White privilege was and still is an issue in past and present societies. This paper aims to determine how white privilege and power resulting from it are granted to a black protagonist in a fictional historical setting. In order to shed light on this matter, John French and Bertram Raven's (1959) theory of five (six) `Bases of Social Power' as well as the findings from the analysis of the history of whiteness were applied to Quentin Tarantino's (2012) movie "Django Unchained". Several scenes showing power relationships between the main character Django and others were analysed.
Some forms of power, including legitimate, expert, informational and coercive power regarding the theory, could be detected in various relations with Django throughout the movie. Furthermore, it was found out that forms of power do not appear on their own and that, despite the fact that both parties hold at least one form of power, one side trumps the other. Although Django is granted power through white privilege, he is still not considered equal and owes his status to his expertise or knowledge by superior white men.
Table of Contents
1. The whiteness of black protagonists in Quentin Tarantino’s movie Django Unchained
2. Theoretical Background
2.1 Definition of Whiteness
2.2 History of whiteness
2.3 Whiteness in black protagonists
2.3.1 French & Raven – The bases of social power
3. Movie scene analysis
3.1 Plot
3.2 Relation to research question & methodology
3.3 Methodology
3.4 Django
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how power dynamics and white privilege are negotiated by a black protagonist within a 19th-century fictional setting, specifically analyzing Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained through the lens of French and Raven's social power theory and historical understandings of whiteness.
- The mechanics of white privilege as a construct of power and social control.
- Application of French and Raven’s "Bases of Social Power" (legitimate, expert, coercive, informational, referent) to cinematic character relations.
- The historical context of whiteness, slavery, and racial categorization.
- Character development and the performance of superiority by a black protagonist in a white-dominated society.
Excerpt from the Book
Definition of Whiteness
The term 'whiteness' holds considerable ambiguity. Some refer to it as the skin colour of the white or Caucasian race (Lindner, 2018, p. 44); others also connect it with the amount of freedom that comes with white or lighter skin, commonly referred to as white privilege (Leek, 2014, in Lindner, 2018, p. 44). Interestingly, this definition suggests that there exists one race that is superior to all other races. However, according to Painter (2010, in Lindner, 2018), the term race is scientifically inaccurate as all humans descend from the same small number of people and that the term has been socially constructed as an "ideology based upon superficial value judgements" (2018, p. 44) in order to gain control over others (McInthosh, 2007, in Lindner, 2018). Concerning these findings, the question arises, how did the white 'race' succeed in manifesting their superiority? The following chapter analyses the history of whiteness.
Summary of Chapters
The whiteness of black protagonists in Quentin Tarantino’s movie Django Unchained: An introduction to the study, outlining the research questions concerning how a black protagonist attains white privilege and the importance of power dynamics in 19th-century America.
Theoretical Background: Provides the foundation for the analysis by defining whiteness, exploring the historical origins of racial separation, and introducing French and Raven's six types of social power.
Movie scene analysis: Details the plot of the film and applies the established theoretical framework to specific interactions between Django and other characters to observe how power is exercised.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that Django’s acquired privileges are largely context-dependent and granted by white individuals based on their own interests, rather than true societal equality.
Keywords
power, slavery, white privilege, Django, African American, French and Raven, social power, racial hierarchy, movie analysis, historical context, social constructs, discrimination, whiteness, Tarantino
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how power and white privilege are granted to and navigated by a black protagonist within the historical and fictional framework of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The study centers on the intersection of racial ideology, the historical construction of whiteness, and the application of social power theories to character interactions in film.
What is the central research question?
The work aims to determine how a black protagonist in a 19th-century setting can obtain power in the form of white privilege and what specific forms of this privilege exist for them.
Which scientific method is utilized in the analysis?
The author uses a qualitative analysis approach, applying French and Raven's (1959) "Bases of Social Power" theory and historical research on the concept of whiteness to specific scenes from the movie.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section includes a theoretical overview of whiteness and power, a detailed plot summary, a methodological framework, and a granular analysis of key scenes depicting Django’s changing status.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The core keywords include power, slavery, white privilege, Django, African American, social power, and historical context.
How does the author define the relationship between Django and Dr. Schulz?
The author identifies Dr. Schulz as a source of legitimate power who initially grants Django certain privileges, which allows Django to begin navigating the world as a 'free' man.
What significance is attributed to the scene with Sheriff Don Gus?
This scene is highlighted as the only instance in the film where Django is treated as an equal by a white person without an underlying ulterior motive or interest-based transaction.
Does the paper argue that Django achieves true equality?
No, the author concludes that Django is never considered truly equal; his status is precarious and contingent upon the specific interests of the white individuals he interacts with.
How does the character Stephen function in the analysis?
Stephen represents a counterpoint to Django; he is an African American who also holds a degree of privilege but rejects Django's superior status, revealing internal conflicts within the enslaved population.
- Quote paper
- Axel Kolbeinsson (Author), 2021, The whiteness of black protagonists in Quentin Tarantino’s "Django Unchained", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1191939
