1. Discussion Questions for “Bamboozled” (Spike Lee, 2000)
1. What does the word “bamboozled” mean? In this film, who is being bamboozled?
2. This film is a satire. What does the word “satire” mean? In this film, what is the
target of filmmaker Spike Lee’s satire? Why did he create this film as a satire rather
than simply tell the story directly as a serious drama or a comedy?
3. Identify three stereotypes of African Americans in the “Mantan Minstrel Show.”
Historically, where did these stereotypes come from, and what purpose do they still
serve in society today?
4. Do racial stereotypes dehumanize people? If so, why?
5. In the film, originally the TV writer Pierre Delacroix (Damon Wayans) created the
“Mantan Minstrel Show” in order to offend people and to get fired. Why did this
show become so popular, even among many African Americans?
6. Almost all of the African American characters in this film have “colonized minds”. By
the end of the “Bamboozled,” have any characters succeeded in “decolonizing” their
minds? If so, how?
Read this interesting article on stereotypes before moving on
http://www.cracked.com/article_20082_6-insane-stereotypes-that-movies-cant-
seem-to-get-over.html#ixzz29ROsssPH
7. On TV today or in any other films you can think of are there offensive stereotypes of
Blacks and other ethnic groups? And also consider women, gays and lesbians, young
people, old people, people with disabilities, etc.? If so, why do these offensive
images stay on the air?
8. Does the filmmaker Spike Lee believe that TV and other mass media (such as film)
can be changed, or will they continue to emphasize racial stereotypes? Why? What
do you think he should do as a filmmaker to address this problem? What do you
think that you as a consumer of media should do?
9. Look up Spike’s Lee filmography, what other film of his would you choose to watch
and why?
10. Write a mini review (500 words) on Bamboozled. What did you think of it? Did it
make you think? Did it enlighten you? Consider the documentary style filmmaking?
Can you make commentary on the use of film language?