Soundies, was a brand new form of entertainment born in the 1940's. Produced in New York City, Chicago and Hollywood. They were 3 minute black and white films containing motifs that are visible today in current music videos. These include motifs such as dancing, ritualism and singing. Dancing is the most popular of the motifs and are used in nearly every Soundie created in the 1940's. Soundies covered all genres of music, from classical to big-band swing, and from hillbilly novelties to patriotic songs. Furthermore, Soundies were controversial at the time because people interpreted the dancing as sexual in the short films. Women were wearing short skirts and raising there legs which connoted sexual imagery. In addition, black and white people were appearing in these films together. At the time racism was very prominent in society and black and white people were segregated.
Example of a Soundie:
This particular Soundie plays it on the safe side of advocating interracial between black and white. Instead of a black man dancing with a white woman, which some other Soundies do exhibit, they use light skinned people to promote the same thing. This race of people are crossed between a black and white person. By showing a light skin person in there film is controversial as people are metaphorically witnessing black and white people together. Furthermore, the men in the film are dressing up in high quality suits. This juxtaposes to other views during the 1940's; this is controversial because black people were being viewed as important figures in society. Ironically, it is still black people who are shinning their shoes at the beginning, that is how the black race were perceived in society.
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