D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation"

1. Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening?


D.W. Griffith's feature film "Birth of a nation" was one of his best creations and also a very controversial film. It shows the civil war from the point of view of the soldiers who were actually in it and portrays different aspects about the civil war. The film has a lot of reviews about it and has been known to come off as racist to African American people. Watching the film for the first time I can see why people can find it racist, as some parts show the misunderstanding of African American culture. 


2. Find a related Article and summarize the content. 


http://articles.latimes.com/2004/aug/10/entertainment/et-braxton10

August 10, 2004, roughly about 10 years ago, the L.A times published an article titled, "Showing of 'Birth Of Nation' canceled." The owner of the Silent Movie Theater was planning on screening Birth of a Nation on that following Monday but had to cancel because of the numerous threats he was receiving. Charlie Lustman, owner of the Fairfax Avenue theater, cancelled the screening because of personal threats he was receiving and also threats to destroy his theater if he showed the film. Lustman wanted to show the movie not because of its glorification of the KKK but for the cinematic history that the movie represents. After being pressured to cancel the movie for a second time in the past four years (2000), Lustman knew that it wasn't worth it and he did not want any danger to his Theater. A community activist also spoke on the movie's significance in the community saying, "This film has poisoned racial relations in America for nearly a century. We will inform all those that go to see this film of the racial damage it has wreaked."


3. Apply the Article to the film screened in class.


The article gives an example about how the film affected the lives of African Americans in that time period. Even in 2004,  the NAACP were making protests about why the film shouldn't be filmed because of its "depiction of blacks as buffoons and villains." "Geraldine Washington, head of the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP, said at the time that the film had no positive value and could provoke hate crimes." Being an African American I can say that the movie was indeed racist and I wouldn't want my children watching this movie especially because it does not symbolize the fight African Americans fought for just to become equals in America. I wouldn't want my children watching a racist film, that glorifies the Ku Kux Klan and makes blacks seem like the bad guys.


4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.


When watching "Birth of a Nation" be aware of the events and scenes may come off a bit racist but if you are analyzing the film for cinematic purposes then this movie is a great example of great production in Early Cinema. D.W. Griffith created a masterpiece especially with his graphics and the way he made his actors express how he wanted the story to be told. Even the film was A silent film I could still see clearly how the actors expressed emotion and symbolized different aspects of the civil war. I enjoyed the film not for the content but the art of cinema in which it showed a clarified message. I know it must of been hard to make this screening and Griffith should be remembered for his production and direction in moving forward and opening doors for at others to create meaningful films such as this one.