Blaxploitation films and gangsta movies have a lot of differences, but those some of those aspects actually are actually quite similar in the long run.
Gangsta films often stick to a specific type of music, mainly different versions of hip-hop like Mac Dre in Fruitvale Station or Scarface in South Central. Blaxploitation films stuck to their own genre of music just like gangsta films, mainly featuring jazz and funk from artists like Curtis Mayfield or James Brown.
Both film genres feature the theme of racial discrimination. In gangsta films, black males often face the struggles of a harsh society—they confront poverty, violence, and loss. They deal with heavy subjects and often take place in poor neighborhoods. Blaxploitation films do this as well and they deal a lot with white culture and how it can often be oppressive.
Both films were also criticized for their different stereotypical representations of black people. Though gangsta films seemingly tried to eliminate the previous stereotypes used in Blaxploitation films, they established their own "problem" with representation, accused of depicting criminality with masculine or glorifying connotations.
Though they share a ton of "similar differences", they have some distinct aspects that set them apart. For example, Blaxploitation films made in the 70's usually have a specific, defined look to them just as gangsta films of the 80's and 90's have theirs. Blaxploitation films were sometimes shot with low budgets, using stock footage to fill in empty spaces where the gangsta films of the 80's and 90's often came through large studios with big talent names attached to the projects.
In the end, both genres are entertaining to a certain degree, but still subject to a lot of criticism and controversy.
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