Gender in Gina Prince-Bythewood's Love & Basketball
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Love & Basketball (2000) is what one could call a classic Black film. The love story between Monica Wright (portrayed by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) is just as fondly remembered as When Harry Met Sally – one of Prince-Bythewood’s inspirations. The relationship is made even more memorable for its unflinching portrayal of gender dynamics in the Black community: Monica is a hot-headed and ambitious tomboy whose childhood dream was to be the first woman in the NBA; Quincy has been the golden boy for most of his life, but he still struggles with his understanding what a real man is supposed to be like. In this presentation, I will analyze Prince-Bythewood’s screenplay and explore the historical context of the film to paint a picture of how the Black culture of the 1980s and 1990s affected the film’s view of gender relations in the community.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anna Weinstein
Gender in Gina Prince-Bythewood's Love & Basketball
Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Love & Basketball (2000) is what one could call a classic Black film. The love story between Monica Wright (portrayed by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) is just as fondly remembered as When Harry Met Sally – one of Prince-Bythewood’s inspirations. The relationship is made even more memorable for its unflinching portrayal of gender dynamics in the Black community: Monica is a hot-headed and ambitious tomboy whose childhood dream was to be the first woman in the NBA; Quincy has been the golden boy for most of his life, but he still struggles with his understanding what a real man is supposed to be like. In this presentation, I will analyze Prince-Bythewood’s screenplay and explore the historical context of the film to paint a picture of how the Black culture of the 1980s and 1990s affected the film’s view of gender relations in the community.