Creating Films, like most art, presents a challenge that even the most professional artists will struggle with. The essential goal of the filmmaker is to present a message to their viewer with an abstract presentation that may or may not be recognized or appreciated. In order to make the next great film, one must put themselves in the shoes of the modern moviegoer who gathers his popcorn and best comrades to accompany him to the theater for promises of entertainment.
In the case of American Slavery, it is definitely going to be a challenge to provide something entertaining while possessing a message to audiences. In some of the most popular films on American Slavery, each film has displayed their own unique way of getting their message across: There needs to be a change in regards to how the United States deals with racial matters.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Film Portrayals of American Slavery
2. Early Depictions: The Case of Birth of a Nation
3. Shifts in Perspective: Gone with the Wind and the Glorification of Slavery
4. Confronting the Truth: Roots and the Slave's Perspective
5. The Balance of Struggle and Hope: Glory and Amistad
6. Modern Interpretations and Controversy: Django Unchained
7. The Historical Reality: 12 Years a Slave
8. Elements of Film: Dialogue, Dialect, and Performance
9. The Psychology of Survival and Docility
10. Conclusion: The Filmmaker's Responsibility
Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to analyze how different films have depicted American Slavery, examining the evolution of narratives from propaganda-driven works to more realistic portrayals, and exploring how these films communicate the urgent need for social change regarding racial matters.
- The evolution of cinematic representations of American Slavery.
- The impact of historical context on film messaging and audience reception.
- The role of dialogue, dialect, and acting in authenticating or distorting the slave experience.
- The tension between historical accuracy and narrative dramatization in controversial films.
- The psychological survival mechanisms of enslaved individuals as depicted in cinema.
Excerpt from the Book
The Psychology of Survival and Docility
That unfortunately, was the cold hard truth of how a slave must remain docile with his master and feign happiness or consequences could be dire. That is why Gone with the Wind allowed slaves to portray as (to some extent) part of the family because that is how slaves behaved amongst others but it was not because the slaves wanted to, but because they had no other choice. To quote Frederick Douglass again, who in his narrative explained how it was difficult to trust others as a slave, especially White people because one could never be certain if the person he was talking to was his master, a friend of his master, an overseer, or just someone wanting to get the slave in trouble.
It was not simply just White Americans that slaves had to fear, even fellow slaves or House Negroes like Fiddler (in Roots) whose job it was to “break” Kunta Kinte were potential threats, despite them sharing the same skin color. To put it another way, the object of Slavery was survival and the only means of survival was everyone was to look out for themselves and once they reached that level of superiority as a slave where they earned special privileges, certain Black slaves like Tarantino’s character in Django Unchained, Stephen (a house negro played by Samuel L. Jackson), obtained a moderate case of Stockholm syndrome, meaning that since he grew up with special privileges by the antagonist, Calvin Candie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his parents and even grandparents, he identified as a White person.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to Film Portrayals of American Slavery: This chapter introduces the challenge filmmakers face in presenting the brutal reality of slavery through the medium of entertainment.
2. Early Depictions: The Case of Birth of a Nation: An analysis of how early cinema used blatant propaganda to reinforce racial stereotypes and xenophobia.
3. Shifts in Perspective: Gone with the Wind and the Glorification of Slavery: Discussion of how later films subtly glorified slavery by framing it as a "family" dynamic.
4. Confronting the Truth: Roots and the Slave's Perspective: Exploration of how the miniseries Roots challenged previous cinematic arguments by centering the slave’s viewpoint.
5. The Balance of Struggle and Hope: Glory and Amistad: Examination of films that successfully blend the misery of the slave experience with a narrative of resilience and hope.
6. Modern Interpretations and Controversy: Django Unchained: Analysis of Tarantino’s "Revenge-Fantasy" genre and its effect on historical perception and audience emotion.
7. The Historical Reality: 12 Years a Slave: Review of how a true story based on a memoir illustrates the persistent injustice of slavery.
8. Elements of Film: Dialogue, Dialect, and Performance: A study of how dialect and acting choices shape the viewer’s perception of historical realism.
9. The Psychology of Survival and Docility: Investigation into the necessity of forced docility and the internal threats within the slave community.
10. Conclusion: The Filmmaker's Responsibility: Final reflections on the filmmaker's role as an artist in advocating for racial social change.
Keywords
American Slavery, Cinema, Film Criticism, Birth of a Nation, Roots, Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, Historical Accuracy, Propaganda, Racial Matters, Survival, Dialogue, Performance, Social Change, Narrative
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
This paper examines the cinematic portrayal of American Slavery across different eras, analyzing how filmmakers balance entertainment, historical accuracy, and the communication of social messages.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The themes include the evolution of racial representation, the impact of propaganda versus realism, psychological survival strategies of the enslaved, and the use of film as a medium for social commentary.
What is the primary objective of the analysis?
The goal is to explore how films can both perpetuate and challenge racial prejudices, ultimately arguing that effective filmmaking must remain honest about the horrors of slavery while providing a sense of hope.
Which methodology is utilized in this paper?
The paper utilizes a qualitative comparative analysis of various iconic films and miniseries, supplemented by historical narratives such as those of Frederick Douglass.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body discusses specific films like Birth of a Nation, Gone with the Wind, Roots, Glory, Amistad, Django Unchained, and 12 Years a Slave, focusing on their dialogue, direction, and historical impact.
How would you characterize this work with keywords?
The work is characterized by terms such as American Slavery, cinematic representation, racial matters, historical accuracy, and social responsibility.
How does the author evaluate the use of dialect in films like Gone with the Wind?
The author argues that while dialect can add to the "flavor" of the era, it is often used in a way that is highly disrespectful and emphasizes a power dynamic intended to marginalize African Americans.
What does the paper conclude about the role of the filmmaker?
The paper concludes that filmmakers have a significant responsibility as artists to use their voice to address controversial historical topics like slavery, even when faced with resistance or the risk of controversy.
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- Ahmed Sharma (Autor:in), 2015, Aiming for Freedom. Analyses of Films on American Slavery and Guidelines for Film Producers, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/320790
