From nihilistic implosion to creative explosion": the representation of the South Bronx from The Warriors to The Get Down

Abstract

“The Bronx” nowadays is a word synonym for urban decay in the public imagination. All around the world we can find urban areas nicknamed “The Bronx”, usually those places where locals suggest you should not go to. This notorious reputation can be traced back to the late 70’s and early 80’s of the XX century, when what was going on in the Bronx, in particular in its southernmost part, became renowed throughout the world. The reality beneath the veil was one of a territory infested by gangs and crime, against a backdrop spoiled by fires. Its name, then, crossed the U.S. national borders thanks mostly to its depiction on the big screen. However, the same area, basically during those years, was also the cradle for the development of hip-hop culture, a movement that changed the music industry and popular culture for years. From a “nihilistic implosion” to a “creative explosion”. This dissertation analyzes this dichotomic portrayal of the Bronx, the South Bronx in particular, as it appears in the movies that came out during the late 70’s and early 80’s, comparing them to the more recent Netflix series, The Get Down. For this reason, the first two chapters rely on secondary sources and present the evolution of the neighborhood from a historical perspective (First Chapter) and the organization of youth gangs in post-war New York (Second Chapter). Then, the last two chapters are based on an analysis of the representation of the South Bronx in the movies of the period, from The Warriors and 1990:The Bronx Warriors on one hand, to Wild Style and Beat Street on the other (Third Chapter). The last chapter analyzes how lights and shadows of the South Bronx are represented in The Get Down. In the conclusion, final thoughts are given not only on how the complexity of this neighborhood emerges on screen, but also on the importance of this filmic representation in shaping the public perception of the area.