It's a Gift: "Ray," "The Incredibles" and Lives of Greatness

Autor/in	Beck, Bernard
Titel	It's a Gift: "Ray," "The Incredibles" and Lives of Greatness
Quelle	In: Multicultural Perspectives, 7 (2005) 3, S.20-23 (4 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1521-0960
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Musicians; Ideology; Cartoons; Films; African Americans; Racial Bias; United States History; Biographies; Social Influences; Social Discrimination; Racial Discrimination; Achievement + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Musiker; Ideologie; Zeichentrickfilm; Film; Afroamerikaner; Racial discrimination; Rassismus; Biography; Biografie; Biographie; Sozialer Einfluss; Soziale Benachteiligung; Soziale Schließung; Racial bias; Performance; Leistung
Abstract	The American biopic is an expression of distinctively American culture. Its story elements mirror the ideologies of mainstream America. The crucial ingredient in a biopic or a cartoon classic is the triumph of an indomitable struggler in circumstances that crush everyone else. "Ray" is an example of the biopic in its strongest and most affecting form. Ray Charles, as the world knew long before this movie was released, bore the burdens imposed on black people in the South during the first half of the last century. The movie skips from the mournful end of his childhood to a young adulthood when he has already begun the hard work of making a career as a professional musician in the kinds of music that was popular among people without money, and still marginalized by the serious music world. Passing from the sublime to the ridiculous, people find similar issues arising from "The Incredibles". In contrast to the wretched beginnings of Ray Charles's life, "The Incredibles" offers a family of superheroes retired from their careers in heroism (in the case of the adults) or prevented from starting them (in the case of the children). In this article, the author discusses how these two movies portray characters who try to follow lives of greatness despite great struggles. The Ray Charles of "Ray" and the Incredibles of "The Incredibles" achieve everything because they cannot or will not stop what they are compelled to do. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10