Cliches of Race in Film: Portrayals of Racial and Social Stereotypes that Mimic Reality in the Pursuit of Social Justice and Change

While stereotypes about race and social environments should generally be avoided, there is something to be said about the realities they reflect. Across the film industry, stereotypes and social clichés are often used without considering the impacts they have on both the community they represent and on the viewer. However, as seen in the analysed French films, Bande de Filles (2014) and Mignonnes (2020), the clichés about the social environment of the Parisian suburbs are used to highlight the reality of the current environment of some French cities and suburbs. When stereotypes and uncomfortable portrayals are used in film, when appropriately used, they mimic the reality of their social environment, to create a necessary introspection into current racial issues in the pursuit of social justice and change. Overall, this research aims to explain how stereotypes about race and social environments can be used to create movements for social justice and change, on the basis that they reflect a very real reality. Specifically, it will focus on how stereotypes and social cliches are used within the French film industry in a decisive manner by writers and directors to create moments of introspection.