American History X Essays

  • American History X

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    Danny's history teacher (Elliot Gould) explaining to the principal, Dr. Sweeney (Avery Brooks), that Danny wrote a book report on Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. The teacher tells Dr. Sweeney that he is offended by Danny's gesture and he wants to see him punished, declaring that Danny was pressured into writing the paper by his older brother Derek, although Sweeney assures him that Derek was not involved. Instead, Sweeney asks the teacher to leave and asks Danny to step in.Danny then puts an American flag

  • American History X

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the United States itself, there are about 198 nationalities out of 254 countries worldwide as reported in the 2000 census. As showed by the film American History X, prejudice is the antagonist. The character of Derek Vinyard, the leader of the Nazi skinhead community in the film demonstrates neglect, discrimination and brutality against non-American citizens (migrants) which results in Derek being sent to prison for a couple of years, after which he returns a changed man. Never show prejudice against

  • American History X

    2187 Words  | 5 Pages

    American History X American History X (1998) illustrates how segregation is aggravated by missing father figures as well as the herd mentality of the characters in the film. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s concept of the herd mentality states that people need a concept or a worldview to adopt in order to give meaning to their lives. This herding of people who choose to adopt this certain ideal or ideals in effect causes the stifling of individual thoughts or creativity because everyone

  • American History X Essay

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    America has come a long way with how people are treated as opposed to how things use to be not so long ago. In the film American History X (1998) we see how some parts of America were not adjusting to change in their towns which resulted in violent outbreaks and many deaths. Although throughout the movie we see the main character, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) that at the beginning of the film is in a “white power” gang and later transforms as a character to protect his brother and the rest of his

  • American History X

    1196 Words  | 3 Pages

    American History X Derek & Danny’s Turning Point Many factors contribute to decisions we make, often life changing decisions, like we see in “American History X” with brothers Danny and Derek. Both are active skinheads in Venice California, under command of Cameron Alexander a Neo-Nazi leader. Derek and Danny were not raised as racist, but when their father was killed by a black gang member, their views changed. Derek’s turning point for the better was during his time in jail. His brother is headed

  • American History X Essay

    1582 Words  | 4 Pages

    American History X is an American film released in 1998, directed by Tony Kaye (his first feature film) starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong in the leading roles. The film tells the story of the two Vinyard brothers, Derek and Danny and their family living in Venice Beach, California. Derek is a member of a neo-Nazi group and is very involved in the defense of the white race he calls '' higher '' while Danny, younger, admires his brother and just wants to behave like him. Sentenced to three

  • American History X

    3068 Words  | 7 Pages

    Theory Assignment on American History X This movie tells the story of a young man, from Southern California, that is the product of several unfortunate incidents, and his misguided search trying to answer the question why his life is the way it is. I. Daniel appeared to be dealing with the adolescent stage. Daniel seems to have developed his sense of self worth by mimicking his older brother. Daniels significant relationships, since his brothers incarceration has been derricks old friends (the skin

  • American History X

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    American History X Will racism ever come to an end or will its path go on infinitely? For the most part, the majority of people respect those who are different either in color, race, and/or heritage; however, there are those few that hold bigoted views towards people who are different than they are. The movie American History X by Tony Kaye displays an example of people who hold bigoted views. Derek, a Neo-Nazi leader, must contend with his actions relating to his past racist views and actions.

  • Theme Of Racism In American History X

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    In American History X, directed by Tony Kaye, a grade school student Danny Vinyard writes a paper about his older brother Derek Vinyard depicting his struggles as a past neo-nazi leader. Derek and Danny’s father, whom has racist tendencies, was murdered by a few black males while trying to put out a fire. The death of his father fuels Derek’s rage for racism, and he soon creates a gang called the Disciples of Christ. After dinner one night, Danny hears noise coming from their drive way. Outside their

  • Racism In The Film 'American History X'

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    on without us blinking an eye in the slightest of bit. The films American History X directed by Tony Kaye and Crash directed by Paul Haggins allows the audience to view how racism still rears its head in today’s society but also shows how people can change when they allow their minds to evolve. American History X is considered to be a dark film which shows how stereotypes, prejudice and racism still coexist and how the “American

  • The Truth About White Supremacy: American History X

    2026 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Truth About White Supremacy: American History X As a Hispanic, I suppose I should expect or, be prepared, rather, for racism and discrimination. Thankfully, I have not experienced either.. yet. Our world is not perfect; things take place that we rather not know about, but ignoring the problem seems to only make matters worse. The movie American History X, is an admirable attempt to inform us about these types of malicious ignorance that plague our society. The impeccable acting, artistic cinematography

  • Rhetorical Visions in the Film, American History X

    3045 Words  | 7 Pages

    Rhetorical Visions in the Film, American History X “Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time”. This is a quote from the film American History X. This film sends out a powerful message about hate groups such as skinheads and Neo-Nazis. The vision of this movie is to make others aware of the complex life of a skinhead. Through different symbolism we see how society views this group. We also are made aware of the continuous cycle of violence that continues to exist

  • American History X and the Epidemic of Youth Violence

    4103 Words  | 9 Pages

    American History X and the Epidemic of Youth Violence Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, But now am found, Was blind but now I see. --Shaker hymn James Garbarino (1999) discusses the boys who are lost and ways that they can learn to see again in his book Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them. He takes an in depth look at what he calls the "epidemic of youth violence" in America in order to determine its causes and origins

  • Social Justice - Measure For Measure, Animal Farm, American History X

    1729 Words  | 4 Pages

    Social justice is a topic known all to well in today's society. Such issues as social heirarchial structure and unjust representatives of citizens of nations are issues in need of attention by those in power. Corruption, lies and greed by those in power however stand in the way of this form of justice from occurring, leaving many with little or no social status open to prejudice on race, religious and sexual grounds. Outlined by William Shakespeare in Measure for Measure and George Orwell in Animal

  • American History X

    1590 Words  | 4 Pages

    Filed with violence and racial overtones, American History X managed to take a subculture and bring it to the front of the viewer’s mind. Seventeen-year-old Danny, a budding skinhead, is forced to rewrite his Civil Rights paper after the original was rejected by both the school and his principal. The black principal tells his he is being removed from his original history class and being put in his version of a history. The first assignment, tell the story of his formerly incarcerated older brother

  • American History X

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    American History X American History X is clearly a film dealing with the social topic of racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is presented. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dummying down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in

  • American History X

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    Recently we watched a movie called American History X. It touched on a lot of major subjects such as gang violence and racism, which has been passed on from generation to generation. It also asked questions like, what were their racist ideas really based on, how did racism effect the community, can racism be reshaped by actual experiences, and how or why racism to begin with? Racism has been the main topic in the judicial system, police affairs, and racially divided communities for years but it's

  • Journal: American History X

    984 Words  | 2 Pages

    and maybe even like the hero/bad guy of the story. On the tape of an interview Derek gives after the murder of his father, he tells what he believes to be the reason behind the tragedy. He affirms that people like his father, "a decent hard working American", were getting robbed out by social parasites – namely, according to him, blacks, Asians, browns - minorities that went to America, he adds, only to exploit it and not to embrace it. He gives the examples of the poor white European immigrants communities

  • Psychological Concepts in American History X

    745 Words  | 2 Pages

    American History X is a movie about a young man named Derek who is a member of the neo-Nazi movement. Like the rest of his family, Derek is racist, extremely prejudiced and discriminates against all minorities. Throughout the movie we see the older brother, Derek change his stereotypical beliefs and attempt to save his brother from making the same mistakes that he once made. American History X is based around the Psychological concepts of discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice. The first concepts

  • American History X Film Analysis

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    American History X is a 1998 American film directed by Tony Kaye, written by David McKenna. In the movie, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) returns from prison to find his younger brother, Danny, caught in the same web of racism and hatred that landed him in prison. After Derek's father is killed in the line of duty by an African American, Derek's view of mankind is changed, but while he was in prison, he discovered that there is good and bad in every race. It became Derek’s duty to convince Danny of