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Kansas

Name: Kansas
Director: David Stevens
Released: 1988
Duration: 110 min

Representation Score

2.5/10

Limited

1988

Director

David Stevens

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Kansas (1988) functions as a conventional crime thriller that emphasizes genre tension over social commentary. The narrative relies heavily on familiar clichés of the era, such as the violent drifter and the involved protagonist, which limits its exploration of diverse identities. The film does not intentionally disrupt social hierarchies. It offers a straightforward character study that aligns with the traditional boundaries of 1980s cinema, lacking nuanced or characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Kansas have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story revolves around a heterosexual relationship and criminal activities, with no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Kansas portray gender?

Fair

The plot centers on a male-dominated dynamic between a young man and a drifter, adhering to traditional masculine stereotypes without challenging gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Kansas?

Limited

The film lacks characters of color who play significant roles in the story. It follows the homogeneous casting trends typical of 1980s crime cinema.

How does Kansas represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative focuses on criminal involvement without addressing systemic issues or anti-capitalist sentiments.

Does Kansas include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the film.

Present on Screen

The film provides a focused character study of criminal involvement and interpersonal dynamics.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity and fails to challenge traditional gender or racial stereotypes.
There is a lack of systemic critique or social commentary within the crime-thriller framework.

Official Synopsis

A young man returning home to attend a wedding hooks up with a drifter who turns out to be a violent bank robber. Before he knows it, the man finds himself involved in the robber's plans.

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