For the past decade or more, few Hollywood stars have experienced a more meteoric rise than Tyler Perry. As much as he is lauded by fans, Perry is panned by cultural critics who reject his work as overtly preachy and rife with racially stereotypical characterizations and controversial themes. This book explores the vast chasm between his fans' adoration and the critical reception of his work: while some argue that Perry's brand of «blackness» is little more than buffoonery, others claim he offers representations that are missing in entertainment choices, especially among niche audiences. He is applauded by some for offering films and television shows that are «good entertainment», while others label his work trashy. He can be seen either as an oracle whose morality plays provide a gospel message of family healing, or as an actor with a misaligned worldview. This book asks: what are we to do with the «problem» of Tyler Perry?

Autorentext

Brian C. Johnson is a faculty member in the Department of Academic Enrichment at Bloomsburg University. He is a doctoral candidate in communications media and instructional technology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Inhalt

Contents: Brian C. Johnson: My Problem with Perry - Jennifer Forrest: Tyler Perry and William Shakespeare: Playwrights Who Reflect and Influence Society - Leah P. Hunter/Jennifer M. Proffitt: The Political Economy of Tyler Perry: Replicating Industry Ideals and Exploiting the Commodity Audience - Angela Putman: The Church of Tyler Perry: How Perry Created a Phenomenon - Stephanie A. Allen: Who's Your Mammy? Tyler Perry and the Limits of Black Spectatorship - Jessica L. Knouse: Playing with Gender, Queering Lines: Should We Be Mad at Madea? - Gene Kelly: Tyler Perry as Madea: Homophobia Gets a Pass When It's a Man in a Dress - Shanna L. Smith/Shavonne R. Shorter: (In)Visible Messages: Patriarchy in Tyler Perry's Madea Films - Kimberly J. Chandler: Knight in Shining Blackness: Examining Performances of Black Masculinity in Tyler Perry Films - Christal R. S. Johnson: Diary of a Despondent Female: An Analysis of Female Characters in Tyler Perry's Movies - Auburn E. Ellis/Tanya Merriman: I Can Be Misrepresented All By Myself - Evette Dionne Brown: A Volatile Cocktail of Stereotypes: Black Feminist Reflections on Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse - Frederick W. Gooding, Jr.: The Tyler That Preys: Is Tyler Perry Creating New or Recycling Old Black Images? - Tammie Jenkins: Signifying Practices: Representations of Black Masculinity and Womanhood in Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013).