Sex, Violence and Urban escape: Blaxploitation Tropes and Tales

Abstract

Initially building on the work of Cornel West, whose quote introduces this chapter, the blaxploitation form is discussed in terms of its characters and its difference from Hollywood cinema and African-American representations therein. The Hollywood film ‘Shaft’ is introduced and spoken about – with the chapter arguing about its status as part of the ‘blaxploitation’ pantheon.