"Ray"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the 2004 film, "Ray," directed by Taylor Hackford. The paper discusses the story of the film and shows how the filmmakers reflected on the time in which Ray Charles lived. It discusses the background of the Civil Rights era and the changes it brought about and shows how this is seen in the film in the changing relationship between the performer and his audience.

From the Paper:

"Ray Charles is not depicted as a saint but as a sometimes very difficult man, even without the drug problem that afflicted him for some time. The racism of the 1950s did not stop him from performing as he wished any more than had his blindness. In 1961, he decides that he will no longer play for segregated audiences in the South as he had before, since that was expected of performers at that time and in that part of the country. Because of his stand, though, another instance of racism is seen as his home state of Georgia bans him from performing at all. The film addresses this with a section at the end set in 1979 as the state give the singer an apology for this action, showing just as much that times have changed and that a segregated audiences is no longer possible. The central issue in the film is not racism or even the society of the time, though that background is recreated well for the film. Instead, the film offers "a potent sampling of Charles' demons, faults and addictions to go along with the charm, talent and strength of character" (McCarthy 3)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Atkinson, Michael. "It's a Shame About Ray." The Village Voice (26 Oct. 2004), 42.
• Hackford, Taylor. Ray. Universal Pictures, 2004.
• McCarthy, Todd. "Ray." Variety (12 Sept. 2004), 3.
• Scott, A.O. "Portrait of Genius, Painted in Music." The New York Times (29 Oct. 2004), E01.

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