Characters Filled with Hatred in Movie American History X

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American History X is an invigorating movie that takes its viewers on a journey in a well thought and unsuspecting plot. The main character is consumed with hatred for every race excluding white Protestants. When he encounters desocialization/resocialization in a prison, he changes his thoughts and beliefs, and they follow him even after he leaves the prison. Groupthink and deviance are both displayed in this movie thoroughly. While groupthink is accepted in society and portrayed as the norm, deviance is unlawful and disrespectful among the social groups. Race and sexuality play important roles by shaping what’s socially accepted throughout the movie. American History X exposes us to groupthink in an obvious way. The DOC believes that by ridding of every other race/minority that they’ll solve the problem they face: no advances in the white race. To everyone in this social group, this is the solution they’ve come up with which in reality, is an incorrect approach to the situation. While trying to enforce their beliefs, they’re destroying their own town, and being criticized for how they act. Deviance plays part into the movie when Derek goes to prison for three years. There, he affiliates himself with a group like the DOC from home, but a key difference that would be categorized as deviant to his group back home is that they trade with the other races in the prison. When he finds out he breaks away from the social group he was affiliated with because he didn’t support their doings. This is considered deviance because he breaks the norm and begins conversing with a black male he does his jobs with. He realizes this wouldn’t be accepted back home but he doesn’t resort back to his original group. Another way deviance plays into the... ... middle of paper ... ...enarios where mainly Derek breaks away from what is socially accepted in his (before) social group. Race is a main focus in the film, there’s an encounter where a black male does something good for Derek, making him realize not all black people are restricted to their well-known stereotype. Sexuality is described in two different environments, showing how circumstances can change what is socially accepted. References Bergen, Timothy J., Jr. (2001). The Development of Prejudice in Children. Education 122.1. Retrieved February 26, 2014, from Gale Cengage Learning: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA80856273&v=2.1&u=lincclin_pbcc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=6747edca66d819a8aff015dd9a1b8d77 Nesdale, Drew. (1999). Social Identity and Ethnic Prejudice in Children. Retrieved February 26, 2014 from VTPU: http://www.vtmh.org.au/docs/crc/drewnesdale

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