Analysis Of Boyhood, Selma And American Sniper

In the article Boyhood, Selma and American Sniper: Race Meets Masculinity on

Film Thrasher compares and contrasts the difficulty of two men, and one young boy. Boyhood and American Sniper focus on the development of two males, one boy and one man, both white. The films show that as white men there is an increased emphasis placed on developing their self-esteem while ignoring any mistakes they may cause or diminishing those mistakes as simply a slip-up or being mischievous, where a young black or brown male would be punished harshly for the same act. Our society influences the patriarchal lines in which our sons are raised, and the film’s bring the awareness to the forefront while also considering the underlying dynamics. Selma considers

The example Thrasher uses to support his belief is the American culture and the compulsive nature in which families indulge and encourage the comfort of young white men is spot-on. Thrasher details this innocence in Boyhood and shows us through comparing the films and the way young boys are raised along and detailing the great latitude we afford them. The details and significance of those actions only serve to promote arrogance in white men. An additional theme in Boyhood is racism. Thrasher notes that each film contains major issues of racism, and conversely, the exclusion of racism. We see in the film Boyhood the main character Mason doesn’t even realize his world is white, and that he’s privileged just for being white. The town he lives in is comprised of mostly Hispanics, yet they don’t really exist in his world except to serve as the catalyst for a white character to “help’ them achieve a better life simply by being their savior. The mere fact the movie portrays them in a position of being illiterate and unqualified to advance their career with only a kind, encouraging word from a white person is appalling. Mason has only one opportunity in the film where he comes close to observing the