Aristotle once said, "The purpose of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." In the United States during the post-civil rights era blacks have made substantial strides both politically and economically. With the addition of black leaders illuminating their presence in politics such as Jesse Jackson and Michael Jackson releasing his hit album Thriller, which became the best selling album of all time. In addition to entertain there was The Cosby Show (1987-1983), an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby. The show, which aired for eight seasons, focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York. The show's portrayal of a successful, stable black family was praised by some for breaking racial stereotypes and showing a tangible part of the African-American experience. Furthermore, in episode nine of season one, Denise has a new boyfriend, David, but is at first reluctant to bring him home. She fears her father, Mr. Cosby (the character which the series is centered around), like always, scorn the boy and ruin her chances with him. Mr. and Mrs. Cosby are initially impressed with David until he expresses some unwanted opinions about medicine and the law at dinner. In the dinner table scene we are able to break apart from the stereotypical chains of society towards African-Americans but also see a glimpse of a force fighting against it, while also moving beyond to this idea of meritocratic mythology through cinematic elements such as the dialogue between Mr. Huxtable and David, the character analysis, and the audience reception. .
In the dinner table scene David makes it clear from the get-go that he isn't your stereotypical African-American when he eloquently declares his opinions on certain matters. In response to Mr. Huxtable's lack of care for the study David also remarks, "The medical establishment has always done a poor job at stressing the link between diet and good health.
