White savior narrative in film

The white savior is a cinematic trope in which a white central character rescues non-white (often less prominent) characters from unfortunate circumstances.[1] This recurs in an array of genres in American cinema, wherein a white protagonist is portrayed as a messianic figure who often gains some insight or introspection in the course of rescuing non-white characters (or occasionally non-human alien races that substitute as non-white civilizations) from their plight.[1][2]

The narrative trope of the white savior is one way the mass communications medium of cinema represents the sociology of race and ethnic relations, by presenting abstract concepts such as morality as characteristics innate, racially and culturally, to white people, not to be found in non-white people.[3] This white savior is often portrayed as a man who is out of place within his own society, until he assumes the burden of racial leadership to rescue non-white minorities and foreigners from their suffering. As such, white savior stories have been described as "essentially grandiose, exhibitionistic, and narcissistic" fantasies of psychological compensation.[4]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference temple1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Nygreen, Kysa; Madeloni, Barbara; Cannon, Jennifer (2015). "'Boot Camp' Teacher Certification and Neoliberal Education Reform". In Sturges, Keith M. (ed.). Neoliberalizing Educational Reform: America's Quest for Profitable Market-Colonies and the Undoing of Public Good. New York City: Springer Publishing. p. 116. ISBN 978-94-6209-975-3.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference temple2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Vera & Gordon 2003, p. 32.