Nope: Jordan Peele’s 2022 Sci-fi Horror and Cultural Theory
In the summer of 2022, Jordan Peele released his third directorial film, titled “Nope.”. Before that, he released the popular “Get Out” and “US,”, where he became known for using the genres of horror and comedy to address popular culture and social issues, especially race relations. Nope explores the horror, sci-fi, and mystery genres and stars a familiar actor, Daniel Kaluuya (also starred in Get Out), along with Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, and Michael Wincott. Since the release of his second movie in 2019, Peele has already established his purpose in the film industry. By 2022, it was questionable if Jordan Peele’s third movie would live up to its expectations. In pursuit of the answer to this question, I will be studying this cultural text by collecting data on the dynamics of the characters and their relationship to one another. I’ll be looking at the setting of the film and how it was used during the plot, what the plot is, and any other intentional strategies Peele used for the structure and purpose of the movie. To critically evaluate the movie, I’ll be reflecting on ideas related to race, racism, gender and sexuality, and representation. Through the characters, the story, and the setting, each idea is portrayed in the movie. In addition to this research question, I will also be looking at audience reception, the political economy/context of production, and, lastly, highlighting a few key concepts and theorists to create deeper connections between my text and my research question.
ii. Politcal Ecomonomy/Context of Production
In order to understand the movie and director Jordan Peele,. We must first understand Jordan Peele, or at least get to know his brief history. Peele started his career in sketch comedy before transitioning to being a film writer and director. After meeting Keegan-Michael Key in 2002, Peele and Key joined the sketch comedy TV series MADtv as performers the following year, in Key & Peele. In 2017, at the age of 38, he debut his first debut film, “Get Out” and then the movie “Us” two years later. In both films including, the movie in question, “Nope”, they all share similarities like supernatural themes, social commentary, black characters as protagonists, and horror themes. Another similarity, is actor Daniel Kaluuya, who played O.J. Haywood in Nope and the leading role, as Chris Washington.
iii. Analysis & Interpretation
Throughout the movie, “Nope”, there are concepts from theorists portrayed through the characters, the plot, and the setting. I’ll be using the concepts gender and sexuality based on Marx’s views on feminism, and, race, racism, and representation based on Stuart Hall’s, as well as the concept of class struggle based on Marx’s views.
The concepts of gender and sexuality can be observed through Keke Palmer’s character, Emerald who is a a queer character. She has a contrast personality than her sibling OJ, played by Daniel Kaluuya. Her personality is more charismatic, joyful, and self-assured, while his has a more solemn and reserved demeanor. Although there’s not a deep dive in he concept of race and rascim within the movie, it does focus on the sacraifce and effort of Black workers. Tieing into the structuralism of the western work environment, Nope also demonstrates the class struggle, especially through the storylines of the characters. The movie is taken place in In Agua Dulce, California, where the Haywood family trains and handles horses for film productions.
iv. Audience Reception
Consecutively, Peele’s movies caught the attention of mass audiences, though young adults have been the targeted audience. According to Box Office, 70 percent of all ticket buyers are between the ages of 18 and 34 (the overall gender split was 55 males and 45 female). Like his other films, Nope, has an ethnically broad following, with Black viewers in particular. Here’s a few twitter comments, as people share their insights of the movie, a year later.
Work Cited:
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10954984/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
- https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/24/14724404/jordan-peele-get-out-movie-review-race-horror-film
- https://www.essence.com/entertainment/only-essence/jordan-peele-black-people-us-first-screenings/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jordan-peele-nope-box-office-opening-1235184673/
- https://www.autostraddle.com/nope-review/
- https://ew.com/movies/jordan-peele-reveals-nope-explores-race-in-black-people-flying-saucer-film/
