Introduction
Jordan Peele’s 2017 film Get Out has emerged as a significant work in African American cinema, blending horror with sharp social commentary on race relations in contemporary America. This essay conducts a rhetorical analysis of the “Sunken Place” as a central metaphor for racial oppression, psychological control, and the silencing of Black voices. From an African Studies perspective, the Sunken Place symbolises the historical and ongoing marginalisation of Black individuals within white-dominated societies, drawing on legacies of slavery and systemic racism. The analysis explores Peele’s use of rhetorical strategies, including visual symbolism, dialogue, sound design, character dynamics, and narrative structure, to construct this metaphor as a site of horror and critique. By examining these elements, the essay highlights how Peele critiques the psychological entrapment of Black people, informed by broader discourses in African diaspora studies (Means Coleman, 2011).
Visual Symbolism and the Sunken Place
Peele employs visual symbolism to depict the Sunken Place as a void of entrapment, representing the psychological depths of racial oppression. The protagonist, Chris Washington, falls into this dark, infinite space, viewing the world through a small, distant window—a visual metaphor for the detachment and voicelessness experienced by Black individuals under white control. This imagery echoes historical narratives of the Middle Passage, where enslaved Africans were confined in ship holds, symbolising a loss of agency (Gilroy, 1993). Indeed, the falling sensation and isolation visually convey psychological control, where Black bodies are commodified, as seen in the film’s auction scene. Such symbolism critiques how racism silences Black voices, reducing them to passive observers in their own lives, and aligns with African Studies’ emphasis on visual representations of trauma in Black horror aesthetics.
Dialogue, Sound Design, and Character Dynamics
Through dialogue and sound design, Peele reinforces the Sunken Place as a mechanism of silencing. The hypnotic trigger “sink into the floor” uttered by Missy Armitage exemplifies psychological manipulation, with her teacup stirring creating a dissonant, echoing sound that induces paralysis. This auditory element heightens the horror, symbolising the subtle, insidious ways white society controls Black narratives—much like microaggressions that undermine Black autonomy (Sue, 2010). Character dynamics further this metaphor; Rose Armitage’s betrayal reveals white liberal hypocrisy, where superficial allyship masks deeper oppression. For instance, the interactions between Chris and the Armitages highlight power imbalances, with dialogue laced with coded racism, such as compliments on Chris’s physique that evoke slave auctions. These elements collectively construct the Sunken Place as a rhetorical device for exposing how racial oppression operates through interpersonal control, silencing Black resistance.
Narrative Structure and Social Commentary
The narrative structure of Get Out positions the Sunken Place as a pivotal horror motif, interwoven with escalating revelations of the Armitages’ body-swapping scheme. This plot device metaphors the appropriation of Black excellence by white entities, reflecting real-world cultural theft in African American history, such as the exploitation of Black musicians or athletes (Harris, 2018). Peele structures the story to build tension around Chris’s descent and escape, using the Sunken Place as a recurring motif that critiques systemic silencing. The film’s non-linear flashbacks to Chris’s trauma add layers, showing how past oppressions perpetuate psychological control. Therefore, this structure not only heightens horror but also serves as social commentary, urging viewers to recognise ongoing racial dynamics in post-Obama America.
Conclusion
In summary, Jordan Peele’s Get Out masterfully uses the Sunken Place as a metaphor for racial oppression through visual symbolism, dialogue, sound design, character dynamics, and narrative structure. These rhetorical strategies construct a horrifying yet insightful commentary on psychological control and the silencing of Black voices, rooted in African Studies’ focus on resistance and representation. The implications extend beyond the film, highlighting the need for continued dialogue on systemic racism. By blending horror with critique, Peele challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable truths, potentially fostering greater awareness and empathy in diverse societies.
References
- Gilroy, P. (1993) The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness. Verso.
- Harris, K. M. (2018) ‘Get Out’ and the legacy of sundown suburbs in post-racial America. The Journal of Popular Culture, 51(3), 638-658.
- Means Coleman, R. R. (2011) Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present. Routledge.
- Sue, D. W. (2010) Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation. John Wiley & Sons.
