The Movie Something New Hangs on to Old Stereotypes

Recently I rented a movie, released in 2006, titled Something New. The premise of the movie is about a women, Kenya (played by Sanaa Lathan), who is successful African-American women. She must choose whether or not she will continue in a relationship with a Caucasian man named Brian (played by Simon Baker). Her family and friends, of course, do not support her, adding to the drama of the movie.

Overall, I did not like the movie but it did attempt to bring up the diversity in America's Landscape. This paper will bring up how the movie attempted to show diversity, the extent to which stereotypes were used, and whether or not the movie fostered a better understanding of diversity and multiculturalism.

As the characters were introduced, the obvious diversity is that the two main characters are from different races. The subtle diversity lies within each characters background. Kenya was raised to work hard, be well educated, and take pride in her culture. She is also portrayed as closed off. Her house is all taupe and white, she is focused on her career, doesn't like dogs and doesn't take risks. Kenya makes good money and is very successful in the corporate world, but not in love.

Brian, on the other hand, planed on joining the corporate world as well, but chose to be a landscaper instead. He felt it to be his "true self". He is a successful small business owner who is accepting of everyone and everything, likes to be challenged, likes adventure, and doesn't take defeat easily. As the movie unfolds, and more of the characters' characteristics are displayed, so are the stereotypes behind them.

This movie relied heavily on stereotypes. The one being, African-American women believe all good African-American men have been taken by Caucasian women. The more predominate one was that a preference is prejudice. The movie made it very clear that because Kenya was looking for an African-American man, she was being prejudice towards Caucasian men, which I do not agree with. Wesley Morris, from the Boston Globe, brings up a good point when he asks:

Would a woman this professional and this together, raised by academics and educated at predominantly white institutions, blanch at the idea of dating a man of another race? Especially one this handsome, independent, and polite? There might be several plausible reasons for her not to date Brian, but the movie doesn't allow her to articulate them. (Feb 3, 2006)

Many people look for mates based on what is important to them. Whether the reason is for culture, religion, or compatibility, that is their right. I am not speaking of friends or coworkers; I am talking about looking for a life long mate. For example: If a woman was told by a man, that he preferred to date men should she be offended? Or if one was told by another that he/she preferred to date within their religion, should the other be taken aback? Why is it that when someone says he/she would prefer to date within their race, they are assumed to be discriminating. That to, is a form of prejudice.

Those two were the major stereotypes used throughout the movie. The more subtle stereotypes included: the Hispanic beauty that broke Brian's heart (Latin lovers break hearts); that the African-American community frowns on interracial dating; that African-Americans use slang when speaking, even those who are well educated; Caucasians are all-knowing and superior; women need to be told what to do in love (whether it be friends, family, or others); a great deal of ambitious people tend to be chronically dissatisfied (Morris, Feb 3, 2006); and dads always know best (Morris, Feb 3, 2006).

While this movie did bring up diversity and multiculturalism, it did not foster a better understanding of it. In fact it did the opposite. The movie reinforced stereotypes and subliminally encouraged disrespect, even to the point that Kenya disrespected herself and her culture. In the end Kenya "listens to her heart" and ends up with Brian. She changes everything about herself; her walls have color, she now likes dogs, she starts taking risks, and even pushes her culture aside (in other words, she had to become like Brian to become her "true self"). Everyone is instantly fine with her decision, and they live happily ever after.

Throughout the movie Kenya, her friends, and her family were constantly demeaning Brian and he took it. What about his self respect? He was being emotionally abused throughout the movie, sending the message that love conquers all diversity, which is far from true. While the point of the movie (we are all the same on the inside) was supposed to be inspiring and uplifting, it was not. We are not all the same, and we should embrace that. It is because we are different that we are able to learn from each other.

If we were all the same, imagine how boring the world would be. Diversity and multiculturalism is something to be proud of, as it resides in every individual. Variety is truly the spice of life, and perhaps that is what the movie tried to portray; however; unfortunately it did not. In order for us to move passed stereotypes (including but not limited to racism) we have to accept that we are all different, and different isn't bad. This movie says just the opposite; and it is not a message I want to teach my children.

References

Morris, W. (2006, February 3). Something New Movie Review: There's Nothing Novel About 'Something New'. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 20, 2006, from http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=8402