BUSN304 - Peter Faber Business School: Diversity and Conflict Essay

This essay critically examines the interplay between diversity, political correctness, and conflict, using the film "Blazing Saddles" as a primary case study. The paper begins by defining political incorrectness and diversity, setting the stage for an analysis of the film's controversial use of racially charged humor and stereotypes. The essay delves into the historical context of the American West and how the film challenges traditional narratives of racial diversity. The analysis explores how Mel Brooks uses stereotypes to critique racism and expose the absurdity of discrimination, while also acknowledging the backlash and criticism the film has received for its approach. Furthermore, the essay considers the film's impact on public opinion and its relevance in contemporary discussions about diversity and social justice. The paper also discusses the film's comedic tools as a means of ridiculing racism and the critical views that see the film as a significant commentary on racial prejudice. The paper concludes by summarizing the contrasting opinions regarding the film's portrayal of political incorrectness and its ultimate value as a racial commentary.

Working with Diversity and conflict
Working with Diversity and conflict
Name
Professor
Course
Date
1

Working with Diversity and conflict
OPTION ONE: Political incorrectness and diversity
Introduction
Political incorrectness describes the measures undertaken with the intention of avoiding
offensive practices inflicted on members of a certain disadvantage group in the society.
Historically, it involves people behaviors that are deemed as marginalized and insulting inferior
groups who are discriminated against in the society. These disadvantage groups can be
comprised of race or ethnicity. Various media platforms and public discourse has implied that
these practices are excessive. Over the years various movies have come condemning what they
term as liberal efforts to diversify victimization and multicultural diversity through various
languages and affirmative actions taken (Ashmos, Plowman, Smith 2011 p.65). The political left
argues that conservatives utilize the aspect of political incorrectness to downplay and actively
divert the public attention from their discriminatory behavior instilled against disadvantaged
groups. This is done by consciously disregarding and critiquing the actual themes pointed out in
such politically incorrect movies. The commentators on the political left indicate that the
political right often enforces its own form of political incorrectness in order to maintain and
decrease critics of its favored race and ideologies. This concept has played a huge role in the US
cultural war based on the liberals and conservative's identity and perspectives.
The concept of diversity typically represents multiple individual differences and similarity
characteristics that exist among people in the society. Diversity can literally encompass various
human characteristics like race, age, ethnicity and also sexual orientation in a distinctly personal
and societal environment.
Thesis statement
2

Working with Diversity and conflict
This paper aims to discuss and critically assess the back lash of political incorrectness
and lack of diversity as pointed out in the parody of the American West "Blazing Saddles.
The parody of the American West "Blazing Saddles";
This is a western comedy that was ultimately directed by a person known as Mel Brooks
in the year 1974. However, it was not quite received well by fans upon release since it is
comprised of racially charged humor and stereotypes regarding lack of diversity and political
correctness. This makes the movie very controversial. Mel Brookes made it clear that as a result
of political incorrectness that surrounds this movie, it could not be made today in the modern era
nor approved by the current existing film company executives (Bandy & Stoehr, 2012 p. 55).
The film takes place in the mythical west of 1874, and social realities of 1974 respectively. The
white male archetypes definitely typically entail the effects of racial and cultural groups in the
region. Focusing on this particular mythology the movie significantly endangers the historical
context of the American West, which under-emphasizes racial diversity, by constantly mocking
the existing racism in the western regions. However, its entire connection with that release year
made it with complete racial stereotypes regarding class level, behavior and the roles of a
community (Chatman, Goncalo, Kennedy, Duguid, 2012 p.170). Using the past stereotypes,
Brooks has the ability to play to subconscious individual audience anticipations mocking them in
order to decrease the diversity of race into a ridiculed state. Evidently, this period is immediately
after the time of civil rights and several Black Nationalist movements. This carries the audacity
of promoting the self-image of black individuals for their identity, and the existing backlash
among racial diversity conservatives and the ultimate political bigots (Chatman et al, 2012
p.145).
3

Working with Diversity and conflict
The settings of the film and its diversity context is that of American West. Focusing on the
American mythology, the past racial altitudes of the region involved the racialist white
supremacy in order to patronize the tolerance of other existing races thus reducing the movies
diversity.Exodusters who were the black settlers on the western region were deemed as political
actors whose aim was to aspire an equality in the political status quo that no other nonwhite
individual considered (Hammel, Mason, Stevanović, 2010 p.1097).
By incorporating the western myth and historical reality, Brookes makes it possible to confront
the historic tendency to forget the diversified and marginalized individuals for reasons such as
activism for the people rights especially the black people. Arts struggle in the film is for the
survival of his own personal dignity but it is more involved in recognition dimension that what
can be viewed in the Exoduster history (Jabbar & Mirza , 2017 p.47)The west cultural setting is
aimed to ensure the contrast between the brand image and reality of racial diversity. Brooks
focused on the expectations of the audience so as to offer a higher realistic portrait of racial
dynamics. In 1974, Brookes had available racially charged material from which to draw the
movie "blazing saddles".
With current stereotypes of black society to constantly mock, Brooks is able to expose the
ridiculous premises revolving around discrimination and depict them in both plot and image. He
thus borrows the image of lawlessness in the surrounding social environment and compares it
with Bart's lawful practices to promote and maintain order in Rockridge. It strongly speaks to the
cultural diversity and political incorrectness that Brook exploits, that the plot conflict existing is
aimed at Bart ensuring that he can maintain the law and political backlash as a sheriff (Kelly,
2017 p.143). This is despite the lawless image that the residents of this particular township have
4

Working with Diversity and conflict
for this specific race. In addition, several stereotypes about laziness, sexual aggression and lack
of cultural diversity are seen at the expense of black individual characters by the other white
people. For instance, a townswoman literally fainted when Bart says "let me whip this out"
which he meant and referred about his speech manuscript. However, the innocent action became
a joke eliciting a negative reaction from the township's residents as a result of the stereotypes of
sexual aggression that Bart is a black person. Various public altitudes and environmental factors
that contribute to the negative stereotypes types such as these are due to the continued
discrimination and dismissal. In order to clearly draw the audiences' focus and attention to
injustices, Brook usually utilizes the modern era cultural diversity context (Kelly, 2017 p.173).
This is the tool that he molds his criticism based on the political incorrectness of the entire
society.
Apart from the negative elements of cultural diversity context, Brooks made blazing saddler in a
particular setting that recently sparked black activism during the civil rights and nationalist
movements. These attitudes present based on dignity and acceptance left a sure mark on the
black man. The rights movement offered huge traction to the individual's activist mindset of
achieving political rights as opposed to the allowance based on the opportunities of white classes
(Mitchell, 2013 p.54).This can be viewed evidently In Bart's character as a key challenger of the
white supremacy because he takes immediate action against the road overseer making the whole
crew of employees to consciously vie for their equality. Consequently, his vital characterization
to perfectly fit this earnestly and ironically is depicted in merely suggesting this role to ensure
common dignity in the society.(Kollin,2015 p.89) argues that the background society leading in
the movie makes Brat and the other black characters in the film to strongly hold their identities
as black Americans. The film gives the apologist attitude in growing Bats role towards equality
5

Working with Diversity and conflict
and acceptance, much in a similar manner that Black Art political activist theorized the "damage"
of white people standards to promote their own aesthetics. For example, the Count Basie's
Orchestra appears on the movie screen to give him a great performance just before he embarks to
his new position as Rockridge sheriff. A high performing and respectable jazz company under
the leadership of a respectable black artist indeed fits the contentment of his new position
(Mandel, 2014 p.49). The deliberate, meaningful presentation of the symbol of the existing
absurdity of the film, it entertains as a symbolic nature of Bart's cultural identity as a black
person. The cultural symbols influenced by the attitude placed in the American west mythology
gives a ridiculous impact. It functions greater than the entertainment purposes that are meant
indicating the effects black activism had on the political era as fully showcased in the movie.
Unsurprisingly, the way the movie deals with race is very distinct from various movies made in
the modern era. Instead of revolving around racial stereotypes and racism ideas, Brooks blatantly
confronts the themes of political incorrectness and racial diversity prejudice by using charged
jokes throughout the movie (Mandel, 2014 p.79). People argue that this racial reliance indicates
the past aspects of injustices. Brook release much on humor and ironical concepts to backlash
racism rather than just trivialize the movie. He shows that the thugs who constantly mock the
minority railroad employees are all foolish people. Their negative plans fail since the villain
underestimated Bart who was the black sheriff. The townspeople who initially disrespected and
doubted the sheriff based on his black color learned to finally respect him (Symons, 2012 p.64).
The public opinions regarding the movie have ranged from tentative opinions to dismissive one
criticizing and showing the movie as being racially insensitive. Many audiences view the media
to be a direct demeanor to the black stereotype rather than decreased aspect on racist
6

Working with Diversity and conflict
perpetrators. Some people have gone to an extent of leveling public action against public movie
screenings among various black patrons and workers. The movie release contributed to
successful complains like at the University of Wisconsin and led to the rising of other lawsuits
against Indian police officers and politicians. In a certain case, a black former police officer filed
a lawsuit in a court of law, saying that he was fired from his law enforcement position due to his
racial background, and produced a workplace screening of the movie as evidence (Moffitt &
Tormey, 2014 p.383). However, the judge provided a dismissal note regarding the case arguing
that the movie blazing saddles showcased racism to be ridiculous and not acceptable in the
provided terms. In all cases, the public opinion highlighted the racially damaging perspective of
the movie while the distinct outcomes show probable uncertainty in this aspect. These cases
point out the challenging political incorrectness that brings out debate based on its ultimate
worth. Brookes observed that organization executives had seen the entire film to be very
offensive for release unless being undertaken through several unrecognizable altercations. He
further noted and reflected that the movie could never be made today. His personal reflection on
the movie taking into account the modern era captures a significant essence of the public domain
criticism of blazing saddler: it is much politically incorrect to be a much valuable racial
commentary (Peifer, 2013 p.156).
Contrary to various criticism, opinions depict that the film's comedic tools justify the political
incorrectness as high ridicule to real racism. Jordan remarks that it is funny how racists never
understand the joke involving the perspective of racism. This during the start of the expository
part and denunciations of the movies political incorrectness. The film tends to be dismissed as
just a mere entertainment (Steyn,2015 p.379)Other claims thus indicate that this dismissal can be
quite challenging giving rise to the development of reinforcement of social challenges as people
7

Working with Diversity and conflict
faults to the robust hegemonic ideological dimensions. Critical opinions outline the case that the
film's purpose is to expose the absurd nature of racism and hypocrisy of advocates. This dictates
western myth to be highly meaningless. In several scenes throughout the movie uses the
juxtaposition of racial dynamics to the final completion of mocking racist prejudice. He accuses
the audience of their own personal faulted ideas. Therefore, whereas public criticism of political
incorrectness depicts the film to be highly insensitive, critical views usually tend to largely
denounce that the film instills significant commentary of racial prejudice. It highly points the
absurd irony in the political incorrectness of the society (Wennberg, 2014 p.149).
Conclusion
In the mid-20th century, there existed Marxist-Leninist movements that gained political
power associated with acquisitions of several paradigms and doctrines between both American
communist and socialist and black. In the current era, political incorrectness has been a
controversial social force in a particular state having a constitutional guarantee to rights. It
increases legitimacy situations or issues that have been debated widely (Vickery, 2016 p.59). As
a conspiracy theory, conservative commentators in the western nations depict that political
incorrectness and multicultural diversity are conspiracies with an aim of undermining values. In
the modern era, it’s blamed for censorships with authorities citing it to be against violence on the
media as a contributor to other mainstream culture. Currently, for example in the US, it is
evident that if parliamentary motions fail in parliament regarding these aspects, most Muslim
youth will become radicalized. They will feel discriminated and fall victims to the hateful
propaganda. Religious groups have been campaigning strictly against violence, racism, and cases
of homosexuality on the media (Western, S., 2016 p.45). Indicates that mainstream politicians in
8

Working with Diversity and conflict
France, Germany, and the Netherlands are having electoral defeat due to denying that there is a
challenge of political incorrectness in matters such as racism and Islam radicalization.
Demagogue politicians increase their establishment and pounce on demonstrators who protest on
liberation and political incorrectness. This suggests that the movie blazing saddles could not be
made today.
9

Working with Diversity and conflict
References.
Ashmos Plowman, D. and Smith, A.D., 2011. The gendering of organizational research methods:
Evidence of gender patterns in qualitative research. Qualitative Research in Organizations and
Management: An International Journal, 6(1), pp.64-82.
Bandy, M.L. and Stoehr, K., 2012. Ride, Boldly Ride The Evolution of the American Western.
Univ of California Press.
Chatman, J.A., Goncalo, J.A., Kennedy, J.A. and Duguid, M.M., 2012. Political correctness and
group composition: A research agenda. In Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Review of Group
and Team-Based Research (pp. 161-183). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Hammel, E.A., Mason, C. and Stevanović, M., 2010. A fish stinks from the head: Ethnic
diversity, segregation, and the collapse of Yugoslavia. Demographic Research, 22, pp.1097-
1142.
Jabbar, A. and Mirza, M., 2017. Managing diversity: an academic's perspective on culture and
teaching. Race Ethnicity and Education, pp.1-20.
Kelly, A., 2017. Political Correctness Protects More Than It Harms. Political Correctness, p.142-
389.
Kollin, S., 2015. Captivating Westerns: The Middle East in the American West. U of Nebraska
Press.
10

Working with Diversity and conflict
Mandel, R., 2014. Racing diversity: ethnicity, euphemisms, and ‘others'. In the Routledge
International Handbook of Diversity Studies (pp. 78-84). Routledge.
Mitchell, L.C., 2013. Violence in the Film Western. In Violence and American cinema (pp. 184-
199). Routledge.
Moffitt, B. and Tormey, S., 2014. Rethinking populism: Politics, mediatization and political
style. Political Studies, 62(2), pp.381-397.
Peifer, J.T., 2013. Palin, Saturday Night Live, and framing: Examining the dynamics of political
parody. The Communication Review, 16(3), pp.155-177.
Steyn, M., 2015. Critical diversity literacy. Routledge international handbook of diversity
studies, pp.379
Symons, A., 2012. Mel Brooks in the Cultural Industries. Edinburgh University Press.
Vickery, J., 2016. Book review: culture, economy, and politics: the case of New Labour by
David Hesmondhalgh, Kate Oakley, David Lee and Melissa Nisbett. LSE Review of Books.
Wennberg, R., 2014. Beyond Confession? ‘Political Religion and Ideological Incorrectness in
the Study of Nazism. Religion Compass, 8(5), pp.148-158.
Western, S., 2016. Political correctness and political incorrectness: A psychoanalytic study of
new authoritarians. Organisational and Social Dynamics, 16(1), pp.68-84...
11