Studying Ethnically Diverse Film Creators There are many good reasons to study the work of ethnically diverse film creators. When we look at the works of non-mainstream Americans, we should keep in mind that not all ethnic creators create ethnic works. Their works may be noteworthy in ways not specifically connected to the multi-cultural heritage of their creators. Many of the great directors of the 1930s migrated to America to escape repression in their own country and went on to produce consummately American films. Still, that background is important in understanding the work and the creator s motivation.
Varied viewpoints provide images of diverse American cultures.
Audiences in America and around the world have traditionally had very limited views of diverse peoples. Film creators are more likely to go beyond the traditional stereotypes when presenting their own cultures. As discussed in the section on stereotyping, we can study the impact of stereotyping on international audiences, mainstream American audiences, and on the groups being stereotyped. Lee brings cameras into communities like the Brooklyn, New York he grew up in, and populates his world with characters like the friends, relatives, and neighbors he knows so well. Multi-Cultural Annotated Bibliography Barthes, Roland.