It may be an old movie, but I just recently saw West Side Story. (& loved it!). In the movie two gangs, one American, one Puerto Rican are at war with each other. When one of the Puerto Rican girls falls for an American, all hell breaks lose.
The representations of the Sharks were almost the same as the Americans, in regards to the gang thing. Otherwise they are shown as working, poor individuals. Which is generally true. Sadly. In the movie they are obviously foes. Different people from different backgrounds that do fall into the long standing tradition of "upper class white males," therefore are "inferior."
In the case of gender the movie does make a difference. In both gangs, the females are generally around but not when there is "business to do." They are dismissed often in impolitely ways. Skin color is also another factor that causes a difference. Along with class, the fact that these Puerto Ricans are colored differently cause the white male to see them as inferior. They are different, therefore they are not accepted among the whites.
In West Side Story, we are able to see how the Puerto Ricans see themselves and how others saw them. In many movies today foreigners are not portrayed how they see themselves. The "American" gaze is limiting. Unfair. Each culture has it's own story to tell and if the movie industry does not want to tell the real story, that's a bunch of BS! I feel as if Blood Diamond does a good job of perspectives but not many other movies, in my opinion.
The representations of the Sharks were almost the same as the Americans, in regards to the gang thing. Otherwise they are shown as working, poor individuals. Which is generally true. Sadly. In the movie they are obviously foes. Different people from different backgrounds that do fall into the long standing tradition of "upper class white males," therefore are "inferior."In the case of gender the movie does make a difference. In both gangs, the females are generally around but not when there is "business to do." They are dismissed often in impolitely ways. Skin color is also another factor that causes a difference. Along with class, the fact that these Puerto Ricans are colored differently cause the white male to see them as inferior. They are different, therefore they are not accepted among the whites.
In West Side Story, we are able to see how the Puerto Ricans see themselves and how others saw them. In many movies today foreigners are not portrayed how they see themselves. The "American" gaze is limiting. Unfair. Each culture has it's own story to tell and if the movie industry does not want to tell the real story, that's a bunch of BS! I feel as if Blood Diamond does a good job of perspectives but not many other movies, in my opinion. 
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