Have you seen the movie ‘American Fiction’? It’s one of the funniest and most biting movies I’ve ever seen. Here’s the story (with no spoilers)

Monk, a frustrated black novelist/professor is fed up at the way black people are portrayed in novels and books, and how they are stereotyped. Especially jarring is when a black writer called Sinatra Golden writes a book called ‘We’s Lives in da Ghetto’ which becomes a runaway bestseller. Her book buys into all the common stereotypes of black people — unwanted pregnancies, violence, broken homes, etc. Although Monk writes literary fiction, none of his books sell. When he complains to his agent about books like Sinatra Golden’s, the agent tells him a truism: ‘White people think they want the truth but they don’t — they want to feel absolved.’ 

Monk then writes a satirical book under a fictitious name: Pafology by Stegg R. Leigh. It’s what he terms pure trash, buying into all the stereotypes of black people. But when it’s picked up by a leading publisher, and he is promised an advance of 75000$, he is stunned.He wants to withdraw the book, but his agent forces him not to. And, when the publishers are told he’s actually a fugitive on the run and therefore can’t show his face, they are even more delighted, as they think this is ‘the real thing!’

 When the publishers finally  do speak to him, he insists on renaming the novel with a naughty four-letter word, to which they surprisingly agree. Monk bangs his head in frustration. He is trapped in the very trope he is criticizing, as the book continues to win more and more accolades.

This movie, imo, is especially relevant for readers and writers. It’s a biting satire on race and identity, and especially about how Black people are represented in popular culture. 

For me, movies like ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and some best-selling books on India that depict poverty and casteism are tired tropes. It’s not that poverty and casteism should be ignored or pushed under the carpet, but surely there’s more to India than these two issues.Especially poverty porn! 

What are some stereotypes that make you get hot under the collar in movies or books? I’d love to hear about them.