Coming to America is an American love comedy directed by John
Landis, it was released into cinemas across the United States in 1988. The story line was created by Eddie Murphy, in which he also starred in the lead
role. The film is about a Prince who turns 21 and as part of tradition in his
country; he is set up to get married to a woman he does not know. The Prince,
who objects to this, insists he is allowed to find his own bride, one who will
love him for who he is, not one who will obey his every command because of his
royal status. Marxist views can have affect on lifestyle, with It’s purpose
being to fight for the freedom of the working class, also known as the
proletariat, who are seen to be under domination by the upper class, the
Bourgeoisie. The Marxist class system theory has a big part in this film, as
there is a lot of discrimination based on social status.
Eddie Murphy plays the role of Akeem Joffer, an African Prince,
Son of King Jaffe Joffer, ruler of Zamunda. As the prince has turned 21, it is
time for him to marry his princess. His father King Jaffe Joffer, takes it upon
himself to find a suitable wife for his son the Prince. He finds a woman, one who
has been brought up to marry a prince. “Since the day she was born she was
taught to walk and speak and think as a Queen” (Coming to America, 1988) . However
Prince Akeem has his own plans, to find someone who loves him for who he is,
not his riches. “But when I marry, I want the woman to love me for who I am,
not because of what I am” (Coming to America, 1988). From a Marxist
perspective, you can see how the class system comes into place here. Prince
Akeem is of higher class, royalty, however he does not want to marry somebody
who wants him for his wealth and royal status, or somebody that his father has
found for him who will also be of upper class. Prince Akeem widens his searches
for a bride by going to America, and posing as a proletarian. They choose to go
to Queens in New York, a part of New York that is full of working class
citizens. Akeem and his friend also servant, Semmi; attempt to blend in with
the American culture, so they ditch their suits and fur overcoats and replace
them with caps and American baseball jackets. The Prince wastes no time in
searching for his perfect bride, so him and Semmi hit the bars around Queens,
however they are unsuccessful. Their luck does change soon after; at “Black
Awareness Week” he sets his eyes upon a girl called Lisa McDowell. Akeem and
Semmi take jobs at McDowell’s fast food restaurant, as Lisa’s father Cleo
McDowell owns it, this is the perfect way for Akeem to get acquainted with
Lisa. It will also help them to blend in more with the working class. Spending
most days working with Lisa, this was the perfect way for him to make Lisa fall
in love with Akeem, and not the Prince.
Cleo McDowell, Lisa’s father, is an arrogant bourgeoisie. Owner of
McDowell’s fast food restaurant, and owner of a large home, he thinks he is
superior to anyone who is not as wealthy as him. This affects the way he treats
people, for example the way he treats Lisa’s two love interests throughout the
film. Darryl and Akeem, Cleo knows that Darryl is very wealthy so he treats him
with the utmost respect, he is desperate for Lisa to marry Darryl because he is
also a bourgeoisie. Eventually Cleo even agrees for Darryl and his daughter
Lisa to get married, without consulting Lisa.
Lisa’s boyfriend, Darryl Jenks, thinks he is gods gift to women.
As well as being filthy rich, he is a model and heir to his fathers business
‘Soul Glo’. This makes him feel as if he is above every working class person,
including Akeem and Semmi. He treats them with no respect and insults Akeem on
many occasions. This is an example of how social status can have such an affect
on people’s ego, and how power and capital make the bourgeoisie believe they
are in control of society.
Lisa McDowell is one who does not care about how rich somebody is
or what they possess. After getting to know Akeem better she begins to realise
how down to earth he is, compared to her self obsessed boyfriend Darryl. After
spending some time with Akeem, she breaks up with Darryl and starts to date
Akeem. The incognito Prince realizes he has found everything he has been
looking for in a woman, he has found the woman he wants to make his Princess.
Lisa likes Akeem even though she thinks he is extremely poor, unaware that he
is actually heir to the throne of Zamunda.
Semmi is struggling to adapt to such a low lifestyle, he feels
alienated in such a different environment than what he Is used to; even though
he is Akeem’s servant, he is used to a life of luxuries. He sends a telegram
requesting further funds from the King, this alarms him and forces him to fly
to America to take his son back home. King Jaffe Joffer is angered to find out
his son has been working. “MY SON WORKS?” (Coming to America, 1988) As he
believes a Prince should not have to lift a finger. It is when he pays a visit
to McDowells, he meets Cleo McDowell, and explains to him that Akeem is a
Prince, and heir to the throne of Zamunda. Before this point Cleo had treated
Akeem like a peasant, and did not agree with him seeing his daughter Lisa.
However after finding out he is not a poor working class man, but a Prince with
wealth and power, Mr McDowell’s feelings towards Akeem drastically change. A
clear example of how title and capital can change an arrogant bourgeoisie on a
person, Mr McDowell’s money-orientated way of thinking judges a person straight
away off their social status rather than who the person is deep down. King
Jaffe Joffer and Cleo McDowell are very similar in how they judge people using
Marx’s class theory. If they believe somebody is beneath them, they are quick
to let them know who is on top. When the King and Mr McDowell have a slight
argument about Lisa and Akeem in Mr McDowell’s house, the King explains why
Akeem cannot marry her “Oh come now, our son cannot consort with such a girl”
(Coming to America, 1988) this upsets Mr McDowell as it makes him feel as if he
is being undermined by the King. A battle of the higher class, as they both try
to retain their dignity, King Jaffe Joffer tries to pay off Mr McDowell for his
inconvenience “Shall we say one million American dollars?” (Coming to America,
1988) as it is nothing to him. After Cleo McDowell rejects, the king offers two
million dollars; Cleo again refrains from being demoralized, “You haven’t got
enough money to buy my daughter off” (Coming to America, 1988). Here you can
see how the bourgeoisie's believe capital brings them power, and how they can dominate
the proletariat's.
Further on into the film comes a significant moment, Prince Akeem
chases after Lisa as she storms out of her home in anger of being lied to.
Akeem catches her on the subway and explains to her why he did not tell her he
was a Prince, “I wanted you to love me for who I am” (Coming to America, 1988).
She questions who he really is, he explains nothing is different; “Should it
matter that I am a prince” (Coming to America, 1988). Lisa understands, as she
is not someone to judge by social status or capital. King Jaffe Joffer finds it
difficult to accept his son falling in love with a proletarian, but allows a
break in tradition to make his son happy, he arranges for Lisa and Akeem to
marry in Zamunda as a surprise, as Akeem thought he had lost her.
This film is a great example of how capital, social status or
title can have an affect on how people can be treated differently. Upper class people,
who believe to be in control of the working class, can interfere with everyday
life. Such as Akeem and Lisa being together, if you eliminate social status,
there would be no problems. Marxist theories suggest that the proletariat are
slaves of labour for the bourgeoisie. They come to think they are a service to
them, in exchange for wage, so they can attain the things they are lead to
believe they desire. However the proletariat are brainwashed into forgetting
the power they obtain, the bourgeoisie are the minority and they can be
overruled by the proletariat's to make the world a fairer place.
Bibliography
Coming to America (1988) Directed by John Landis [Film] Paramount
Pictures
‘Karl
Marx Theory of Ideas’ (1955) Cambridge University Press, John
Torrance
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HKc7ot06WD0C&pg=PP195&dq=karl+marx+class+theory&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nqNpU8q_DcaJPa6fgJAF&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=karl%20marx%20class%20theory&f=false
(Accessed – 4th May 2014)
https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/help/marxism.htm
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Andy Blunden (Accessed – 28th April 2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094898/
(Accessed – 4th May 2014)
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