The first act of the film clearly breaks Todorov’s Narrative Theory, as the films opening sequence ends with a Disruption instead of an Equillibrium, when a robbery attempt goes wrong at the Vinyard's household. This has been done intentionally in the films narrative, as it immediatley introduces the viewers to the character of Derek Vinyard, as the viewers are able to witness that Derek is a supporter of a neo-nazi cult, due to his physical appearance. In addition to this, the scene plays further significance as viewers are able to witness the dark and gruesome acts of violence commited by Derek, as he intentionally curb stomps one of the robbers after they were subdued, helps to establish the tone of the film. The film soon reverts back to the films current narrative/equillibrium and is focused on Danny, who is now following the same path as his brother, after he submits an essay based on Adolph Hitler, which is politically incorrect, referring him as being a "great civil rights leader"; is currently on the urge of getting expelled from school. …show more content…
However, his Principal and Derek's former history teacher, Dr.
Bob Sweeny, decides to give Danny a second chance, as he fears that Danny will end up like Derek, leads into the narratives ‘Recognition’. From this, the films narrative follows Danny's perspective as he is assigned to write a new essay based on his brother Derek, titled American History X. By doing so it helps him to express his emotions and perspectives, as he reveals the true motives behind Derek's
actions. As Act 1 continues, we are brought into a political argument, citing the release of Derek, who served 3 years for manslaughter. Through further exposition, we are introduced to Cameron Alexander, who is described as being "THE Skinhead" that runs the skinhead cult occuping at Venice Beach, known as the Disciples of Christ (D.O.C). During this sequence, we find out that Cameron manipulated Derek; who is descirbed as being Cameron's shinning prince, to help form the neo-nazi cult, after Dereks' father was shot and killed by black gang members at a drug den. This plays a key sequence that helps to show an emotional and confused Derek, who believes "it's typical" that his father was murdered whilst putting out a fire in a "nigger neighbourhood", as he states that America has now become a "haven for criminals" and "social parashites" including "blacks, browns and yellows." From this, we are able to see that Derek obtained his racial views, due to anger, as he believes that his father's death was "race related", further adds depth for his characters development. As the narrative continues, one of the key reasons Derek started the D.O.C, as narrated by Danny, was that "white kids shouldn't be scared walking down their neighborhood." - Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) - American History X From this, the narrative jumps to a flashback sequence, showing a confrontational basketball match between Derek and the D.O.C against the rival black gangs at Venice Beach for the controll of the basketball courts. As Act 1 comes to a close, viewers are able to witness that Derek and the D.O.C, successfully won the basketball match and forced the rival black members to leave. This sequence plays a key significance, as one of the rival black members that Derek murders in the films opening sequence is a member of the rival black gangs, helps to show the reprecussions, that Dereks' actions will soon bring.
Danny is a Hassidic Jew, who believes that there should not be a homeland for the Jews that is established without the Messiah. Reuven, as a Zionist, believes that they should just establish Israel themselves and stop waiting. This distinction between the faiths is extremely obvious when Reb Saunders exclaims during dinner, “There must not be an Israel without the messiah!” Reuven’s father is the complete antithesis of Reb as he is passionate about the founding of Israel as a measure to prevent anti-Semitism. He is constantly going on speaking tours and writing articles to get the people of the world interested and pushing for the founding of the Jewish homeland. Reuven grows passionate about this too after he has been excommunicated by Reb and not allowed to talk to Danny when he goes out at night to help ship guns to Palestine. Hassidics and Zionists also differ in their reactions to the Holocaust. Reb Saunder responds to the Hassidic with, “… though God slayed me… still I trust in Him.” His faith does not change and he views it as God’s punishment for straying from their beliefs and traditions. Matler again has a completely opposite viewpoint of the events and says “We are survivors… we need to keep ourselves alive and cannot count on God for our help.” When he is making his grand speech in front of the people, he mentions how the only way for these events to happen
This film tries to show that these young people are under influents of American movies and culture. They don’t really obey their parents, because they’re blaming their parents for anything that happened during the world wars. But at the same time the movie doesn’t try to blame everything on them. It wants to show that with pushing the young kid too far, nothing is going to get fix.
The beliefs and values held by many of the characters change over the course of the film as a result of Coach Boone and Coach Yoast’s work. It is clear that their belief in racial equality and love for football helped a team, and ultimately a town, begin to come to terms with the issue of race in America’s schools.
...k when Willard aims his blow with machete and then the spectator sees the ritual slaughter of a cow with machete too. The camera does not show the details of Kurtz’s murder; instead it depicts in detail the ghastly killing of the animal. The shots go back and forth because they are interwoven by the meaning, and the cow symbolizes Colonel Kurtz. The audience’s sympathy now is with Kurtz.
The screenwriter chose an effective way of illustrating the point of attack, establishing the setting and handling of exposition. The first scene of the film was a black screen which had audio of a man and a woman having a conversation. After, the film switches to a grainy video of men being detained by police. The video clip manages to bring the dramatic tension to all time high because an unidentified character is shot by the police. Therefore, this left a sense of uneasiness and tension throughout the whole film. The beginning of the film also did a wonderful job of establishing the setting. The scene of the grainy video clip had a caption box stating it was “Fruitvale BART Station 2:15AM New Year’s Day 2009”. The film then introduces the
David Fincher’s 1999 noir film Fight Club combines both thematic and stylistic devices to maintain a psychotic uncertainty for both the protagonists and the spectator. Furthermore, the devices shatter certain barriers which overall support the psychotic theme of the film. This constant theme in the film is also presented in Jack’s alter ego who later reveals himself to be the narrators “nemesis trope”. These devices tie into the expressed ideas against the consumerist society and societies inevitable doom due to the belief that the things you own, end up owning you.
Bob Sweeny, a trusted and loyal friend to Derek helped him develop into a well-rounded person. After Derek Vinyard’s father died, he fell into a self-destructive pattern ultimately leading to racism. After spending three years in jail, Derek began to realize he needed to liberate himself and his family from this hate-infested lifestyle. Derek turned to Mr. Sweeny and begged for his forgiveness and his help. While in prison, Mr. Sweeny told Derek, “your anger is consuming you, your anger is shutting down the brain god gave you” (American History X). Mr. Sweeny guided Derek into the right direction. He understood that in order for Derek to be truly liberated he needed to learn on his own, much like Athena. He guided Derek, but never persuaded him to change. Surviving jail was nearly impossible, but with the help of Mr. Sweeny, Derek overcame imprisonment and returned home.
... He becomes the symbol of hope that the Caucasian adults are willing to break down the barriers separating them from the African American children. When the other men just stood there daydreaming, this "citizenly" (192) man struck the first blow that could break down the racial wall. But because of this single action, one of the boys (Samuel) falls off the platform and dies.
Although there were many concepts that were present within the movie, I choose to focus on two that I thought to be most important. The first is the realistic conflict theory. Our textbook defines this as, “the view that prejudice...
In the opening scene of the movie we see Frank’s character played by Denzel Washington. Right away we are shocked by his violence and see his power. This is the first motif we are introduced to. We see Frank stand tall over his victim, and the dark shadowing we see on his face and body show his dominance. Another motif we are introduced to is how real this film is setup to be. The car headlights that setup the background and introduce where we the setting is as well as motivate lights. They have a purpose in the film in promoting its authenticity. We also hear the all the sounds in the forefront. When hear the sounds up close it dramatic for us as viewers. We hear every 7drop of gasoline that is poured on the man’s body and we even hear the flick of the lighter as Frank sets the man on fire. This is the director Scott Ridley’s way of saying to the audience I want to fool you, and I want you to feel like you were there and what you are watching in front of you is real.
In my words, Sociological imagination is a way for a person to look at their life as a result of their interaction with society. It can explain why a life is lived with way it is lived and all events, decisions, successes, and failures that have occurred. In my life I have encountered many situations, problems, opportunities and events. I can use my sociological imagination to examine these and figure out why I am the way I am and also why I have chosen to do certain things
Danny’s internal conflicts largely has to do with his continuous interest in the secular world. A big clue to this interest is what Danny wants to do for a career. When Reuven asks, “What do you want to be…” Danny replies that he wants to be “... a psychologist.” This remark brings Reuven to the conclusion that Danny “... seemed to be the last person in the world who would qualify as an analyst…” (Potok 69 and 70) .This dream job goes against Danny’s Hasidic beliefs, but Danny seems determined to follow his dream job, even if it means making his brother, “... a fine tzaddik.” (Potok 190) to replace him in the family Dynasty. However, this surprises Reuven because he notices how Danny is great at memorizing the Talmud with his eidetic memory and would make a fine Hasidic rabbi. On the other hand, Danny doesn’t want to follow that path of continuing the family line. His interests into the secular world has caused signs of boredom for Danny when he studies the Hasidic Talmud. Danny beings to “...get tired of studying only ...
One of the more prevalent themes of this movie is racism, and how prejudicial mindsets ultimately lead to one’s own demise. The movie outlines how racism, among other things, can adversely affect someone’s judgment. After the father died, we see how the family gradually deteriorates financially as well as emotionally after Derek (the older brother played by Edward Norton) turns to a neo Nazi gang for an outlet, which eventually influences his younger brother Danny (played by Edward Furlong) to follow down ...
Director declares that the camera is a “hunger for reality”. That it shouldn’t manipulate cinema. Elements of the film that is realistic. s the fact that the thieves are not portrayed as bad people but as victims of a corrupted society. The most significant insight I gained from this film is that a story doesn’t have to be complicated. A small idea can start a whole landslide of emotions which is something I have taken away with me from this film to produce ideas in the future.
... is the brutality of hate and racism. The emotions running high in the movie makes it powerful and moving and the death of Derek’s younger brother Danny Vinyard is shocking enough to bring tears to many viewers’ eyes. The movie ends with Danny’s voice reading his paper out loud and he ends his paper with a very important quote by Abraham Lincoln. This quote shows how Danny’s, as well as Derek’s, mindset changed from the beginning of the movie to the end. When hearing this quote it leaves the viewers in awe that Danny finally started to look past his hateful ideologies but ends up dead because of the lifestyle him and his brother decided to lead. “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained we must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature”.