Slavery pertains to the woeful history of America as a calculated and colossal example of man’s inhumanity. It is a grievous monument, full of hatred and brutality, about which stories emerged early. The slave history of America has produced various narratives. In this paper I will analyse the novel “12 years a slave” and its film adaption with regard to the theory of intersectionality.
I will examine two different responses to the idea of representing the brutal behaviour of human beings bought, sold and used up like property in literature and film. In my analysis I will make use of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality and its constituents such as race, gender, ethnicity and class, which are defining dimensions of inequality in this context. The primary aim is to examine how various axes of the term construct one another and how inequalities are articulated and connected with differences between human beings. This will be done by illustrating the multidimensional character of the various axis of the intersectional perspective.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Intersectionality
2.1 Constituent Parts of Intersectionality
2.1.1 A Definition - Inter-sectional-ity
2.1.2 Historical Background of Intersectionality
2.1.3 Class, Race, Ethnicity and Gender
3. 12 years a slave
3.1 Historical background of 12 years a slave
3.1.1 The American Pre - Civil War
4. 12 years a slave – The Narrative of Solomon Northup
4.1 Deploying intersectionality
4.1.1 Mistress Epps – the green-eyed monster
4.1.2 Patsey – the helpless bondwoman
4.1.3 From white to black; from men to women and back - Bringing it together
5. 12 years a slave – The Film
5.1 Film style
5.2 Music and Sound
5.3 Camera Work
5.3.1 The whipping
5.4 Editing
5.5 Art Direction
6. Conclusion: From Truthful Novel to Emotional Film
Research Objectives and Themes
This work aims to examine the brutal world of human enslavement as depicted in Solomon Northup’s memoir and Steve McQueen’s 2013 film adaptation, utilizing Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality. The primary research goal is to investigate how various axes of inequality—race, gender, ethnicity, and class—construct one another and influence the lived experiences of characters like Patsey and Mistress Epps.
- Application of intersectional theory to 19th-century slave narratives.
- Analysis of the contrast between literary depiction and cinematic representation.
- Examination of power dynamics and gender roles within the context of slavery.
- Cinematographic techniques as tools for conveying trauma and intersectional axes.
Excerpt from the Book
Patsey – the helpless bondwoman
The enslaved African-American woman lived in the mid of the 19th century and is the 23 year old slave of Edwin Epps. She is the most tragic figure in 12 years a slave. Her mother was from Guinea, also enslaved and taken to Cuba and later sold to a family in the Southern region of the United States. Patsey “[…] is the offspring of a “Guinea nigger”, brought over to Cuba in a slave ship, and in the course of trade transferred to Buford, who was her mother’s owner” (Northup, 71). It is believed that Patsey have been born in South Carolina around 1830, and that she was sold to Edwin Epps when she was 13.
When Northup arrived on Epps plantation, they developed a close friendship. This led him to write about her and the psychological as well as physical nature of slavery’s brutality. He describes her naturally “a joyous creature, a laughing, light-hearted girl, rejoicing in the mere sense of existence” (72). Patsey is seen as “the simpleminded slave, in whose heart God had implanted the seeds of virtue” (76). She was the fastest and most productive cotton picker on Epps’s plantation, the queen of the fields. Therefore, he refused to sell her despite his wife’s constant demands in that regard. Patsey was unlike all the other slaves because she had “a sense of spirit unwavering in its strength” and had been admired for her unique “sprightliness and pleasant disposition” (75). When Epps started assaulting and raping her, she would have been under 18. As soon as, Epps’ wife, Mary, realized the ravishments of her husband, she became jealous at Patsey and began to beat and abuse her.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical context of Solomon Northup’s memoir and outlines the academic objective of analyzing both the text and its film adaptation through the lens of intersectionality.
Intersectionality: This chapter defines the theoretical framework of intersectionality as coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, exploring its historical background and its application to social categories like race, class, and gender.
12 years a slave: This chapter provides a historical overview of the memoir, detailing the life of Solomon Northup and the political climate of the American pre-Civil War era.
12 years a slave – The Narrative of Solomon Northup: This chapter analyzes the female characters Patsey and Mistress Epps within the literary narrative, applying the theory of intersectionality to their specific oppressions and their interactions.
12 years a slave – The Film: This chapter explores the cinematic adaptation, detailing how techniques such as camera work, music, and editing serve to emphasize the emotional trauma and intersectional power dynamics present in the source material.
Conclusion: From Truthful Novel to Emotional Film: This final chapter synthesizes the analysis, demonstrating how the film and the novel provide two distinct, yet complementary, approaches to representing the history of slavery.
Keywords
Intersectionality, Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave, Slavery, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Gender, Race, Class, Ethnicity, Steve McQueen, Cinematic Adaptation, Oppression, Trauma, Power Dynamics, Memoir.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this academic paper?
This paper examines how the theory of intersectionality is applied to the representation of slavery in both the literary memoir and the film adaptation of "12 Years a Slave."
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The core themes include racial inequality, gender-based oppression, the intersection of class and ethnicity, and the use of cinematic techniques to represent historical trauma.
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to analyze how intersecting axes of power—such as race, gender, and class—shape the treatment of individuals and their experiences within the institution of American slavery.
Which scientific theory provides the basis for this analysis?
The work is based on Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality, which studies how various social identities and systems of discrimination interact.
How is the main body of the work structured?
The analysis begins with a theoretical grounding, moves to the historical context of the memoir, examines specific characters in the text, and concludes with a detailed evaluation of how the film's production elements communicate these themes.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include intersectionality, Solomon Northup, slavery, gender, race, class, film adaptation, and systemic oppression.
How does the film adaptation differ from the memoir in terms of representation?
The paper notes that while the memoir provides a candid and factual account, the film employs intense cinematic techniques, such as lengthy takes and specific music, to force an active, emotional response from the audience.
What specific role does the character of Patsey play in this analysis?
Patsey is analyzed as a tragic figure whose life is defined by the intersection of race, gender, and the brutal labor conditions of the Epps plantation, serving as a primary case study for intersectional oppression.
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- Janine Bergmeir (Autor:in), 2016, How intersectionality is deployed in "12 years a slave", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/453346
