Tyler Perry's Big Happy Family

[denise2011]

I saw it on Easter with my family. I know many people usually loathe his films which I do to a certain extent. It's like watching a bad car wreck; I have to keep rubber necking. Only this time it consisted of women bashing.

Did anyone else see the movie?

[TonyB06]

Likely going to see it this weekend.

Not a huge TP fan, but, in a country where "reality tv" now passes now for mainstream entertainment, the bar on quality is not set too high to begin with.

[CherryFlower]

Tyler Perry lost a lot of respect from me most recently. He's gone from actually writing scripts and plays that deal with black issues to trying to play comedy and make money. It's a shame, but it happens to the best of them sometimes

[Honeykiss1974]

Maybe TP's trying to find a balance? Afterall, I'm sure its the money made from those movies (making what mainstream America wants to see) that is used to fund the more serious plays and scripts.

Just a thought....

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by CherryFlower

Tyler Perry lost a lot of respect from me most recently. He's gone from actually writing scripts and plays that deal with black issues to trying to play comedy and make money. It's a shame, but it happens to the best of them sometimes

Tyler Perry is not obligated to write scripts that deal with Black "issues" (such as? what are Black folks dealing with now that we need Perry to represent?) any more than James Cameron and other nonBlack writers and producers are obligated to write scripts that specifically, overtly, and intentionally deal with nonBlack "issues."

One component of equality and freedom is the ability to choose whether you want to deal with "issues" or make people laugh while making money. You can do all of this at one time but it is neither a fulltime obligation nor a fulltime responsibility.

Tyler Perry is giving employment to racial and ethnic minority actors, writers, etc, just as James Cameron and others tend to give employment to white actors, writers, etc. People need to stop putting all eggs in one basket and expecting minorities to address every issue and to constantly be the voice for a demographic. Snooze fest.

[CherryFlower]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Tyler Perry is not obligated to write scripts that deal with Black "issues" (such as? what are Black folks dealing with now that we need Perry to represent?) any more than James Cameron and other nonBlack writers and producers are obligated to write scripts that specifically, overtly, and intentionally deal with nonBlack "issues."

One component of equality and freedom is the ability to choose whether you want to deal with "issues" or make people laugh while making money. You can do all of this at one time but it is neither a fulltime obligation nor a fulltime responsibility.

Tyler Perry is giving employment to racial and ethnic minority actors, writers, etc, just as James Cameron and others tend to give employment to white actors, writers, etc. People need to stop putting all eggs in one basket and expecting minorities to address every issue and to constantly be the voice for a demographic. Snooze fest.

So if we're going that route, no one is obligated to do anything, to be honest.

But for a man whom has said that he wanted to empower his own community, it seems to be a bit off that he's shifted his attentions elsewhere in favor of monopolizing on one character. Tyler Perry has said he is a *black* playwright. Why add that if your not putting weight on the subject? He could just be a playwright and call it a day.

One thing that I loved about his older pieces was that he was placing *issues* at the center, not character. I apologize if the word Black in front of that gives another image. They could affect everyone, he just used one community to show it.

I'm happy he's giving jobs to different ethnicities, but at the same time I question if the roles given are in favor of good acting or good marketing. I've just seen the latter, only two or three of the former.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by CherryFlower

Tyler Perry has said he is a *black* playwright. Why add that if you're not putting weight on the subject? He could just be a playwright and call it a day.

He is both a "Black playwright" and "just a playwright."

Being a Black playwright doesn't mean he absolutely has to address these serious issues in all or most of his work.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Tyler Perry is not obligated to write scripts that deal with Black "issues" (such as? what are Black folks dealing with now that we need Perry to represent?) ... .

yeah, but ... TP will show up at Negro award program (BET, TVOne, NAACP etc) 5 days a week if you let him and gladly accept awards for expressing "our view," touting that his view stands out, representing "our" view in contrast to Hollywood's usual fare. Of course, you've got to respect a man's hustle and it's his right to do this or not, but since he chooses to do so quite regularly I think CherryFlower's criticism is valid, even though I probably don't share it to the degree she might.

I was having this same discussion w/ friends regarding Tiger Woods a while ago. Of course, dude is not obligated to "represent the race" and be all things Black to Af-Ams who enjoy what he does on the course, but when he joins the PGA Tour in '97 and open with a dramatic Nike ad series "There are courses he could not play (because of racism)..." he opens himself up for a segment of the populace who will consider him "MLK in golf spikes" and expect him to have relevant comment/impact on issues of the day.

Like most celebrites who "dip their toe" in matters of cultural leadership when it suits their purpose, they rarely live up to the obligation of those who expect more, but when you put your self out there like that, it does go with the territory.

[CherryFlower]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

He is both a "Black playwright" and "just a playwright."

Being a Black playwright doesn't mean he absolutely has to address these serious issues in all or most of his work.

...You're missing my point, and that's okay. I like his older works, that's all I meant by my first comment. I don't like his new works, I feel like they aren't good. He can do what ever he wants to now and be what ever he wants to now, because he has, as you've said, freedom of speech. That's all I meant, have at it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by CherryFlower

...You're missing my point, and that's okay. I like his older works, that's all I meant by my first comment. I don't like his new works, I feel like they aren't good. He can do what ever he wants to now and be what ever he wants to now, because he has, as you've said, freedom of speech. That's all I meant, have at it.

No, I'm not missing your point. You prefer his older work. You don't think his new work is good. I got that the first post.

Where I disagree is where you say things like "it's a shame, but it happens to the best of them sometimes" and "Tyler Perry has said he is a *black* playwright. Why add that if you're not putting weight on the subject? He could just be a playwright and call it a day."

What is embedded in those statements goes beyond preferring Perry's older work and is implying something that Black playwrights are expected to do. You certainly aren't the only person who feels that way which is one reason why Blacks in Hollywood are relegated to certain scripts and roles.

[KSig RC]

While it seems awkward to me (as someone only moderately familiar with the man's works) that most/all(?) of his projects are labeled as "Tyler Perry's ______________", there appears to be a lot of the same ol' post-hoc, insular "I liked his old stuff better"-ism that infiltrates any artistic or cultural phenomenon that has elements of 'ownership' among fans.

Congratulations, you've turned Tyler Perry movies into hipster music!

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

yeah, but ... TP will show up at Negro award program (BET, TVOne, NAACP etc) 5 days a week if you let him and gladly accept awards for expressing "our view," touting that his view stands out, representing "our" view in contrast to Hollywood's usual fare. Of course, you've got to respect a man's hustle and it's his right to do this or not, but since he chooses to do so quite regularly I think CherryFlower's criticism is valid, even though I probably don't share it to the degree she might.

I was having this same discussion w/ friends regarding Tiger Woods a while ago. Of course, dude is not obligated to "represent the race" and be all things Black to Af-Ams who enjoy what he does on the course, but when he joins the PGA Tour in '97 and open with a dramatic Nike ad series "There are courses he could not play (because of racism)..." he opens himself up for a segment of the populace who will consider him "MLK in golf spikes" and expect him to have relevant comment/impact on issues of the day.

Like most celebrites who "dip their toe" in matters of cultural leadership when it suits their purpose, they rarely live up to the obligation of those who expect more, but when you put your self out there like that, it does go with the territory.

I completely understand what both you and CherryFlower mean but believe the perception of obligation needs to be more balanced. I am completely fine with someone (in any field of expertise) doing their part to fight the good fight but then using their talents for other things. As for Perry, I think that having Black actors on the screen in relatively positive (relatively, that is) roles always has and always will be a form of fighting the good fight.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

While it seems awkward to me (as someone only moderately familiar with the man's works) that most/all(?) of his projects are labeled as "Tyler Perry's ______________", there appears to be a lot of the same ol' post-hoc, insular "I liked his old stuff better"-ism that infiltrates any artistic or cultural phenomenon that has elements of 'ownership' among fans.

Congratulations, you've turned Tyler Perry movies into hipster music!

His production company's name is Tyler Perry Studios, so it's kind of Like "Disney's The Little Mermaid" or "DreamWorks' Shark Tale"

[CherryFlower]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No, I'm not missing your point. You prefer his older work. You don't think his new work is good. I got that the first post.

Where I disagree is where you say things like "it's a shame, but it happens to the best of them sometimes" and "Tyler Perry has said he is a *black* playwright. Why add that if you're not putting weight on the subject? He could just be a playwright and call it a day."

What is embedded in those statements goes beyond preferring Perry's older work and is implying something that Black playwrights are expected to do. You certainly aren't the only person who feels that way which is one reason why Blacks in Hollywood are relegated to certain scripts and roles.

I'm sorry you interpret my statements that way, and that I am unclear. Let me try again since it's coming off wrong.

The use of the word Black by the playwright semiotically opens up a can of worms that label him. He is grouped because of this, not because I want him to be. Much like placing the title "Oh that's the yellow team over there" making the people "Yellow people" and can only associate with "Yellow items." The reality is, he very well may not be, but that's the frame work he has created by adding that title. The fact that he's trying to break from that mold is wonderful, more power to him. However the method used thus far feels faulted, and feeds in to the cycle you're trying to call me on; placing him in a group.

[knight_shadow]

He doesn't become "unBlack" by virtue of stepping into "the mainstream." He still includes more AA leads than most other directors/producers, but there should be no obligation for him to ALWAYS do AA movies.

Hell, Spike Lee did Inside Man, and had every right to do so. Same should hold true for TP.