Good Hair, directed by Jeff
Stilson, is an interesting documentary on African-American women and their
hair. The movie is scripted and hosted by Chris Rock, who was inspired from his
daughter asking him, “Daddy, how come I
don’t have good hair?,” The film discussed of African-American women’s obsession
on beauty, especially the beauty of hair. They considered a relaxed, light, and
straight hair to be a “good hair,” a typical hair of White and Asians. By
describing the excess of $9 billion business of hair industry with Chris Rock’s
humor, the movie engaged the audience into the graveness and awareness of the
racial dominance and conformity.
The
documentary, first of all, was interesting to watch with a lot of humor in the
rather serious subject (I really enjoyed this jubilant attitude of
African-Americans in their everyday lives). While I could sympathize with women’s
concern for beauty, I was amazed to realize how African-American women consider
a “good hair” and invest enormous amount of money and effort to conform their
hair to “good hair.” I thought the general norm of beauty is shaped by media and
everyday life that are under the superiority of White Americans and their
culture. As an Asian, I also viewed myself favoring silky and relaxed hair of
White Americans than that of the African-Americans. This shallow thought dismissed
the irrefutable fact that every race is created beautifully in the God’s eye.
This fact not only moved my attention to the racial superiority of White Americans,
but also to the side-effect of the third party. The documentary spotlighted on
the dark side of the flourishing industry, where it harms a third party: the Indian
women and their hair. Poor Indian women devote their hair to temples as
sacrifices. However, these sacrifices are used to make expensive weaves of
African-American women.
A
film review, written by Jeannette Catsoulis from the New York Times, analyzed
the movie from various points. I agreed with review that the movie too focused
on the competing Atlanta hair show. This part could have been lessened a lot
more and be supplanted by more facts and solutions to the concern. The movie’s
humor sides also weakened the seriousness that the concern has to be appealed.
Instead of humor, the movie should have concentrated more to offer relevant
facts and ideas of solution.
Overall,
I really enjoyed the movie as itself. It helped me to consider about racial
superiority, social norms of beauty, and industries’ impact on the Third World.
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/movies/09hair.html?_r=0
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/movies/09hair.html?_r=0
I did not realize the extent of African-Americans' involvement in the hair industry. It's discouraging to learn that so many women manipulate their own unique hair to turn it into something they think is better or more desirable. Furthermore, I had no idea that Indian women were also affected and hurt by this process. I like your comment that 'every race is created beautiful in God's eyes' - and I think it's important to help all women see that too. Also, I appreciate how you pointed out the humor of the film engaged the audience, but on the other hand, was a little too much for such a serious issue.
ReplyDeleteExcellent comments, Jung Min. I think the filmmaker and Chris Rock have provided a very valuable and enlightening window into African-American culture that those of us who aren't African-American rarely, if ever, get to see. Another disturbing aspect of this $9 billion industry is how little control African-Americans actually have over the companies that are making these products.
ReplyDelete