The Artist Cave

1. I'm sure there probably ARE Black people that see white therapists out there... But err...? Considering society's inherent tendency to be anti-black in insidious and conspicuous ways, all the way down to how others treat us through unchecked bias—how we even have to police ourselves and how we engage with others—why WOULD Clark go see a white woman? Which leads to my next questions—

2. Where ARE we? (California) What time period are we in? (It's the 90s)... Alright. Even if Cali is known to be more progressive compared to other states—they ain't with them Police though—still much of the same. And, it's still the US. With this movie taking place in the 90s, I'm assuming after 1992... What of Rodney King? The LA "riots"? Police brutality? You telling me Clark's anger is just that unchecked or not self-policed even when engaging with white women (his therapist, wife, and hell—even the still-life)????

3. And not just them. He's the only main Black male character, and person, on the cast. He's got a young Asian woman co-worker and white man who I assume helps out every once in a while with camera things. Clark then gets them in the Backrooms and... doesn't show him thinking or hesitating (that we, the audience could assume/interpret as), "... Wait. If something were to happen to them... What does that mean for me if I make it out? 🤔" Even IF he's obsessed with proving how right he was about the existence of the Backrooms to, again, his white woman therapist—even IF he's spiraling—we (for the most part) are ALWAYS thinking about how our Blackness might influence/impact a situation. In other words, "Because we live in a racist society, will this look AND go bad for me?"

I've been a fan of Kane Pixels works on YouTube so I can only assume that this was just not thought out that deeply (which tends to happen when it comes to anything race wise beyond him). But, again, I had to suspend my disbelief to continue enjoying the show, because besides what I brought up, I did enjoy it! A LOT.

I was scared! I was disturbed! I was thoughtful! I loved the distorted memory angle. I loved the allusions to AI. I loved that the monster is YOU. I loved the use of sound and set design. I thought having Clark be an architect was clever. Of COURSE he would find the Backrooms fascinating from that point of view. I loved how the therapist even has her own trauma she's parsing and looping through.

I loved picking apart every detail and "puzzle piece" I can get my hand on. That movie kept asking me throughout, "Are you paying attention? Do you remember THIS detail from another scene?" It was fun!

So, yes. Of course I would notice the lone Black character and his handling.

And, again, I thought his character was interesting and largely believable (if we ignored the race relations and implications). I think Chiwetel Ejiofor played Clark fantastically. And I can only assume and hope he likely enjoyed playing him too. Understand me when I say I wasn't expecting him to be a "good guy". Nor am I asking for that. Is the character believable, interesting, and complex is what I largely look for. For the most part, yes, he was, but because he is the only Black man and person in the film, the optics of his anger and violence putting these non-Black people in harm's way and also being the cause of their harm (and demise) was... Hm.

In honor of an old "Tumblr saying", nothing is created in a vacuum.

For a movie that subverted expectations with character motivations, desires, actions, and even the horror monster... And the attention to detail was immaculate—I wished that level of care and subversion would have also applied to the racial implications and biases presented when having a Black main character in the film.

Because it was there with the women. I could see the film saying by showing the harm and disregard of women in the way the men and the broader patriarchal system at large engaged with or dismissed them. Again, whether personally, casually, and systemically. It wasn't blatant, but I peeped, and I appreciated it.

I wish I could extend that to the racial components but alas. That wasn't thought about and it showed.

So, what could have been done to avoid that misstep or icky feeling for Black audience members like myself?

Have Clark NOT be the only Black character in the film. Black women do exist. How interesting (and more believable) would it have been if the "therapist character", Mary, was a Black woman? Man... How lucky is the timeline that DID go that route?