What’s American Fiction About?
A film that depicts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright) is a frustrated novelist who is fed up with the white establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment that relies on tired & offensive tropes! To prove this point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish “Black” book of his very own that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain!
American Fiction. Period! That’s All That Hurts My Heart and Head!
This movie, American Fiction, might potentially offend some African Americans who opt-in to view it, and to be candidly honest, it may even offend ANY American of any ethnic background because as we all have come to this factual realization: not everyone views or sees everything the same way. From my perspective of the film, I was highly impressed because it illustrated how so many African Americans are targeted as vile, corrupt, evil, nasty, ghetto, etc. and that is simply NOT true at all. Hence, I feel the title of the film is CORRECT SIMPLY BEING because ALL Americans’ views are “fiction.” The definition of fiction means “not real” and the point of what I just wrote & in the film is not everyone is the same… and the stereotypes placed on people in society are NOT REAL and YOU can choose to join that bandwagon in believing them or be …
… Non-fiction CAN Be Made into American Fiction …IF We Let It …
The ONE thing that Monk tried to illuminate in his novel F*** WAS THAT PEOPLE LOVED THE DISGUSTING TRASHY and very stereotypical language in which it was written. Speaking in that black, outlandish, and obscene language excited and aroused authors wanting to publish the book! Let’s break this down for a moment, the American Fiction way: would YOU rather read a novel that is ordinary & does NOT excite your senses at all – or would you prefer a novel that stimulates your mind, keeps you wanting more, enhances your intelligence, and you do not want to put it down? Now, there is a trick to my question in there! The answer is YES to either question – do you know why? It’s quite simple – WITHIN LIMITS! YOU should NEVER diminish your character, morals, or the morals of anything or anyone for someone else profits or monetary gain. That’s not right and when that happens, I call it … American Non-Fiction because non-fiction is defined as “being true.” You TRULY wanted to read and do what you did. YOU chose those actions and YOU have to suffer consequences that come from YOUR actions therefore it is NON-FICTION meaning 1,000% TRUE!
Sentimental Values Throughout the Facts & The Fiction
Agnes Ellison was Lisa and Monk’s mother in the film and she was suffering in the film although this American Fiction movie was mostly centered around comedy; there were some very BRUTAL family sentimental scenes throughout the movie that just rocked me to my very creamiest all of the laughter from the novel excerpts that were read from Monk’s novel that was read aloud and shown on-screen as he was brainstorming his ideas people from his mind. It’s quite difficult to differentiate between fact & fiction in real life because Americans tend to put up walls to protect themselves from the hurt and pain. These barriers tend to get us hurt even more or push us away from the people who want to get close to us. There are so many varied reasons that we choose to believe fiction (LIES) over non-fiction (TRUTH). I’m sure you can see the clear concept and the overall symbolism between these two words/phrases now of fact/fiction and how they can be related to OUR everyday lives.
American Fiction Leaves Its Imprint…
American Fiction does TWO outstanding jobs at leaving its mark on audiences. In ONE regard, it leaves its very PERMANENT mark on you by showing that NOT all African Americans are despicable human beings and speak the language Monk used in his novel to illustrate his very valid point! NO ONE should judge or even pre-judge anyone based on anything they have seen or heard. Get to know an individual for yourself and yourself alone! And, the SECOND outstanding job the film leaves with you is …family. That’s always what is “non-fiction.” Family is TRUE!
About the Author
I find Jeffrey Wright an incredible actor – so I look forward to seeing this. I think the division between races is just a sad, sad thing, and hope one day that line will be gone forever! 🤞
Josh –
I’m a realist & I highly doubt that racism will ever be 100% wiped from the world. I’d be foolish to say I’d believe otherwise, but there is comfort to know it can get better IF the human race WANTS to be better. Acknowledgement of the issue is the FIRST step.
This was one of the Mystery Movies I saw and had no idea. Glad I did it because its not even showing here! Odd!