Heritage

A person’s unique, inherited sense of family identity: the values, traditions, culture, and artifacts handed down by previous generations. (84)

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Heteropatriarchy

A colonial construct and concept that defines both masculinity and femininity in narrow and limiting ways in order to maintain a binary distinction between male and female, viewed as dominant and subordinate respectively. (90)

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Historical Fiction

The genre of literature, film, etc., comprising narratives that take place in the past and are characterized chiefly by an imaginative reconstruction of historical events and personages. Historical fiction, or “period pieces” are important to audiences because they convey information about the history of a particular culture during a specific time. Besides textbooks and personal research, period pieces are where people consume most of their knowledge about the past and are visually digestible, entertaining, and familiar. Although even the best historical fiction pieces give limited amounts of historical insight, the landscape of our collective worldview tends to be shaped around them. (5)

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Hobbs Test

Named for filmmaker and educator Johnnie Hobbs, this test measures whether a predominantly Black period film centers around racial issues and showcases the depth of the Black experience. The criteria are:

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(1) A fictitious period piece with a predominantly all-Black cast (at least 85-90%).

(2) There cannot be constant or looming reminders of racial oppression that hang over the characters’ heads. Racial tension, seeking racial equality, and acts of violence at the hands of white people are not the main focal point of the story. 

(3) No teaching or caretaking of a white person, a white family, or their white feelings.

(4) The story cannot be a biopic, remake, or retelling of previous work from an all-white cast. (5)

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Homophobia

The fear and persecution of LGBTQIA+ people. Rooted in a desire to maintain the heterosexual social order, which relies on oppressive gender roles. (45)

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Citations

5. The Hobbs Test | Johnnie Hobbs

45. Homophobia | Colours of Resistance Archive

84. What Is Heritage? The Meaning of Cultural Identity • FamilySearch

90. The Anti-Violence Project Glossary

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