PicoBlog

I am a movie fanatic no matter the genre. Although I love the classic cowboy movies I got the most comedic joy out of movies such as Gene Wilder’s “Blazing Saddles.” Or a sci-fi cowboy perspective in the movie “Cowboys and Aliens.” These two movies also show how you take a classic dusty western and polish it up into a shiny new twist.

There are too many movies to name that do hit on the cultural disparities of the west with trying to show diversity among the cowboys. Some tried to show that the hero, much like John Wayne, could be the guy in black(and I am not just talking about the clothing), such as “The Magnificent Seven” with Denzel Washington.

Reimagining the western is not a new phenomenon it has just in the past tried to ease the shock of seeing a person(s) of ethnic diversity play the cowboy not the slave, butler,cook, railroad worker, or the entertainment. In reality, we all know there were people of color that were cowboys that existed in the west (just as there still are ). Over time society has come to stomach the beloved western being a cast of all black actors and sure it helps that Jay Z lends his street cred to the making of such.

Ari as you said in one of your other pieces, people may be known for one thing but “now we know” musicians can shoot movies and produce records! Actually when you think about it, isn’t a music video just a mini version of a movie?🤷🏽‍♀️🤔😂😂

I love when we get to posit about such things in your newsletter!😊 So much fun to use the brain for thinking and not just a hat rack!🧐🥸🤣 Thanks Ari!🙏🏽❤️

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