blaxploitation
UK[ˌblæksplɔɪˈteɪʃn]US[ˌblæksplɔɪˈteɪʃn]
n
A genre of American film of the 1970s featuring Black actors and aimed at a Black audience, often characterized by action-packed plots and funk and soul music soundtracks.
Morpheme Breakdown
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Etymology
The term is a portmanteau, a deliberate and modern blend of the words "Black" and "exploitation." It was coined in the early 1970s, with the respelling "blax" reflecting contemporary African American vernacular. The "exploitation" element refers to the Exploitation film genre, low-budget movies that capitalize on current trends or sensational topics. Thus, "blaxploitation" literally denotes a film genre that exploits the burgeoning market for Black-themed entertainment, combining social commentary with commercial appeal. The word itself is a linguistic artifact of its era, capturing a specific cultural moment in American cinema.
Analysis
Structure: blax (Black) + ploitation (exploitation)
- blax: A respelling of "Black", representing African American culture and identity. Origin: English.
- ploitation: A clipping of "exploitation", referring to a genre of film that exploits popular trends or sensational subject matter. Origin: Latin (via English 'exploitation').
Examples
The film *Shaft* is considered a classic of the blaxploitation genre.
Blaxploitation movies often featured strong, charismatic Black protagonists fighting against corrupt systems.
The funky musical scores are a hallmark of 1970s blaxploitation cinema.