On and Off Screen: Race in Buddy Cop Films

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  • November 30, 2020
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  • Garner, Sidney
    • Affiliation: Institute of African American Research, Moore Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (MURAP)
Abstract
  • The buddy cop film is a staple of American cinema. Known for its comradery, action, and comedy, this genre has maintained relevance for over fifty years with constant reboots and franchise continuations. Popular films include Lethal Weapon (1987), Men in Black (1997), and Rush Hour (1998)—all of which have spawned several series of at least three films. Each film stars a pair of interracial buddies
  • both Lethal Weapon and Men in Black have a white and Black buddy while Rush Hour has a Black and Chinese buddy. Though the interracial buddy cop film offers many opportunities for racial commentary, films in this genre with buddies of the same race or with two characters from differing non-white races provide similar experiences related to racial issues, especially with the formation of racial stereotypes. To contextualize the importance of race in these films, and in the larger context of Hollywood, I provide an overview of Blacks in early film and theater. Specifically, the current study will: 1) examine the histories of Blacks in cinema and racism in Hollywood, 2) introduce buddy films, 3) provide a review of relevant literature, 4) conduct an analysis of seven buddy cop films, and 5) discuss the findings of this study as well as address the implications of buddy cop relationships as they relate to the current events of police brutality that disproportionately impact black males.
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  • Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP)
Advisor
  • Regester, Charlene
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies

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