Get Out: Black Bodies as Technology

Week 10

The movie "Get Out" directed by Jordan Peele explores how black bodies are used as technology. The film delves into the horrors of the many ways racism can be enacted, specifically the commodification of black bodies. "Get Out" critiques how technology is often used to conquer marginalized communities. 

In the movie, the main character Chris, a young black man, is trapped in a terrifying scenario where he is kidnapped by his "girlfriend's" family who want to sell his body in order to use it to achieve immortality. This plotline reflects how black bodies have been historically exploited by white people for economic and political gain, dating back to slavery and continuing through to the present day. The film also highlights the racialized ways in which technology is often used to control and surveil black bodies. For example, the white characters in the film use hypnosis and brain surgery to control the black characters, echoing real-world historical examples of medical experimentation on black people (such as gynecology). 

From an Afrofuturist perspective, "Get Out" critiques the notion that technology is inherently neutral and emphasizes how it can be used to oppress black people. This is unique within this film as other Afrofuturist works discuss how technology can benefit black lives and futures, while this film is rooted in the more terrifying truths about how they can be used to further enslave them. By portraying the exploitation and commodification of black bodies as a futuristic and technologically advanced process, the film suggests that these issues are not confined to the past but continue to be relevant in our current society. Through the movie's portrayal of black bodies as advanced technology, "Get Out" highlights the continuing legacy of systemic racism by showcasing the many ways white supremacist behavior can be convoluted, twisted, and horrifying.