African American 25W - Blog 5

 Emon van Loben Sels

Blog 5

My Plans on my Final Project


Jordan Peele’s Get Out is one of the most unsettling horror films I’ve ever seen. The best part of the film is that Peele didn’t use supernatural monsters or serial killers. The horror comes from the way Chris, a Black man, is trapped in a system designed to control him, while his oppressors pretend to be friendly. Peele brilliantly uses the horror genre to show how racism isn’t just about hate or violence, but also about power, control, and the way Black people are objectified in everyday life.

One of the most powerful symbols in Get Out is the Sunken Place. When Chris is hypnotized by Missy, he falls into a dark void where he can see and hear everything that is happening but has no power. This perfectly represents how racism silences Black people. Racism makes it impossible to fight back even when they are aware of the injustice. The Sunken Place is existent in the real world. It's what happens when you feel powerless and weak. Peele himself has said that the Sunken Place represents the way Black voices are silenced in society. This scene stuck with me because I have witnessed a few racist events in real life where a black man was portrayed powerless in a terrible situation. As an outsider you selfishly think that things could work differently, but it doesn’t work that way. 

Another terrifying part of Get Out is how fake and nicely Chris is welcomed by Rose’s family and their wealthy white friends. They act like they love Black people and constantly bring up their reasons on why they support black people. However as the movie continues, it becomes clear that their kindness is just a cover to eventually use Chris. This reminded me of microaggressions in real life, where people claim to support diversity but still treat Black people as objects.

I also see connections between Get Out and other films we discussed in class. I really saw a lot of similar ideas in Candyman and Us. Similarly to Get Out, Candyman explores how racism and history are connected. Candyman isn’t just a ghost, but the symbol of racial violence and trauma passed down for generations. Similarly, in Us, horror comes from the idea that there is another version of ourselves. The Tethered have been ignored and “Silenced” by society. Both films, like Get Out, show that racism is not just in individuals but in entire systems that keep people trapped. 

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