Film Analysis: American History X - Research Paper Example

? Film Analysis: American History X First Last Dr. TeacherFirst TeacherLast Number 19 February 2011 Film Analysis: American History X Plot Themes of hate, insecurity, racial tensions, neo-Nazism, childhood influences, sibling idolization, and intricacies of relationships all mesh together in the film American History X (Morrissey, 1998). Edward Norton plays the protagonist in the film, Derek Vinyard, a skinhead neo-Nazi, representing a hate filled American subculture where his disturbed childhood and pent up anger finds an outlet. Derek is influenced by his racist father but his own sub surface racism comes hurtling forward when his father is killed. He becomes a senior figure in the local new-Nazi gang. The twist in the story comes when Derek ends up in prison for manslaughter of two African American men. He gets disillusioned by his now former beliefs and comrades and returns a reformed man – a hero from a villain. However, his reclusive younger brother, Danny, who always idolized him, has already turned into a skinhead himself. The rest of the film is the successes and failures of Derek and his former teacher Sweeney in trying to salvage Danny. The film ends when Danny is killed and, in the tragedy of Derek reaching for him and holding his head in his lap, we are told that Danny had finally agreed that hate was bad. Themes and Elements By placing a sharp focus on racial differences and insecurities, the story skillfully shows the synthesis of hate and its interplay with insecurity and distorted reality. From the basketball bet to the recruitment of young white supremacists to rising tensions when gangs cross each other, the film shows human interactions in such a way that hate seems logical (35:26). As Derek prepares his gang with new recruits to attack a store owned by a Korean, he passionately, and also seemingly intelligently, spins out a rationale why all non-white residents of the United States are “parasites”. Insecurity is implicitly built in as the prime argument to instigate the gang to attack the store by mentioning some of them becoming jobless as a result of the Korean owner. It is shown that poverty potentially induces insecurity which can be cleverly used to build up blind hate. In the very next scene, the argument within the family about Rodney King’s case at Derek’s home shows him in rage. More importantly, it also shows that his previous passionate and intelligent convincing power over his gang came out of his own distorted view of life when he blames the media for fudging the “truth” about Rodney King, who in Derek’s opinion was the perpetrator and the policemen hitting him were acting out of self defense. The irony of distorted realities and their relationship with insecurities and hate appear at several points in the film. Yet another point where hate based distorted reality is shown is when in the prison, Lamont, Derek’s co-worker, explains that he got six years in prison because he was wrongly framed by “white” police, Derek looks at him with disbelieving eyes. Another running theme in the film is the relationship between Derek and his brother Danny. Danny feels very close to Derek and admires him and his “courage”. Derek is shown to always treat his younger brother as his protege. Symbolically, when Derek murders two men outside his house, he shows triumphant glory and then gazes at his brother with a piercing look. The scene that runs for a few seconds, with Derek staring at Danny, and Danny looking back with a bewildered look, in a way shows that while being arrested, Derek has transferred his spirit into Danny. While Derek is in prison, Danny seems to live with that image imprinted on his mind. The relationship is unique in that both brothers are away from each other for three years. Danny, like a rudderless ship, holds on to his brother’s perceived glory and becomes a skinhead himself and joins the same gang that Derek once led. On the other hand, even though he doesn’t publicly admit it for a long time, Derek is concerned for his brother and doesn’t want him to go through what he has. The ideals of perceived relationships clash when Derek is released from the prison. Danny’s perceptions of his brother come crashing down and he becomes confused when he discovers his brother has transformed himself and decided to live a life of peace rather than hate. Derek is alarmed to see how far his brother has gone into the same route that he had once. Symbolism also plays an important role in the film. The German swastika, gothic tattoos and posters, and adulation for Hitler all represent a supposedly higher truth for those who subscribe to white supremacy. This symbolism is revered by the gang members and worn as a pride. It is the desecration to the high ideals of this symbolism by the white supremacist gang leader in prison that disillusions Derek who doesn’t believe in shades of grey. Derek always used his swastika tattoo on his chest as his identity. Upon returning from prison he sees Danny has decorated his room walls with similar posters. When the two brothers have a heart to heart talk and Derek seems to have convinced Danny that the path he’s chosen for himself will lead nowhere, Danny starts to take down the posters from the wall. This in a way depicts the breaking down of false ideals and a return to reality. Conclusion The film is fast paced and uses a lot of flashback scenes to explore the story. The story could be termed predictable as it deals with familiar subjects of gangs, racial tension, and a back-from-the-brink plot. However, the story unfolds through the elements of hate and insecurity, idealized sibling relationship, and symbolism of unreal higher truths and makes a poignant impression on the viewer. References Morrissey, J. (Producer), & Kaye, T. (Director). (1998). American History X [Film]. United States: New Line Cinema. Read More