Understanding on Racism, Nazism, and a Greater Understanding of Slavery in Films - Essay Example

Section/# Racism in Film: An Analysis of Three Films as a Way of Drawing Understanding on Racism, Nazism, and a Greater Understanding of Slavery Racism within our society remains one of the most polarizing issues that faces individuals on a daily basis. For reasons that defy logic, age-old prejudices regarding skin color, inferiority, proclivity to crime, and a host of other factors daily contribute to the way in which many individuals view the world. Due to the fact that this flawed understanding of race has become such a central component of our shared history within the 21st century, many filmmakers have sought to integrate the issue of racism into their films as a means of understanding and vehicle of exploration. Naturally, racism itself is a complex term due to the fact that it is not one-sided or attributable to a singular group. The fact remains, as will be mentioned within this analysis, that racism easily crosses lines of color and can exhibit itself in a number of situations. As a means of analyzing such question, the author of this brief essay will analyze the way that three films represent the issues associated with racism: “Crash”, “Amistad”, and “American History X”. The first of the films which will be analyzed, entitled “Crash”, is perhaps the most complex analysis of racial issues within society. This is affected by the fact that rather than merely introducing the issue of race and expounding upon it within the story line, the filmmaker uses race and its interpretation between the various groups represented as vehicle of plot development and exploration. Moreover, by seeking to defined race and racism within the context of each of the different groups represented, white, black, and Latino, the viewer is made distinctly aware of the fact that a simple and convenient understanding of racism as being one-dimensional is not sufficient to comprehend the realities that are represented. This multidimensional representation of racism is useful due to the fact that society and filmmakers have traditionally only represented the issue from a given perspective (Sharma 2010). However, by representing the issue in a way that shows the give and take nature of race and racism within the society, the viewer is able to notice how traditional understandings of racism are ultimately encouraged and propagated by the views that “others” hold with relation to the topic. Accordingly, the second film that will be discussed, “Amistad”, relates the story of a slave uprising aboard a slave ship bound for the United States. This particular film represents well represents the moral bankruptcy of the practice of slavery as well as the underlying racism that helps it to continue to the extent that it did during this time. What is at least somewhat refreshing about the interpretation of racism that is displayed within the film is that the filmmakers did not work to separate the cast based upon color. There exist among the crew members that have severe reservations about the practice of slavery and the means by which what they are doing reflects on Christianity and the society as a whole (Guyatt 2012). In this way, the film, although somewhat one-dimensional in its approach, helps to show the underlying misgivings that many within the society of that time had with relation to slavery. Also, a type of foreshadowing of the Civil War is provided due to the fact that both many of the slaves as well as a few white crewmembers realize that the practice itself is morally bankrupt and cannot be continued indefinitely due to the fact that it violates the basic human rights of those it affects. The final film that will be analyzed is that of “American History X”. This is perhaps the most disturbing of all of the movies due to the fact that it shows the extent that the militant wing of white nationalism, neo Nazism, and white supremacy continue to exist within society. Asides from the horrific displays of violence and warped thinking that are introduced and expanded upon within the film, the filmmakers most disturbing explanations revolve around how radicalization of disaffected young white men and women seek to radicalize the type of world view that is represented. Although many have long discussed the link between poverty, lack of education, and lack of economic opportunity as leading to greater and greater examples of racism, the movie itself evidences this as it follows the growth and development of radical racist ideology and Nazism within a lower class white family that struggles to put the changing world around them into context. Unfortunately, the context that is decided upon is one in which radicalizes two of the family members within the film (Grau 2010). Of all the films that have thus far been discussed, although the subject matter of “American History X” is very dark and tragic, it is the only one of the films that has a positive outcome and realization that is learned at the end. As a result of all the violence and misery that the main character has performed in his life and a new perspective of hate as was seen in prison, the Edward Norton’s character realizes the error of his ways and tries his best to save others that exhibit the same symptoms that he did earlier in his life. Each of these films grapples with different issues related to racism. Although the perspectives are each valid, they help to acquaint the reader with the different ways in which racism has and continues to poison the interpersonal relations that exist within our society. As a way of understanding the deep seated animosity that the evil of slavery wrought on race relations, the film “Amistad” is most appropriate. As a way of introducing the way that these poisoned relations has led white to distrust black and Latino and vice versa, the film “Crash” is most appropriate. And lastly, as a way of showing how whites have rejected their own responsibility with regards to what has happened in the past, the film “American History X” is most appropriate. References GRAU, C. (2010). American History X, Cinematic Manipulation, and Moral Conversion. Midwest Studies In Philosophy, 34(1), 52-76. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4975.2010.00210.x GUYATT, N. (2012). A Peculiar Revolt. Nation, 295(22), 27-32. Sharma, S. (2010). CRASH - TOWARDS A CRITICAL PEDAGOGY OF WHITENESS?. Cultural Studies, 24(4), 533-552. doi:10.1080/09502380903494540 Read More