- What do you feel is the message the director is trying
to express in this movie? Support your answer with examples.
I think
that this movie is about growing, and learning, and finding out what you
believe. I also believe it’s a way to
show the issues and the brutal truth about racism in our country. For example, the scene when the main
characters murder the black men, or when he supports what happened to Rodney
King. As the main character experiences
life and begins to understand more than when he was younger, he changes, and by
the end of the movie, is a good guy.
- If applicable , discuss if you think this movie has accurate
depictions of minorities or if they are situational? Why or why not?
I think
that anything in this movie could or has happened, however, I think there was
some stereotyping done in this movie. I
don’t think though, that it’s always bad to show stereotypes because those
situations do happen such as when the black guys robbed the Derek. I think these issues are important ones to
discuss and I thought this movie really layed it out there as far as leaving
nothing behind. I thought it was honest
and worth watching.
- Explain if you think the director’s
ethnic/cultural/professional background played a role in directing this
film?
His
background may or may not have played a role, but in some form, he had to have
understood the deep impact of racism, even if he had not experienced it himself.
- What groups (people of color, nationality, culture,
class,gender etc.) may be offended or misinterpret this movie and why?
Anyone who
is not white may view this movie and think its glorifying white supremacy. I think however that if you watch the movie
all the way through, you can see that it is not, but in fact glorifying
equality between races.
However, I
think that minorities in this movie such as blacks and Hispanics may have been
shown as a stereotype and some points.
Some examples are that blacks carry guns, Hispanics sell drugs, and
white cops get murdered by blacks.
- What the movie added to your visual literacy?
I think
all of the dramatic scenes in this movie really made me think about the racism
that exists, and how we view race in our country. It also gave a personal story about someone
who changed, which gives hope to the issue.
I thought the movie was visual intriguing. It was dramatic; it showed action and fights
and didn’t seem to leave anything behind. I thought the black and white scenes
made it more intense and suspenseful.
- What kind of artistic and/or visual means did the
director use in the movie to focus our attention?
There
are black and white scenes in this movie that seem to be important scenes. I think this allowed the viewer to get a
sense that something was important in that scene such as a turning point, a
change in view from the character, or a serious conflict. I think it could be perceived two different
ways. I think there could be a hidden
meaning such as the different between blacks and whites, or I think it could be
seen as an absence of color, as if to say everyone is equal.
When
they are talking about Rodney King with the Jewish teacher, the camera was
focused on Derek when he was talking, and then it turned to the whole table
listening to him. I thought this said
that it was him against everyone else.
In other words, almost everyone (with the exception of his brother) was
more progressive with civil rights and he was stuck in his ways.
I also think that they shot a lot of the scenes at eye level. Think may have been to show the equality and struggle of everyone. I also think it gave it a dramatic feel because you could see what the character was feeling.
