From American History to Hollywood Screening. Black Stereotypes in Griffith's 'The Birth of a Nation'

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book From American History to Hollywood Screening. Black Stereotypes in Griffith's 'The Birth of a Nation' by Alina Müller, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Alina Müller ISBN: 9783656937463
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: April 9, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Alina Müller
ISBN: 9783656937463
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: April 9, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject American Studies - Miscellaneous, grade: 2,0, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, language: English, abstract: The spectacular but controversial film 'The Birth of a Nation', written in 1915 and directed by a white supremacist D.W. Griffith, was 'hailed as a picture without peer' and praised for being one of the most successful silent films by the audience of its time (Rylance 1). At the same time, however, it became the subject of a great dispute over its racial politics. Griffith, for example, partly denies critiques of racial implications in his film. Using black stereotypes in the Birth, his main purpose was to depict the historical reality of the American past. His aim was revealed in the following statement from the film: 'This is an historical presentation of the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, and is not meant to reflect on any race or people today' (1:28:13). Referring to the Jim Crow period, when blacks were subordinated and exploited, Griffith intended 'partly to show the undeserved and unearned prosperity of blacks during Reconstruction' (Wallace 87). In other words, Griffith's purpose was to emphasize the supremacy and restored rule of the whites in the antebellum South. This paper analyzes the black stereotypes in The Birth of a Nation. In particular, it is concerned with the characters played in blackface such as the Uncle Tom, the Mammy, the Jezebel (Lydia Brown) and the Brutal Black Buck (Sylas Lynch). It will examine how these character types fit to the black stereotypes which existed since slavery and became popular in American life. Through an analysis of the characters, this paper will also reveal Griffith's position toward racial justice and American identity.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject American Studies - Miscellaneous, grade: 2,0, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, language: English, abstract: The spectacular but controversial film 'The Birth of a Nation', written in 1915 and directed by a white supremacist D.W. Griffith, was 'hailed as a picture without peer' and praised for being one of the most successful silent films by the audience of its time (Rylance 1). At the same time, however, it became the subject of a great dispute over its racial politics. Griffith, for example, partly denies critiques of racial implications in his film. Using black stereotypes in the Birth, his main purpose was to depict the historical reality of the American past. His aim was revealed in the following statement from the film: 'This is an historical presentation of the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, and is not meant to reflect on any race or people today' (1:28:13). Referring to the Jim Crow period, when blacks were subordinated and exploited, Griffith intended 'partly to show the undeserved and unearned prosperity of blacks during Reconstruction' (Wallace 87). In other words, Griffith's purpose was to emphasize the supremacy and restored rule of the whites in the antebellum South. This paper analyzes the black stereotypes in The Birth of a Nation. In particular, it is concerned with the characters played in blackface such as the Uncle Tom, the Mammy, the Jezebel (Lydia Brown) and the Brutal Black Buck (Sylas Lynch). It will examine how these character types fit to the black stereotypes which existed since slavery and became popular in American life. Through an analysis of the characters, this paper will also reveal Griffith's position toward racial justice and American identity.

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Jugendkulturelle Orientierungen und Umgehensweisen in der Postmoderne by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Funktionale Differenzierung der Gesellschaft by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Knowledge Management in Dienstleistungsunternehmen by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Institutionelle Diskriminierung von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund im deutschen Schulsystem by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Täufertum in Tirol by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Die Strukturfonds der EG nach geltendem Recht sowie nach dem Vertrag von Lissabon by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Struktur der touristischen Nachfrage: Reiseintensität, Reisehäufigkeit, Reisedauer by Alina Müller
Cover of the book SuperLeadership - das Führungskonzept der Wirtschaftspsychologen Charles C. Manz und Henry P. Sims by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Mentales Training - Psychologische und neurophysiologische Grundlagen by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Vergleich von 'Familie im Mittelpunkt' und 'Sozialpädagogischer Familienhilfe' by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Der Aufstieg der NSDAP in Mecklenburg-Schwerin im Jahr 1932 by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Ökologische Probleme in der ehemaligen Sowjetunion by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Aggression bei Kindern und Jugendlichen by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Wie Jung und Alt voneinander lernen: Generationsübergreifende Projekte in der heutigen Gesellschaft by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Neue Medien als Lernmedien - Ausgewählte Aspekte by Alina Müller
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy