Stereotype in Media

Rui Chen
2-14-2011
Stereotype discussions for Usual Suspects(1995) and Born on 4^th of July(1989)

Stereotype, a common social phenomenon, is deeply rooted in the inside of the public. From Merriam-Webster, it is explained as something conforming to a fixed or general pattern, especially, a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment. Sometimes, it is often confused with prejudice(Wikipedia). In all, stereotype is not positive and often misleads the people to believe what may actually not happen.

When it comes to the mass media, like films, the stereotype would be a perfect tool that can be utilized to make the contradictions. The normal logic will be suddenly disturbed, and the thriller with surprise will hit the audience's minds, because of the unwilling expectations. So due to this exclusive feature, the stereotype is kind of indispensable factor to the criminal films.

Unlike other criminal films, the stereotype creates the most misleading part that almost everyone(including me) does not believe that the cripple would be the suspect. Due to the weird storytelling way, no one can actually distinguish between what really happened and what never happened at all. From the online review, it is argued that the ending seems extra, and can be taken off for better effect. However, I do not agree with that. The story would be complete with the ending, although, it is sad to see the true suspect escape from the punishments. Besides, with the uncovered suspect, the possible margin between the start and the end could be left for studying the criminal motives, while the intentions of the film may probably show that not all cases can be solved because of the human error, bias.

Like Dave Kujan from US Customers placed wrong belief that Dean Keaton would definitely the Legend Keyser Soze, Ron Kovic from Born on the 4^th of July also believe in both the country and the government without any hesitance at the very beginning. However, as time goes on, the sufferings both in the hospital and at home, especially, the witness of the Kent state shootings, make him stand at the opposite side of government and an anti-Vietnam War's figure. The stereotype in the film may probably rely on the young generation's true love of the country and the confusion that Vietnam War brought to these veterans. Especially, when someone suffered from the guilty of killing the orphan's parents without any reasonable reasons and shooting the partner, his deeds can hardly understood and accepted by the neighbors and his friends. What impressed me most is that Ronnie shouts at his mom because that he will never have sex ability. This is out of long time suppressed anger, and eventually become the eye-drops and sopping at the hooker's night. The accusation of the government becomes no more obvious here, what the war brings to the individuals are not only loss of parents and sons, but also the ability of enjoying having sex and babies. In face of the heartbreaking disasters, someone may give up seeking outside help because they attribute those consequences are his/her wrong choice. However, the Kent State shooting becomes the turning point to draw Ronnie from the sway on life to a anti-Vietnam War veteran. I love my country, I just don't believe the government. becomes almost the tagline of the film and campaign slogan for Ronnie.

After the pioneering movies, something also becomes normal and seems like another stereotype. The LAPD chairman Dudley Smith in LA Confidential(1997) is a real evil policeman. In 1999, the little boy in Identity is anther perfect example, and he is the backstage manipulator. Like I said above, Usual Suspects leaves some many margins enough for making up a whole story including the motives and the details of how to commit the crimes, while LA Confidential seems better in the story telling.

The stereotype in autobiography films seems not so relevant. From Forrest Gump(1994) to A Beautiful Mind(2001), what is often admired is to directly face the music. So what discussed in the Born on the 4^th of July is not the traditional autobiography, but the feelings of a veteran towards a government. Unlike the warm welcome from the WWI and WWII, these losers in the battlefield should learn how to start a new life and how to sooth the wounded hearts. With the Kent State shootings and something like that, the original true believes in government are turned over. So the turning point should be the very important scene in the film that can be categorized as difference from the normal war films.