Race in Role Models

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November 20, 2012 Analyzing Stereotypes Within the Film Role Models A stereotype is a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment of others. These stereotypes are usually made up from one’s race, class, gender or sexuality and are often times exploited by their peers. Many times these stereotypes can be quite hurtful or offensive to those which they describe and are many times untrue. Some stereotypes are portrayed much more commonly than others and can be seen fairly often in day to day life especially on television, in films or within many other forms of media. In more recent times these common stereotypes have become considerably mainstream, making up many famous characters in todays Hollywood films. For example the 2008 comedy Role Models stars four very different characters, each depicting several common stereotypes that exist. This movie in particular uses these opposing stereotypes to perpetuate the humorous plot line while still fulfilling the negative expectations which the audience has about each of these main characters, forever implementing the thought of these stereotypes into this audience’s mind even after the movie is over. The first character to be stereotyped in Role Models would be Wheeler, played by Seann William Scott. Wheeler is the big, bad, white, muscular, sexually driven idiot who goes throughout the movie trying to get with as many girls as possible while simultaneously trying to Taylor 2 teach his younger buddy Ronnie how to do the same. The audience first begins to see the stereotype of this manchild when Wheeler brings Ronnie to a party and loses him because he is to busy trying to seduce a woman instead of looking after his younger counterpart. The recklessness and irresponsible acts of Wheeler’s character
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