American History X2: A disgusted response to the movie
After just watching the film "American History X," the taste of bitterness and disgust is still fresh in my mouth. The events as they are shown in this film are a threat to every stride taken to abolish and dismiss the propaganda, rhetoric, and pure hate that have plagued and America and the rest of the world. The role of Derek, played by Edward Nortan, was made extremely too relatable or identifiable for anyone not to be moved out of their comfort zones. The majority of white, protestant, suburbinite youth across America and possibly around the world can see a piece of themeself or their family in this film. The family at the center of it all, was what can easily be considered an idealized version of the general white American family living in suburbia, a nice house, three kids, the fireman father, and the happy homemaker mother. It could have easily been taken right out of one of those 1950's television programs like Leave it to Beaver or Father knows Best. On the other hand, the script is carefully written so that no such idealized version of any "minority" family or group is shown. As quite often happens when dealing with topic of racism in America, the writers paired together the Blacks and the Jews. It is this ability
It was disgusting to sit and watch and listen as people laughed at the racist remix performed by Derek's friend Seth in one of the earlier scenes. Unfortunetly, it is believable that laughter was the desired affect. Infact that was one of the more gross aspects of the movie, that an once of comedy could be squeezed from this situation. Infact, it was almost as disgusting to watch the "comic relief" of the young black man in the prison who became friends with Derek. He walked the thin line of just being a nice guy trying to help someone out and being the dancing singing, will do anything to please and serve the white man character from decades past. Although his character played a significant part in disproving part of Derek's theories., he somehow manages to perpetuate a negative image and tone of minorities carried through the movie. The most disturbing scene in the movie and the most exaggerated is the scene in which Derek's younger brother, Danny, is murdered at the hands of a young black man. The audiences emotions towards Danny are high and sympathetic at this point because he too seems to have undergone some sort of supposed enlightenment. Similar to when Derek killed the young black men outside of his home, the audience is able to look into the eyes of the murderer and get a good look at the gun, knowing exactly what is going to happen next. However, this time, everything is in color and happens a lot slower, and worst of all the audience sees every minute of the horror. The camera never turned away to spare the image. Even when Derek had the young man bite the curb as he kicked his head in, the camera cut away. But this time as we watch a young man we have come to know and theoretically at this point feel for, we are not spared the horrible vision of watching his red blood splatter against the white wall of the bathroom and the dark brown skin of the murderer. It all seems to be an attempt to draw sympathy for either Danny or Derek which is gross considering what transpired earlier and their involvements.
Some topics in this essay:
Blacks Jews,
Danny Derek,
Similar Derek,
Edward Nortan,
American History,
Beaver Father,
Derek's Danny,
minority characters,
,
white protestant,
white power,
characters portrayed,
idealized version,
black prison,
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Approximate Word count = 1376
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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