Karina
Brief summary of research:
Why is Blackness placed next to whiteness in film always a negative thing? Over the history of the United States, Black people have been racialized as white people’s opposite and this has made all racial admixture forbidden including codification into laws against miscegenation after the abolishment of slavery. This racist phenomena was present in all parts of American life including film. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), Guess Who (2005), and Get Out (2017) are three films that depict the adversity to racial admixture through three negative portrayals of an interracial (Black-white) relationship. Looking at each film, there is a shift in popular thought around this form of racial admixture. Through film analysis and historical and cultural contextual study I ask: what does the shift in these depictions of interracial relationships in these three films tell us about the changes in the racial landscape of the United States?
What made you interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research more broadly?
I was interested in doing this research as kind of step one in beginning my senior thesis this year. I also had a research grant my freshmen year from Weinberg and I think it was really cool to be able to track how much I’ve grown as a student, writer, and research through the application and research process.
What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
I was interested in this project because I think that film and media play a huge role in our social conceptualizations. My faculty advisor mentioned the linkages between films and their characteristics over time, and I thoughts about the three films I studied and their connections but also progression and what that might indicates about how racism and its visibility shifts over time.
Describe your experiences with research thus far in your career?
Research is fun but always hard. I think that this summer, I struggled with what I thought was “real” research and how I felt like I wasn’t doing real research because I was engaging with emotions and I wasn’t reading full books. However, I think that I began to learn that there isn’t like a right or wrong way to research and each topic kind of requires a different approach.
Any tips or advice you have for students interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
I would say do it!! As URG offices and other research offices become more accessible, more folks can join! I think being able to design a project and focus solely on that is exciting and a nice way to engage with academics differently in your time at Northwestern.
What meme lives rent free in your head?
“i don’t want celebrities representing me, but let’s dig a little deeper, who are we being represented to? who do we want to look good for? Crackers! Crackers!!’ on twitter
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned/read about/listened to this week?
black liberalism and “In Search of the Black Fantastic”
What is your most useless talent?
organizing stuff like those tv shows