Twitter as the Teacher: What the Digital Afterlives of Hollywood’s Sports Films Tell Us That the Motion Pictures Don’t

Abstract

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 drew new attention to the discourse surrounding representation in North America. Western sports leagues have been at the forefront of race conversations during this time, but the dialogue extends to popular sports films as well. Through a critical discourse analysis, this MRP argues that there are several insights to be learned from the digital afterlives of three sports films. This study first outlines examples of how the White saviour trope is enacted in Glory Road (2006) and The Blind Side (2009), and how the academically poor performing Black student-athlete trope is performed in Coach Carter (2005). Next, it explores the digital afterlives of these films today, specifically on Twitter. The findings suggest that each film occupies a significant space in the lives of its viewers. The digital afterlives provide insights into the importance of education in the athlete-student relationship, racism of the past and how much has or has not changed, the formation of the family unit, and the issues that arise from using films as a teaching tool for Black pain. The digital afterlives of these films create space for a discussion about these insights, which is significant during a time of cancel culture as this culture contributes to the demise of critical thinking with its emphasis on turning the cheek to something that does not agree with one’s ideologies rather than responsibly and cognitively interacting with contrary views. To help stop this close-minded cycle and foster an understanding for how to critically examine films and other media texts, a media literacy assignment for middle school students accompanies this MRP.<div><br></div><div> Keywords: Black, athletes, sports films, tropes, stereotypes, representation, race, digital afterlife, Twitter, media literacy, Coach Carter, Glory Road, The Blind Side</div>