Comparing The Films They Cloned Tyrone And Sorry To Bother You

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The movies They Cloned Tyrone by Juel Taylor and Sorry to Bother You by Boots Riley are two films that fall under the umbrella of the Afrofuturism genre and share several thematic elements. Afrofuturism is an exploration of black identity and empowerment that looks into alternate futures and realities where African American culture and science fiction intertwine. Both films explore complex issues such as government conspiracies and oppression, while tying back into the definition where black identity is strongly shown with a sense of community. They Cloned Tyrone follows a trio of unlikely heroes who stumble upon a government conspiracy involving cloning and mind control within their neighborhood. A pimp, a ho, and a drug dealer team up once …show more content…

At first, Fontaine is in shock finding out he is a clone but is threatened to keep living his life knowing so. The trio eventually infiltrates the government-run operation, bringing it to light with local news networks. Sorry to Bother You is a film about Cassius “Cash” Green, a young black man struggling to make ends meet. Cash is a salesperson for a telemarketing company where he is driven to put on a “white voice” in order to make more sales. This “white voice” is characterized by a tone of speaking that conforms to cultural norms associated with white individuals' speaking patterns. His method works, and he is able to gain recognition in the company until he finds himself facing a dilemma when his friend asks him to join him in union protests. Cash assumes that if he joins him, he will lose his job, but he takes the risk and joins the protest where to his surprise, he is promoted. Cash accepts the promotion but during a meeting in his new position where he is pressured into snorting an unknown powder, he discovers an unsettling truth about the company; that they are selling military arms and cheap labor from the corporation “Worry Free”, where employees sign lifetime contracts to work and live in …show more content…

This "white voice" represents societal pressures to conform to dominant cultural norms. In They Cloned Tyrone, the cloning experiment involves attempts to whitewash the black community, reflecting forced assimilation and the erasure of black identity. These elements illustrate the tension between personal authenticity and societal expectations. Sorry to Bother You and They Cloned Tyrone share a commitment to exploring themes of exploitation, resistance, and community solidarity within Black communities. They utilize Afrofuturistic elements to challenge viewers to reconsider social and political issues affecting these communities. Music, visual style, and storytelling are integral to both films, blending futuristic sounds with traditional Black musical influences. In doing so, they highlight the significance of unity and collective effort in imagining new pathways toward social justice and empowerment. The journeys that the characters face in both films, from ordinary lives to confronting extraordinary conspiracies, serve as powerful metaphors for the struggles and resistance within black

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