How to Watch Jordan Peele Films with White People

It may seem silly to have to remind people that audiences are not the same everywhere you go. There were many white people who found it odd that ''Get Out'' was such a massive hit with the black community. And yet, it was (I saw it twice in one week), as were ''Us'' and ''Nope''. So this is just a handy guide for those of you who want to make your white friends comfortable while watching the films of this very interesting man’s oeuvre (a pretentious term that your white friends will love).

And if you think I’ve missed anything...well, that’s just racist.

So...

1.       Make sure to watch it at their place. It might seem like a friendly thing to do to invite them over to your place, but this is a dangerous assumption. They will want to be in an environment that is comfortable, familiar, and accessible enough to their neighbours, roads and sidewalks they know in case the movie they happen to watch provokes more of a response. It is always better to be prepared than to face what you should have expected.

2.       Try to watch it with a crowd. Yes, it is in their home. And they may feel better to have a few other bodies around that they recognize and can lean on. You may feel compelled to invite people you know to the screening. Resist this! I think that you should make clear that you are doing them a favour, even if it is a friend, and they are also doing you a favour by having you over for this special event. Hopefully, you may also recognize some of the other viewers in the home. Please make sure to ask about the people who are coming over (there will be invites).

3.       Bring food. This will make you very popular and prove that your intentions are honest. There will be a lot of questions about food that you prepare yourself (it is safer to bring something already prepared from the local grocery store, but still...) Please ignore the questions about race and spice that are inevitable, or even the questions about family recipes and how to actually eat the food you have enjoyed your entire life. Some of the other patrons might step in to comment on how silly or offensive the questions are, but do not feel compelled to join the argument. You are here to watch the movie or movies you wanted to watch with a friend.

4.       Discuss the weather, sports, current events, etc. You are not just going to watch the movie as soon as you step into their home. You may have to wait with them as other people arrive and you will have all that food and an awkward pause to handle. Make sure that the talk is not controversial or too political before or during the arrival of the other people. You will have plenty of that on your mind during the viewing.

5.       Do not discuss theories. Yes, Jordan Peele’s films are heavy with text and subtext. They almost demand that you have a chat or debate about them while the story plays out in front of you, or just after the credits flow upwards. Please resist this as much as you can. And please resist the urge to correct the others around you when they put forward their theories, even they are obviously wrong and have not understood a single thing about the movie they think they know so much about!

6.       Watch a Tarantino movie, instead. Hey, you’ll know why once you put on “Pulp Fiction”, “Jackie Brown” and especially “Django Unchained”. At least it will prove that you are cool enough to hear that word, watch another director’s take on the American experience, and you will probably be invited over for a lot more movie nights (expect to enjoy the best of Christopher Nolan and the Duffer Brothers soon). And finally...

7.       Leave first. They will be at with those theories again while they finish up the rest of the food you brought over and that will be the perfect opportunity to step up and out. You will give them the opportunity to see that watching movies with you is not such a bad experience. And you can get on with the rest of your week.

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