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What does Hirsch claim about crime films and ethnicity? What does he praise about films that address racial issues? What are his complaints about ethnic depictions?

User JohnL
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Final answer:

Hirsch's specific claims about crime films and ethnicity are not detailed, but the critical overview suggests that authentic and complex portrayals of racial issues in films are praised, while depictions that perpetuate stereotypes and oppression are criticized.

Step-by-step explanation:

In discussions regarding crime films and ethnicity, Hirsch's claims are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, when addressing the broader subject of film and racial issues, some arguments arise around the misrepresentation of ethnic groups in cinema. Critics like Marshall point out issues in films where ethnic characters may not be accurately depicted or where their cultural experiences are minimized or mocked. For example, critics have cited Hitchcock's use of "audio blackface" as a failure in authentically representing the Black experience, instead perpetuating oppression through ridicule.

To further explore this subject, it is crucial to evaluate films on criteria such as how they represent different groups of people, whether they perpetuate stereotypes, and if they portray political power and dominance in a sensitive manner. Marshall's choice to focus on criteria beyond the conventional further challenges viewers to think critically about the entertainment they consume and its impact on societal perceptions of race and ethnicity.

The praise for films that address racial issues often on their capacity to convey complex and authentic representations that honor the experiences and dignity of racial groups, rather than reducing them to caricatures or stereotypes. On the contrary, the complaints tend to orbit around the issue of films portraying ethnic groups using lazy generalizations or in ways that reflect and reinforce societal prejudices, such as ethnocentrism, primitivism, and orientalism.

User Arun Ramachandran
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