American Fiction Is Not Must See! ft Mtume Gant

#AmericanFiction #MtumeGant #FilmCriticism
Jared A. Ball is a Professor of Communication and Africana Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. and author of The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power (Palgrave, 2020, 2nd Edition NOW AVAILABLE!). Ball is also host of the podcast “iMiXWHATiLiKE!”, co-founder of Black Power Media which can be found at BlackPowerMedia.org, and his decades of journalism, media, writing, and political work can be found at www.imixwhatili...
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iMWiL! w Jared Ball
• iMWiL! w Jared Ball
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[@QueenRiveRose22]

They put a light-skinned brotha with a salt and pepper beard and similar life concerns on-screen and Dr. JAB got caught up!! 😂😂😂

[@billyconnelly3568]

Forgivable on those grounds

[@eljeer123]

I watched it with my 15 year old son. It was clearly coming from a Black upper middle class perspective on Black life in the " ghetto." The family issues were important and useful to dissect which I was more interested in than his angst against the direction of literature particularly Black literature in a white liberal society and it's own toxic corporate politics. Thank you for the conversation and analysis.

[@grouchosuave7]

Mtume! Dropping a whole set of bars on us. These convos always leave me thinking deeper and better.

[@alireid5874]

Taking this in after finally seeing the movie. Read 'Erasure' back in '02, need to revisit. People need to checkout more of Percival Everett's books. Loved Erika Alexander, snd Sterling Brown was a straight menace on the screen 😂 Issa Rae was ironically or unironically playing herself?

[@jigen1504]

“A mutual agreement to look the other way..”Clip that

[@craigbardo]

AF is not must see but this video is! I'll start with my secondary reason for this assessment. This is a version of Dr. Ball I appreciate. He acknowledged his misread but nonetheless contributed from his bag - media studies/radical analysis. Mtume facilitated this with his well-prepared, thorough, potent, critical analysis of the film. The sentiments discussed in this conversation were available to Cord Jefferson might have accomplished with Erasure (from what I've read of it so far).

[@craigbardo]

I got more comments (likes) on this than I expected and my principal argumentent in support of this video is a jumbled mess. The main argument is that Mtume’s analysis of the book Erasure was available to Cord Jefferson. Sadly, he didn't have that vision emerge from its pages or worse, he rejected that vision to advance a liberal narrative. In any case this an informative and instructive video.

[@paul66766]

There was an interview Cord Jefferson did at the "Martha's Vineyard Film Festival" and based on everything he says, it's like he completely skipped over the class analysis of Erasure because it didn't apply to him.

[@normadenemurphy7454]

To Sleep With Anger with Danny Glover was outstanding! Loved it!!

[@justsehlim]

26:19 5-point critique starts here

[@eshoreent]

We need Pan African or Black Nationalist writers. We going to have to start a "chitlin" circuit and build it up.

[@nikkih8690]

I love this critique! Please do more. Excellent!

[@malika3193]

Though I have yet to see American Fiction, I found this a brilliant and insightful discussion of the film. Having read & loved Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, I was initially hopeful about the adaptation. The book is a powerful satire of Sapphire’s novel Push (a book that should have been printed in invisible ink). Then I heard the director say that he changed two-thirds of the story for the screenplay. My hopes were dashed. I especially loved Dr. JAB & Mtume’s discussion of Hollywood Shuffle. Many folks were comparing the two films, but Mtume clearly illustrated why they should be contrasting them. I still plan on seeing the film. Whenever I can stream it at home.

[@ridiculouslycoolstyl]

Dr. Ball can you share the article titles or links you both reference in the conversation?

[@uchennakpaduwa9592]

I was a theatre major and didn’t even know that film critique was a major. Looking forward to the future ones

[@gravydale]

What were the articles Mutume had you read before this interview

[@denisebeasley-abdalla4942]

Thank you, Dr.'s for posting this discussion. It was very helpful. I just watched AF very recently, and your talk helped clear up alot.

[@tacrewgirl]

I'm on the waiting list for the book, Erasure, at the library. Every time someone mentions it, it makes me want to read it more. I enjoyed the film and saw it differently. I felt as if the film's story was its own character. I appreciated the discussion and bring up points I hadn't thought about.

[@billyconnelly3568]

Interesting conversation. I've listened to the first 43 minutes and am impressed Jared's response about tens seconds after 26:24 was literally exactly my response.

[@Omisaide]

"This is the version of the black experience Euros crave and authenticate".....wow, a most unfortunate truth.

[@disappt]

Absolutely would love to see discussions with Mtume on Chameleon Street, Black God White Devil, and anything else that comes up. Maybe even that interview with Boots Riley? 👀

[@giffty]

1:35:12 - What issues do you guys have with Sankofa? Please discuss. That film was so empowering, Shango was a revolutionary. Shola was like many black American women. So was the mulatto due and Nobel Ali who had an epiphany. That movie was so so great. Love yalls perspective

[@Borikua-en-la-Luna]

ok Doc JAB get on it and please set up these regular film discussions with Dr Tumes, lookin forward to the next one.✌🏼

[@heromjh]

Great conversation, also I'm drooling over the synths back there love Dr. Ball's sense of humor lol

[@ScrausScrauas]

Ayyye i been lookin for a new Within Our Gates for a couple years now glad Mtume is doin alright it seems, hope Thomas is too. Congrats to Mtume on the new life too!

[@ScrausScrauas]

Just coming back to this because i finally was able to go to a showing a couple nights ago for AF. My theatre was pretty well seated, and it was about 90% yt. Idk if i need to see it again because the dichotomy between what the audience found funny and what i did and what i found uncomfortable was stark. I do remember coming away from the film feeling like the piece only contained its side plot about the racism in the book publishing space in order to launder what it ACTUALLY wanted to do (and it did it incredibly well imo) which was a family drama with a Black upper class family at the centre. Does the film hate its own existence?

[@deadporg]

Can y’all provide links to some of the articles you mentioned?

[@LaLasta]

this was so 🔥!!! I rarely completely agree with an analysis, but Tumes killed it. Brecht Boal Burnett, that is a trinity I can advocate for!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🙌🏽❤

[@NathanialAshtier]

I expected to see the links to the articles you were sent. I gave it a positive review at first too, even though I had some issues.

[@pegacorn13]

I'm not going to lie, I liked this movie. I thought the family drama was really well done and the acting was phenomenal. And yeah, the satirical comedy hit its beats and made me laugh every time. Your critiques got me thinking though and I think you make some really good points. I thought the scene with Issa Rae's character had (as they said in the movie) so much "potential" but in the end, it just felt incomplete, too short and never really explored the interaction as something that could have been really impactful and interesting. Sure, it was quippy and smart but it could have been so much deeper and necessarily messier. I think if you're going to add the scene, you need to do more than touch upon what they're talking about. For the most part, the white characters were portrayed as cartoonish and essentially too "innocent" to really make an effective satirical jab at racism but rather they pandered to white liberals who can relish in the essentially "gentle" pokes at their ridiculousness in the context of the story. I agree with you to a certain extent that the movie fails to critique the black bourgeoise, however I think it half heartedly tries to and just doesn't go far enough. I mean Monk is not a straight forward protagonist in the film and in all truth, he's kind of an a$$hole: maybe they failed to make him enough of an a$$hole but they did try. His treatment of Lorraine and her character as a whole was washed over in a neat and tidy way. Sure, she rejects her maid apron when Monk tries to have her leave with it but the scene (again) was just too gentle and lacked impact. Perhaps a lot of the problems you mentioned could have been solved by either making the movie take place in 2001 versus present day or changing the narrative in the present day to be about the endless stream of black trauma porn versus the "fascination with ghetto life". Setting it in the present day just didn't quite fit because yes, the issues its trying to tackle have mutated and evolved since the early 2000's. It was also just so incredibly non confrontational and light and I think that that was intentional. Like so many other films, it assumes that audiences "can't handle" anything too dark or too real. It's dealing with very real traumatic events but in trying so hard not to be trauma porn, it only skims the surface of the trauma and it loses its impact. Dark satire can be very effective but it seems like they were too scared to make the satire too dark. Changing the way his sister dies makes it easier on the audience who are presumed to be too fragile at the moment due to the current stripping of the right to choose an abortion is pretty weak and glossing over these issues doesn't make them go away.... In the end though, maybe American Fiction's lightening of the source material was intentional to make it a film that's going to be seen by a wide audience and is going to be discussed and critiqued and analyzed. That may not be such a bad thing and it may open doors to more movies that feel more genuine. Either way, it's a well made movie and it's compelling. As for the ending, it may have fallen a bit flat but I liked that it was so "meta". There's a lot to think about and any movie that provokes thought and that is hella entertaining as well is a rarity and deserves credit. Anyway, great critique. Thanks for your content!

[@tomlabooks3263]

You guys are making some good points but come on, this is a movie, not an essay. And, compared to any other movie being made today, it’s a very intelligent one. Have you heard of the novel “Nightcrawling” by Leila Mottley? Well, it’s 20 years after “Push” and that stuff is still being published. So I would challenge your “the landscape has completely changed” statement.

[@GordonFreemayne]

The scene where he wanted to change the name of the book to "fuck", and they take a sec to mull it over and spin it.. I think instead of that they should have told him, "well since you're a fugitive we're going to steal the project and publish it without you. And if you come for the money we're going to call the cops and have you arrested." That would be a more deliberate villain than the passive white attitudes that are the villain in this movie.

[@drog.ndtrax3023]

I am glad you did not write it lmao

[@normadenemurphy7454]

Love this ❤

[@Dr.Ahmed.Tah81]

Comrades, what is the twitter account of Mtume Gant ?

[@bemusedobserver6476]

Great and well thought out analysis! I just saw AF it had some interesting moments but a hella lot more disturbing ones!

[@SilviaPunkinMathis]

#NLT No Lies Told, King! I have been in this thing since I was twelve years old and it is soooo much more deliberate, pointed, and sophisticated than people know. #facts

[@trinizee]

Thank you for this insight. Came here after finally seeing the film and really appreciate this dialogue. I wonder if there are any links to the Gerima article (and others) that were mentioned? Also curious about Jared's beef with Sankofa Books lol Any links to where this was spoken about previously?

[@artillujas]

Came here from CS, I wanna read the book!

[@KE-ie1uf]

I need more. What’s wrong with watchman?

[@desireegerber]

Whaaaaaaaat? 1:08 that was really the same exact 911 call voice-over Wise Intelligent used in his video for I Said It. They used in a trailer??? Dam, that's low-budget.

[@josephjohnson2387]

I was saying this is an updated Hollywood Shuff. Which is a fuckin classic and hilarious.

[@alireid5874]

And Bamboozled. Which was wild, and underappreciated.

[@giffty]

FANTASTIC COMMENTARY! Tumes is spot on 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@wisdometernallifethroughveins]

Puttin on a black power shirt to be good at ball is crazy

[@dre_withwithout]

I think the movie was “Bamboozled” Extra Light. The conversations had in the movie are so common to me it didn’t really move me much in regard to some sort of nuance or larger discussion. If anything it just further concerns me that the token black submissive black trope to the establishment is still the only way for a black person to see “universal” success. It’s a good movie nevertheless

[@juliuscae81]

AF was the joint. Dafuk you talking about?

[@blackcactux]

is there a citation for the stuart hall quote on seeing yourself in mythology?

[@bemusedobserver6476]

@Omisaide...🎯

[@victorholmes7075]

I thought the film was great but the discussion topped it

[@Martin313k]

1:08:30 my exact reaction

[@jasonmoore803]

This is the best movie of the year 100% authentic The only people who knock it are the ones who know it’s all true

[@billyconnelly3568]

?

[@Deerych]

I liked the movie, not loved…but liked. Reminded me of Spike Lee’s Mantan Show in his film Bamboozled. Honestly, I think it was meant to provoke thought above all, not provide explicit and panacea answers for systemic white supremacy in the media and book realms. I’m 48 minutes in trying to process Tumes, 5 critiques. Sounds like he is mad they didn’t stick directly to the book, and he has a bone to pick w the Black middle class Bourgeois? The rest felt like psycho babble? 🤷🏾‍♂️😬

[@brooklynhomesteader3721]

Sorry, totally disagree..I enjoyed the film..end of story.

[@Brolo214]

I dig the critique here, but I never really expect to see truly revolutionary work from the Hollywood machine. Stuff like Sorry To Bother You or Andor don’t come around too often. And yes, To Sleep With Anger is 10/10. But I think there is a Tyler Perry aspect to this movie that gets to me lot and maybe it’s in the book too. I think it’s clear from the references to Perry sprinkled throughout the film that while Thelonius’ problem is with these mythical ghetto writers, Jefferson’s beef is with Tyler Perry. My question about the Tyler Perry discourse is why is there so much energy against him when white people are allowed to make all kinds of terrible, harmful films and shows while nobody bats an eye? Meanwhile, the black filmmakers and entertainers that are most vocal against him have come out with stuff that is just as bad. I mean, after watching Black Klansman Spike Lee better not speak Perry’s name one more time without apologizing for that mess. It’s interesting to me that we never get into any of Thelonius’ “serious” books. We’re just expected to believe he really is this great writer! Why do I get the feeling that, like this movie, his books are just as bad as what he’s criticizing, but in an elevated, yet harmful, milquetoast liberal kind of way? I will say that the craft of American Fiction, especially Jeffery Wright, is generally quite good. But most of the messages are just as confused and harmful as any Madea movie.

[@niknikky]

Had to come back to this video a month later to post that this movie was incredibly mid and that the Oscar buzz is undeserved. Great acting, but the characterization, and most of all, the message of the movie are incredibly off-base

[@kf4778]

There is a long history of Authors criticizing the films their books were made about. See Stephen King, Ken Kesey, Anthony Burgess, Anne Rice, etc. Allow Percival Everett to exercise his own agency. He said what he said about the film. You're projecting your bias on Everett to perceive him as disingenuous or cowardly.

[@Cnichal]

So? Tell me the history of Brown authors criticizing films about their books.. Tell me what happen to those authors..

[@kadeemk4679]

Seen it and put it in the category of "good" movies I hate

[@MrGray6213]

The false narrative of American exceptionalism

[@wedabrutes9048]

Kenya Barris type stuff. Black Britt, Senegalese (Rae) as if it’s like we’ll give you the authentic BLACK experience. You don’t need them American Blacks. Just tired of all the old tropes. Didn’t even get to the 🌈 stuff. 30 min was enough. Then Oprah dredging up Color Purple once again😫 It’s too much fam!!! Leslie Uggams❤️ Erica Alexander❤️

[@obedirect5491]

Agree re: back in tha day faces; otherwise, Hollyweird deliberately omits 'native' born USA talent.

[@CudjotheAfrikan]

I love how you didn’t mention Issas mom because her sengalese ancestry is what disconnects her from blackness. Kenya barris is also black American but go off

[@niknikky]

Except Issa Rae's mother is ADOS. And she had zero tondo with the writing and producing of this film. There is A LOT to critique about this film, and Issa Rae's character in particular, without making this about her ethnic heritage.

[@Dr.Ahmed.Tah81]

This was one of the best analysis and critique of Hollywood 🫡