Do_Stereo_Types_Change_over_Time__Using_the_Gangster_Genre_as_an_Example.

Whether it is possible to define a stereotype is one thing, but to define the change of a stereotype is something completely different. This is not because it is difficult to distinguish a change from the original, but because stereotypes are constantly changing, and differ from genre-to-genre, alongside the social, political, economic and cultural changes of the era. To pinpoint an exact change in a precise stereotype is not very easy to do. However, it does happen, and roles and characters have been created in the last 30 years which have altered the stereotypes and representations originally made from the black and white cinematography of the 1920s to the 1950s. Due to hybridisation, and the social, political, cultural, and economic situation of the era, the traditional stereotypes may not be changed, but divided into sub-stereotypes, which, depending on One’s opinion, could be classified as a new sterotype. For example, if I was to say, describe a 1920’s gangster, one might say: pinstripe three-piece suit, Italian-American accent, money laundering, black Bentley, Tommy Guns, white men (a very important point), Humphrey Bogart, etc… Nowadays, if I said to someone, describe a gangster I would get one of 2 descriptions. The first, the British gangster: Vinnie Jones, Cockney accent, Porshes, jewel thieves, top designer labels (suits etc…), sawn-off shotgun, warehouses (for “sorting people out”) white cockney men (another important stereotype) etc… Then you have the third gangster sterotype, the Black Gangsters: black men (a new addition to the stereotype) drugs, guns, knives, gang wars, drive-by shootings, gang colours, body-kit cars, tracksuits, bandannas, gold jewellery, drug dealing on street corners, street lingo (lazy slang) rap and R’n’B music, So Solid Crew, 50 Cent, Cypress Hill (all the famous “Real Life” gangsters) etc… The three above descriptions are all of gangsters, but at the same time are three completely different stereotypes. The original 1920’s gangster was described as how HE was (all of the stereotypes are of men) because at the time, drugs weren’t commonplace, tailored suits were the status symbol of the time, the Bentley was (and still is) a sign of power, Humphrey Bogart was traditionally in that style of gangster film, and Tommy Guns were the weapon of choice. And the setting for this gangster was Chicago, New York and other American cities. This is the stereotypical Al Capone gangster, the 1920’s man. The British gangster, the “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” type gangster was again thought of, because of the social standing of the time, the mid 1990’s. “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” is a good example of the British Gangster. The Londoner, Cockney being a stereotyped person to be a gangster, probably brought about by Dave Courtney, the gangster himself immortalised (like Al Capone) for being a gangster. The stereotype is all in keep with the social changes of a bustling merchandised city, London. Sawn-off shotguns are seen as an effective weapon for their capacity to spread shot over a wide area (this is a relevant point I will soon get to) rather than aesthetic purpose. The suits are trendy enough to make the men look intimidating like a club doorman, but cool and collected like a businessman (which they are). The fast cars show that the men are wealthy, and the warehouses for “sorting people out” draw their illegal actions away from the attention of police and public alike, not liking their operations to be known. And my final example of the gangster is the Black Gangster. Musicians who endorse the gangland in their music, and openly advertise their gangland status bring about the Black Gangster stereotype. Famously Cypress Hill (Rap musicians) sings about and endorses this behaviour to their fans. The segments of this stereotype are thought of for the attempt to again keep up with a culture that is testosterone driven, “respect” seeking, “my car/cock/gun is bigger than yours” culture that has dominated the youth of both Britain and the USA since 2001. The drugs are stereotyped because the music which endorses the gangland also endorse drugs, the guns (following on the practical purposes used by the British and 1920’s Gangster) are purely for intimidation, aesthetics, and “respect,” all taking part in the “my gun is bigger than yours” culture. The knives are the traditionally thought of part of the stereotype because the guns are usually just for show, tucked into one’s trousers to flash at people, and the knives are what are commonly used to kill people with. Because the culture predicts that one is to be renowned to be respected, gang wars, gangs and posses are frequently thought of, because they are always seen in the media after people are killed in night clubs and in public view (unlike the more practical methods of using warehouses like the other two stereotypes). And finally the jewellery or “Bling Bling” as it is known, is again to show status and respect: “my sovereign ring is bigger and more expensive than yours” and the tracksuits and designer labels are not just a symbol of status “my clothes are more expensive than yours” but because they come in a variety of multi-colours (unlike the discreet tailored suits) that can be used to depict which gang one belongs to: “my posse is bigger, better and has bigger guns than yours.” Finally on the list of generic conventions of the stereotypes, is the body-kit car. The definition of a body-kit car is a car small car (Ford, Citroen, VW Golf), which was second hand, and very cheap to buy, when fitted with a fibreglass body to make it look like a sports car, a ridiculous stereo (usually costing no less than double the value of the original car), with very loud bass, tinted windows (to hide one’s identity) and usually seen illegal street-racing. All part of the testosterone culture of the Black gangland. There are some lesser-known stereotypes for the gangster, such as the Chinese Yakuza, or Mexican, Russian or Italian mafia, however, these are the different sub-stereotypes brought about under the one stereotype of gangster.