(Re)Mediating Black Womanhood: Tyler Perry, Black Feminist Cultural Criticism, and the Politics of Legitimation

  • Whitney Peoples
Chapter
Part of the Black Religion / Womanist Thought / Social Justice book series (BRWT)

Abstract

Best known for his stage and screen portrayal of Madea, the large and tough-talking grandmother central to his work, filmmaker and playwright Tyler Perry has crafted a successful brand and business of producing contemporary African American culture. Perry’s rise to fame, however, has not necessarily been meteoric. His work as both a writer and actor began in the theater on what is often called the neo-chitlin’ circuit: named as such because its majority black casts and audiences conjure memories of the network of African American clubs and theaters that provided welcome spaces for African American performers and audiences during US segregation. Before he found success in the film industry, Perry built a strong audience foundation on the black stage play circuit, where he has written and produced 18 plays in the last 15 years.

Keywords

Black Woman Female Character Tubal Ligation Black Church Cultural Criticism 
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Notes

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Copyright information

© LeRhonda S. Manigault-Bryant, Tamura A. Lomax, and Carol B. Duncan 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Whitney Peoples

There are no affiliations available

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