Representation Task: Django Unchained

'Django Unchained' presents different groups in a variety of ways, confirming stereotypes yet simultaneously subverting others.

'Django Unchained' presents young African Americans as slaves and highlights the historical context of black people, which is politically correct, however the protagonist of the film, Jamie Foxx, challenges the stereotype and reinforces Perkins theory as the stereotype is able to change. The emancipation of the protagonist shows the alternative representation of African males in the slavery times. Furthermore, the protagonist reinforces Fanons 'Black Skin, White Masks' theory due to the way he carries himself through the film alongside the white community, almost masking himself within their society. The other African Americans reinforce the conventions and this is seen midway through the clip. The two males are brawling and acting violent, which supports the stereotype of all black males being aggressive and more generically males being aggressive. This supports Medhurst's theory as the negative representation of the minority group is shown, which also links to Dyer's theory.

On the other hand, the white Americans portrayed in this clip are seen as dominant and supreme, producing an accurate portrayal of the historical context. This reinforces Dyer's theory as those with the power, stereotype those with less power and generalise them all as one, racially discriminating them as subhuman. However this also supports Perkins theory as the white Americans were in power during the 1600s, which reveals the truth about the situation rather than the stereotype. The main white American, Leonardo DiCaprio, is presented in the highest status and shows the dominant portrayal of his class. Through his clothing (mise-en-scene), in comparison to the Africans, who are wearing barely nothing, we can infer immediately from his skin and his clothes that he is a dominant character.

The white German male in this clip is the foreigner, he should stereotypically be the 'villain' of the clip according to Propps theory and his stock characters, however the character is seen more as the 'villain' within the actual reality of the film but as a 'hero' to the audience. The character emancipates Django and shows the alternative portrayal of foreign characters. This therefore subverts Dyer's theory and approaches the situation from an alternative angle. The ideologies of foreign people are stereotypically negative, however there is a binary opposition within this clip between the foreigner and the white Americans and also the white Americans and the African Americans. The fact that the foreign character aids the protagonist subverts the stereotype of the conflict of skin colour.

In addition to this, there is a dominant portrayal of women in this clip. The main protagonist aims to rescue his wife, the potential "damsel in distress," reinforcing the stereotype of women being weak and needing a man to help them, supporting Medhurt's theory. Furthermore, in the clip there is a moment where the woman is naked and emerging from a lake, which supports Mulveys theory of 'the male gaze,' as the woman is being looked at and seen sexually due to her being naked. Also the idea of her emerging from the purity of the water and being naked, again suggesting purity, highlights the stereotype of women being quite soft and loving. This also objectifies women as being able to do anything requiring strength or skill, which supports Medhurst's theory and Dyer's theory of negative representations to generalise the female group.

Overall the film shows a dominant portrayal of the characters, however the protagonist and his 'helper' subvert their conventions and therefore provide alternative representations.