it. But, as the film progressed I began to understand that he was in some sort of trance and relation to Candyman. I loved the element of surprise within the film and how much it can keep us on our toes when watching. The only thing I didn’t like about The Night of the Living Dead was the way they treated Ben it truly was astonishing how they treated the only colored man within the group who was the only one who ended up surviving. In a way, I didn’t enjoy how they were underestimating him and his abilities. He was the only one who was able to survive and managed to help everyone else while also putting himself on the line. In this film, I also loved the old-timey feel of the film and how much there was a hidden message there was embedded within even at such an old time, and how much of an impact it can have on the world overall this being one of my favorite movies.

[kaylahak]

Blog Post 4

Throughout this class so far, the film, Tales from the Hood was the most interesting one we have seen yet, and how much of an impact it can have. This movie was set later than some of the films and readings we have discussed so far. But, despite this, the aspects within this film intrigued me to no end as I am fascinated with the types of messages within this film. While still being a horror movie it has its many backstories relating to events seen within today’s timelines. Drug relations, police brutality, and death were something that was seen as depicted within the film multiple times. It was actually interesting to see how these issues were depicted and played throughout the film. Seeing as how in one of the sections of the film white supremacists were seen in the film where a governor was given a warning of presence within the house and he went on to ignore the warning. Another story goes into how there was a creature who happened to be tormenting a young child by the name of Walter with his teacher noticing something was not right with the child. Each story within the film gets progressively worse and more horrifying as Mr. Simms goes on to tell them with each film relating to a social issue. One of the issues I find the most interesting would be the fact that police brutality was an issue seen within this film and how it really does now apply to our lives today. I really believe the messages within this film are really set to start instilling openness in people's minds making sure that people are aware of what's going on in the world and how they should respond. It really reminds me of the recent events being seen in the world nowadays and how much they can really impact us and those around us. I love the messages hidden behind this film and how much it can affect the world even if it is just a film it can really push out a message to those watching. Within this past week, it has really opened my eyes to how much can be within a film when analyzing what is being said and shown and what they are trying to put across to the world.

[kaylahak]

Blog Post #3

For me, I enjoyed the movie Candyman and the message within the film. The story within the film is about an artist who is destroyed by his works. Compared to the original, this one is more investigating racial elements than the original which goes into the aspects of politics and race. Going into the history and aspect of tension along with fright were put into the story very well by the director. The housing complex within the film played a big aspect in the storyline and overall meaning of the film aka Candyman. The film and the accusations of the razer blades within the candy reminded me of times back in the day when I myself would go trick or treating for example my mom would warn me to watch the candy I would eat because there were rumors going around about people putting dangerous things in candy trying to harm kids like in the film. But with this film in particular I believe out of the ones seen so far this freaked me out the most because of how realistic this film can be to real life. When films have more of a relation to real life it hits me more because I think that it is something that can really happen to me or someone I know. This film was very interesting in the face of its plot and message with the fact that your past can really affect your future. Candyman's plot is so suspenseful and mysterious that it inflicts fear within me and I enjoy it because not a lot of films can do that for people. I love the idea of the saying ���Candyman” five times is a plot within an old film I really enjoyed it because it just reminds me of classical historical horror films something similar to the film “Beetlejuice” and how fear can be hidden within the name in itself. For me, it reminds me of stories as a kid I would hear to inflict fear within me when I was doing something bad and would be told when I would get in trouble just as folklore and tall tales would do. This is one of my favorite aspects of horror movies that I like directors to add within a film because it adds a small amount of suspense early on in the film thinking about what can happen and what will become of this film. Overall, this film has been one of my favorite films we have seen and spoken about so far. 

[kaylahak]

Blog Post

Going into this course, I did not expect this much variety when it came to the films on African American history, treatment, and traditions which I enjoyed especially when in the discussion section as well. But, overall I am really enjoying this course as it has really opened my eyes to the types of Black Horror and so much I never knew about it. In regards to this class as well I have really enjoyed my discussion section and the topics being discussed when it comes to the films and stories being done within this course. This course was not at all what I would have expected in the way that I really enjoyed it more than I believed and I love learning about the different traditions being discussed in some of the films such as the “Wake” and how costumes and folk magic would be taken about. Personally, I am in some cases apprehensive about horror movies as I get scared really easily in certain situations but this class began to open my horizons. But, particularly in the movie “Get Out” the overall storyline really caught my attention as it was a storyline I had never seen before. The idea of immortality and the belief that white people should be transferred into the bodies of African Americans was an idea I would have never believed could be put into a plot and into a movie. The way Chris goes about handling the situation with the family was something I was scared of but I found it so intriguing. With “The Wake” I found it so interesting how Southern tradition was put into a movie. Folk magic was something I have always found so interesting and how it was put into play in this film was so interesting. The story of a women who use magic in order to improve her life and it backfires on her was something that really caught my attention. For me coming from a Middle Eastern descent the “magic” and culture shown within these films in some way remind me of the superstitions and magic shown throughout the films. An example of this is “evil eye” in which you are cursing someone or wishing them bad in their life by giving them bad energy. When it comes to the “Wake” in some distinct ways reminded me of that. The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the fear factor in some parts of the films and how it inflicted that upon me.