Blaxploitation

Blaxploitation is a portmanteau of the words "black" and "exploitation." It is a film genre which emerged in the United States in the early 1970s when many exploitation films were made that targeted the urban African American audience. The films featured primarily black actors, and were the first to have soundtracks of funk and soul music. Although criticized by civil-rights groups for their use of stereotypes, they addressed the great and newfound demand for afrocentric entertainment, and were immensely popular among black audiences.

Modern media referencing blaxploitation

Recent movies such as Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) and Undercover Brother (2002) , as well as Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown (1997) and Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (2003), feature nods to the blaxploitation genre. John Singleton's remake of Shaft (2000) would be modern-day interpretations of blaxploitation - this trend goes back to the early 1990s with films like Strictly Business (1991) and Juice (1992).

Related Topics:
Austin Powers in Goldmember - Undercover Brother - Quentin Tarantino - Jackie Brown - Kill Bill - John Singleton - Shaft - Strictly Business - Juice

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I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) is a famous spoof of urban blaxploitation films, featuring several of the male stars of that genre (with the exception of Fred Williamson). A later film, Original Gangstas (1996), also featured many of those stars, but was made as a tribute to the genre. Pootie Tang (2001) also parodies many blaxploitation elements. Robert Townsend's comedy Hollywood Shuffle (1987) features a young black actor who is tempted to take part in a white-produced blaxploitation film.

Related Topics:
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka - Spoof - Fred Williamson - Original Gangstas - Pootie Tang - Parodies - Hollywood Shuffle

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The popular anime series Cowboy Bebop features several episodes with blaxploitation themes, particularly Mushroom Samba which extensively parodies blaxploitation movies.

Related Topics:
Anime - Cowboy Bebop

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The Hebrew Hammer (2003) is another parody of blaxploitation films, but with a Jewish protagonist (and was therefore called "Jewsploitation" by some).

Related Topics:
The Hebrew Hammer - Jew

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In 2004, Mario Van Peebles, Melvin's son, released Baadasssss!, a movie based on the making of his father's movie in which Mario played his father.

Related Topics:
2004 - Mario Van Peebles - Baadasssss!

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The animated series Family Guy showed a cutaway based on blaxploitation movies in the form of a parody of Back to the Future, starring the main character Peter's distant cousin as "Marty McSuperFly".

Related Topics:
Animated series - Family Guy - Cutaway - Back to the Future

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In The Simpsons epsiode "Simpson Tide" (3G04) a TV announcer says "Next, on Exploitation Theatre... Blackula, followed by Blackenstein, and The Blunchblack of Blotre Blame!

Related Topics:
The Simpsons - Simpson Tide

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