PHIL439: Philosophy and Film

Assignment: “Good Hair”

Topic: Trans/Gender

Instruction: Take the following question as a guide to reflect on the philosophical theme of the film. This should be a thesis driven paper; that is, it should have a thesis statement stating your position, you interpretation of the intersection of the film and the assigned readings on Bartky, bell hooks, and Desmond-Harris, Byrd & Tharpsin relation to the theme of Trans/Gender. Next, in the body of arguments, you are to provide at least 3 reasons/textual interpretations to support your thesis. Keeping in mind, this should be your own original interpretation, not a descriptive summary of the film or the reading. Lastly in the conclusion, you should draw a logical conclusion that conforms to your initial thesis, but also offers implications for further reflections on the topic and/or concrete solutions.

Questions:

Comedian Chris Rock takes a light-hearted look at the issue of hair in the black community prompted by his little daughter’s question: “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” This seemingly mundane question however is embedded in a complex history of racism, sexism, and classism. Although, by and large, the issue of hair impacts black women more than black men, both are equally defined by their lack of “good hair” in the world of fashion and professionalism. Beyond the obvious personal tastes involved in hair styling, what are the possible social, economic, and political symbolic meanings regarding the so-called “natural hair” to society at large, according to bell hooks, Desmond-Harris, Byrd & Tharps? In what way, the sort of psychological oppression that Bartky describes in the context of gender is also applicable to the issue of hair in the context of race? Give a specific example from the film where women/men subject themselves to the dehumanizing process of hair styling in their quest for “good hair.” Does Michelle Obama, the first African-American First Lady, have a unique opportunity and responsibility to restore the normalcy and desirability of black hair by going “back to black”? What is at stake and why should the non-black community care?