Color Adjustment

This documentary about the evolution of Black representation on American TV until the 1990s is screaming for a sequel that reaches to the present, but what we have here is quite good and informative; even when some of the reflexions may easily be exported to any other category of representation on Prime-Time television at the time.

The documentary provides the spectator with an insightful look at the representation of African Americans in TV. However, the message is a bit convoluted, at times it seems like the doc wants to prove that there is progress in African American representation. But, the excess usage of over-sentimental and soap opera like music and the random juxtaposition of the apathy of Americans to the civil rights movement hinders such message in that it seems as if it is the end of the world. That the progress since after the civil war is not satisfying enough for the African American community. In the end, messages of real progress is lost in its fire and brimstone rhetoric. By the end of the doc, the audience is left with the feeling of the UN-appreciation of African Americans towards progress of their representation in television.

Color Adjustment was far greater than I could have expected, and I looked forward to something incisive and in the editing dynamic (just from Black is Black Ain't). What is spectacular dare the juxtapositions and perspectives, in particular once it gets into the late 1960s material. But throughout, this is remarkable as a stellar collection of interviews with figures who were in the shows, the producers who were there at the time seeing how the evolution of Black representation in television was at a crawl (from Amos to Nat King Cole to Dihann Carroll to, sigh, Bill Cosby and so on).

I know it doesn't break ground stylistically as it's clips and talking heads, but that's never an issue here. On the contrary, Riggs understands practically intuitively the power and the magnetism of the whole Medium is the Message of images and how this technology shapes a public whether they realize it or not. Also, how little steps were made that mattered, even if it was one season (never heard of East Side West Side and now I have an indelible image of James Earl Jones I never had till now), and moreover how complicated things were with positive images at various times (ie King Cole and how he was so smooth and gentlemanly and yet so "acceptable" to white society- albeit not so much to those in the South who couldn't fathom a Black TV show host with white guests! I do declare!) And maybe we still have never quite caught up to the ruthless satire of Archie Bunker.

If nothing else, this makes me wish Ruby Dee narrated more documentaries. Good golly miss Molly she had a tremendous, attention-demanding voice. And this will be a surefire pick to show one or more of my Media classes in the future.