My analysis of 8 Mile will be an example of why the film is an artistic achievement as it relates to the large culture of Hip-Hop as theorized by author Murray Forman and Jeffery O.G Ogbar. This racial element is explored throughout the film, and especially summed in a discussion between B-Rabbit and his entourage of close friends: DJ IZ tells B-Rabbit, “There’s always room for a White man in a Black man’s world”. In the film, main character B-Rabbit (Eminem) struggles to make an impact as a Hip-Hop artist in the Black community of Detroit. The writing, locations and performances of the battles relate to the artist’s life and surroundings, or as Forman suggests, “space and place”. The film is set during the backdrop of underground rap battles in Detroit where MC’s use words to “vividly depict contemporary life” (Forman, 95).
Major elements of this analysis will include the role of the MC and Race, Space and Place in Hip-Hop culture which Forman discusses and is demonstrated by director Curtis Hanson in 8 Mile. My film analysis will accompany the cultural theories of Hip-Hop by theorist Murray Forman in “The Hood Comes First: Race, Space and Place in Rap and Hip Hop” and Jeffery O.G Ogbar in “Hip Hop Revolution: The Culture and Politics of Rap”. However, a “two-thumbs up” from famed critic Roger Ebert and a golden statue is not my criteria for artist achievement.
While the film grossed 240 million at the box office (Box Office Mojo), it was acclaimed by film critics and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”, part of the 8 Mile’s thematic score, was rewarded an Academy Award for Best Original Song (the first Hip-Hop artist to do so). It frequently makes the list of “best hip-hop movies” (Ramirez, 1) and is an example of commercial success meeting artistic achievement. Of the numerous films made about the four-decade long Hip-Hop culture, Curtis Hanson’s 2002 film 8 Mile featuring Eminem and his semi-autobiographical story is among the most successful. To name a few, Almost Famous: Rock and Roll in the 1970’s, Walk the Line: Johnny Cash and Country music, A Hard Day’s Night: The Beatles and the British Invasion and finally, the focus of my essay – They also confront and demonstrate issues around the given culture. For instance, some of my most favored films are illustrations of a musical time period and define its depicted music genre. Music is another passion of mine and I am fortunate that both mediums are unifying art-forms. Most of all, it is a medium that can utilize music while also define a music genre. It is a versatile art form – a statement I realized while studying media, in and out of school.Ĭinema is a passion of mine to study, produce and enjoy. Music is not isolated to a vinyl pressing, compact disc, or audio file. (sorry in advance for some inconsistency in the essay’s formatting in the lyric segements – WordPress is giving me some problems) This is an essay that analyzes the film 8 Mile and how it depicts and challenges the culture of Hip-Hop.
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