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Originally Posted by clavus
Seriously, WTF is up with this? Is there a segment of black society that believes that if there is a movie on, they are all expected to provide running commentary? Do they think all of us quiet people are uptight, and don’t get it?
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I think you might be right.
My opinion is that it's typical of the African social environment.
Community interaction is very imporant. It helps build the communal ties and helps carry on the history and beliefs of a people that historically, were predominantly illiterate and nomadic in nature. (Bear with me, I'm talking sub saharan africa pre white explorers)
If you ever go to a church in a predominantly African American neighbourhood, you'll see the difference. Whereas the white church community generally sit and listen to the single preacher pass on "god's word", the african community will resound with "amen"s and "hallelujah"s.
I see the one stemming from the strict calvinist and puritanical ancestry of the white settlers and the old authoritarian structure of the original catholic church.The african influence of community participation is evident in their preaching and singing.
It encourages the individual to sing out their belief and opinions or agreement with another. For a people who had been put to slavery, church participation was the only way they could give voice to their feelings. Doing it at any other time would have resulted in a beating or worse.
I think this would have helped cement the practise in the african american social habits.
You can see the same in music today. Whilst the whitey sings, the backing singers only do what's been laid out for them in the score. The african raps along and his "homies" add their voice in at will to back him up with "uh-huh"s and "ah-yeah"s. Rap isn't really my thing, but I'd definitely get whigger-fied before you'd catch me waving a lighter at a Celine Dion concert.
Why not in movies?