Bamboozled

After watching Spike Lee’s Bamboozled I have had some trouble in selecting a character that is a true trickster.  I believe that Delacroix could be a candidate for a trickster, because at the beginning of the movie if I remember right he had a contract, but he wanted to get fired, so he came up with the idea of the modern minstrel show. 

 I think as the story goes along, they do not bring the idea out again that he wants to be fired, because when he starts receiving all the recognition he seems to enjoy it for a while.  In that sense Delacroix could be a trickster.

I think that perhaps the main trickster is not an actor in the movie, but perhaps the movie itself.  The entire movie kind of portrays a trickster mentality.  It undermines the rules of the culture, and attacks what is mostly taboo for the general public. 

The rule of culture that it undermines is the idea of the whole racist view points.  Cultural today in America is all about equal race, it is political correct to not be a racist.  Teachers in schools teach students to have open minds, and not judge others on race.  I’m sure there are exceptions but for the most part, America is leaning towards the “anti-racist” way of life.  The movie brings the racist out in the minstrel show again.

It also works the grey areas of moral certainties.  The whole issue of race in America, can be a grey area.  The movie goes out on a thin limb, and addresses this area of moral certainty, race, in such a way that it leaves the viewer or at least left me, feeling like it taught a lesson, against racism.