This paper deals with the Americanness which is shown in the American film biography "Hidden Figures" which was produced by Theodore Melfi in 2016 and is based on a true story.
It presents the life of three Afro-American women in the 1950s who work at the NASA as computers and solve difficult math problems by hand. Racism, sexism, and racial segregation were a big problem at the time in the US, which is clearly portrayed in the film. It is the time before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, so it is a very difficult and oppressive time for Afro-American people.
Especially women in particular have hardly any rights, claims, or prospects. Katherine Johnson, the main character, is the only computer that would come into question to enable John Glenn’s attempt to send a rocket into space before the Soviet Union manages it. From then on, the rights and views in the company begin to change. Mary Jackson, also one of the three main characters, begins to gain courage and wants to become an engineer, which she can only achieve if she takes an evening course, but only white people are allowed, so she goes to court and wins. She is the first black woman allowed to attend one of the evening courses in history.
In the following, the paper analyzes some scenes from the film that reflect racism, sexism, racial segregation, and discrimination to show that these issues played a major role in the 50s and 60s and to be able to give a better insight into these topics. Then it goes into more detail about the Civil Rights Act, how it was drafted, who signed it and how or if life has improved for people of color afterward.
After that, it defines what the American Dream and the Declaration of Indepence say and relate it to the film. Questions like:
1. How is the American Dream presented in "Hidden Figures"?
2. Does it also apply to people of color?
3. How do the colored experiences of success that have a positive effect on the future achieve?
are worked out and answered. In the end, the paper summarizes the work and examines whether the director manages to give a good insight into a realistic life of a woman of color through the film and whether he manages to portray Americanness in the film.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Analysis of several scenes
- Definition of the Civil Rights Act
- Titel VII (Equal employment opportunity commission)
- Titel IV (facilitates the desegregation of public schools)
- The American Dream and the Declaration of Independence
- Definition
- The American Dream in Hidden Figures
- Final word
- List of work cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the portrayal of Americanness in the film Hidden Figures, focusing on the experiences of three African American women working as computers at NASA in the 1950s. The film explores themes of racism, sexism, and segregation, providing a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of these individuals during a time marked by social inequality.
- Racism and Segregation in the American South
- The Role of Women in STEM Fields
- The Struggle for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights
- The American Dream and Its Accessibility for People of Color
- The Impact of the Civil Rights Act on American Society
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of Americanness as depicted in Hidden Figures and sets the stage for the analysis of the film's portrayal of racism, sexism, and segregation. It highlights the challenges faced by African Americans, particularly women, in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Analysis of several scenes: This chapter delves into specific scenes from the film that illustrate themes of racism, sexism, and segregation. It analyzes the camera work, dialogue, and setting to demonstrate the pervasiveness of these issues in the lives of the protagonists.
- Definition of the Civil Rights Act: This chapter provides a detailed explanation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, focusing on its significance in addressing racial inequality and discrimination. It explores specific provisions of the act, such as Title VII and Title IV, and their impact on American society.
- The American Dream and the Declaration of Independence: This chapter examines the concept of the American Dream and its relevance to the film. It explores how the film portrays the challenges faced by people of color in achieving the American Dream and how their experiences challenge traditional notions of equality and opportunity.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The central focus of this paper revolves around the representation of Americanness in Hidden Figures, emphasizing themes of racism, sexism, and segregation. The paper analyzes the film's depiction of the struggles faced by African American women working in STEM fields during the 1950s and 1960s. Key concepts explored include the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the American Dream, and the impact of societal inequalities on individual aspirations and opportunities.
- Quote paper
- Celine Skrgic Marin (Author), 2021, Social inequality and discrimination in "Hidden Figures" (2016), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1312506
