Ramblings and Reflections
American Fiction
Where I live, few theaters released American Fiction. Generally, I prefer to view movies on the weekend and early in the morning. Because this was not possible, I finally saw it the last week in January. The movie exceeded expectations. Once the film ended, ideas flooded my mind about how the plot related to writing, publishing, and American culture. Director Cord Jefferson had an experienced, dynamic cast for this story based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett—which is now difficult to find. Jeffrey Wright gives a though-provoking performance as Thelonious (Monk) Ellison, a frustrated author writing literature opposed to low brow books appealing to base human nature. An example of those pandering authors is Sintara Golden, played by Issa Rae. One of the most intriguing interactions occurs between Sintara and Monk discussing the responsibility of authors to present culturally appropriate material and not encourage stereotypes. When I first considered publishing, those ideas arose. Sex sells, so does violence and exploitation. Did I want to stay true to my values? Should personal values matter? Authors publish books expecting to sell them, well hopefully. Each author must decide what content to present. I prefer to write what I like to read and not to publish anything personally objectionable. Does a Black/African American author have a responsibility to represent their culture in a positively? How should authors of color respond to the larger society’s delight in propagating demeaning stereotypes? American Fiction explores those sensitive topics and more. At the core of the story is Leslie Uggams’ character Agnes, who has dementia. This difficult situation brings the family together, giving each person a perspective on themselves and as part of a larger unit. Dementia and caring for an aging parent is a topic particularly dear to me, and I appreciated how the director approached it. Overall, my favorite character was Cliff, Monk’s brother. Portrayed by Sterling K. Brown, Cliff had the best lines. There is a little of The Sixth Sense in the movie. I don’t want to reveal too much but recommend paying attention to Monk’s literary agent’s office. The family surname of Ellison made me reflect on Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Whether American Fiction wins a best picture award, it is a wonderful movie. The story entertains, educates, and encourages dialogue, easily one of the best movies of 2023. I hope the 2024 movie scene delivers similar success.
Where I live, few theaters released American Fiction. Generally, I prefer to view movies on the weekend and early in the morning. Because this was not possible, I finally saw it the last week in January. The movie exceeded expectations. Once the film ended, ideas flooded my mind about how the plot related to writing, publishing, and American culture. Director Cord Jefferson had an experienced, dynamic cast for this story based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett—which is now difficult to find. Jeffrey Wright gives a though-provoking performance as Thelonious (Monk) Ellison, a frustrated author writing literature opposed to low brow books appealing to base human nature. An example of those pandering authors is Sintara Golden, played by Issa Rae. One of the most intriguing interactions occurs between Sintara and Monk discussing the responsibility of authors to present culturally appropriate material and not encourage stereotypes. When I first considered publishing, those ideas arose. Sex sells, so does violence and exploitation. Did I want to stay true to my values? Should personal values matter? Authors publish books expecting to sell them, well hopefully. Each author must decide what content to present. I prefer to write what I like to read and not to publish anything personally objectionable. Does a Black/African American author have a responsibility to represent their culture in a positively? How should authors of color respond to the larger society’s delight in propagating demeaning stereotypes? American Fiction explores those sensitive topics and more. At the core of the story is Leslie Uggams’ character Agnes, who has dementia. This difficult situation brings the family together, giving each person a perspective on themselves and as part of a larger unit. Dementia and caring for an aging parent is a topic particularly dear to me, and I appreciated how the director approached it. Overall, my favorite character was Cliff, Monk’s brother. Portrayed by Sterling K. Brown, Cliff had the best lines. There is a little of The Sixth Sense in the movie. I don’t want to reveal too much but recommend paying attention to Monk’s literary agent’s office. The family surname of Ellison made me reflect on Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Whether American Fiction wins a best picture award, it is a wonderful movie. The story entertains, educates, and encourages dialogue, easily one of the best movies of 2023. I hope the 2024 movie scene delivers similar success.