When I finished Sorry To Bother You, I was in awe. I was honestly laughing so hard because I had no clue what the ending meant. After analyzing and reflecting on the movie, I watched the director, Boots Riley, discuss the film on Youtube. He describes the movie as an absurdist, dark anticapitalist comedy. From the beginning of the movie, we see Cassius being advised by Danny Glover to use his “white voice.” Boots Riley talks about this codeswitch, saying that the white voice is used as a performance, to demonstrate what black people have to do in order to hide their identity. Having Cassius perform in his white voice is a form of him participating in the system of whiteness. This also relates to Jose Muñoz’s theory of disidentification in terms of passing and not passing. He is passing for a white male, which society has made the mythical norm. This system relates to the concept of gatekeeping, thriving on the people who society keeps out.
I really liked Detroit’s character in this movie. She demonstrated her free, artistic spirit, which I appreciated. She used her art as a form of political engagement, commenting on various platforms. She resists the status quo, disidentifying from the norm.
As the movie progresses, Cassius becomes the power caller and this comes with different privileges. We see the capitalistic view of him being pushed by authority to crave more. This greed results in Cassius losing a sense of morality.
Boots Riley also demonstrates the divide between the upper and lower class in Oakland, California. Using Cassius as a primary example, he drives a decrepit car and lives in a garage, but passes beautiful mansions on his way to his job. Boots uses theorizing to demonstrate the socioeconomic divide he sees and wants his audience to see, as well.
I think this movie points to the idea of putting up a fight against the world. Detroit, a small artist in a highly political climate, uses her platform to impact the world. Cassius, as he is transformed at the end of the movie, uses his power to fight against authority.