2025/05/25 by Anthony J. Stone · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Cinema and Media Studies #Media Studies and Communication #Music History and Culture
paper · doi:10.1080/1369118x.2025.2508937
openalex publication_date 2025/05/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14
Although Black audiences view media, including film, at greater rates than other groups, little is known about the range of psychophysical feelings they have about media which represent their lives and identities. Given scholars’ overwhelming agreement that Black representations are stereotypical and negative, expected results might indicate audience agreement. However, more recent research has highlighted complex and positive portrayals of Black men, with scholars arguing such representation might positively impact audiences. To address this gap, I utilize qualitative data from individual interviews and focus groups with 52 class-diverse Black men from across the United States to demonstrate how they decode films with Black characters in thoughtful, affective ways. I argue that Black men possess unique experiences and knowledges – Black masculine thought – that shape how Black men interpret, negotiate, codify, and decode both their lives and movies to improve introspection. More specifically, findings reveal that when Black men decode films that portray their identities using an affective response – the portrayals lead them to introspection and affective memories. These findings not only demonstrate how audiences feel about themselves when they connect with or decode representations, but have implications for the study of race, audiences, and affect.