Will Smith: An Analysis
“Will Smith: An Analysis” is a lyric essay that utilizes the received language of academia. Blending research, pop culture references, and footnotes, the essay explores the intersections between race, media, movie star Will Smith, and one of Katie’s favorite topics, zombies. It was first published in the April 2011 online issue of Midway Journal. Thanks to Meryl DePasquale for selecting it.
EXCERPT:
I am legend, I am star, I am superhero, I am blank slate on which to project all your tough guy fantasies, I am innocuous, non-threatening, and charming, with just enough streetwise sass to be your cool black friend
In the film I am Legend, Will Smith defends his home from rabid, virus-infected, zombie-like humans, all while developing a vaccine for whatever made them that way. An expert soldier as well as scientist, he rigs up elaborate booby traps and catches specimens in nets, works them over in his basement.
I am salesman, I am product
Will Smith is the number one box office draw in the world. Once marked for MIT’s engineering program, he turned his mathematical skills to Hollywood and analyzed the top grossing films of all time, broke them down like equations.1
I am zombie
George Romero produced the film Night of the Living Dead for $114,000 in 1968.2
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1 Successful movies=outer space, aliens, car chases, buddy crime fighting teams, and yes, animals, and yes, superheroes. Made sure his films contained all these. And yes, now, Will Smith.
2 Much of the story’s inspiration drew from the book I am Legend by Richard Matheson.
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