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 Die Betriebsvereinbarung by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Die Rolle von Prädispositionen bei Nachrichtenentscheidungen by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Zum Umgang mit der christlichen Theologie in Dantes 'Divina Commedia' anhand ausgewählter Beispiele des 'Inferno' by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Außerschulische Hausaufgabenbetreuung als pädagogische Situation zwischen Ausbildung und Auslese by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Die Pädagogik des Nationalsozialismus am Beispiel von Ernst Krieck by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Die Pluralisierung der Lebensformen: Von der bürgerlichen Kernfamilie zum Verlust der Vormachtstellung der Familie by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Problembereiche bei der Transformation des Authorised OECD Approach in nationalem Recht by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Klassifikation, Prävalenz und Ursache von Verhaltensauffälligkeit by Alina Müller
Cover of the book National awakening and nationalism of the Ukrainian nation from Cossack time to the beginning of the 20th century by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Die Geschwisterkonstellation und ihr Einfluss auf die Entwicklung und Sozialisation von Kindern und Jugendlichen by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Politikverflechtung im deutschen Föderalismus by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Operative Controllinginstrumente. Aufbau und Wirkungsweise by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Methoden Evangelikaler Missionierung indigener Gruppen by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Aufsichtsbefugnisse der EZB und beteiligter Aufsichtsbehörden. Inhalte und Grenzen by Alina Müller
Cover of the book Konfliktlösung mit Hilfe von Mitschülern - Streitschlichtung als Gewaltprävention 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