Essay about Hollywoods Take on the Civil War - 1911 Words

The film, Gone with the Wind became a cultural phenomenon after its release in 1939. The Civil War based film follows the storyline of Scarlett O’Hara. The lead heroine is dealt with the hardships of love as well as the destruction of her town. Set in the South, the movie stresses the community’s devotion to the confederacy. After its box office success, many historians believed that the film had a strong influence on America’s perception of the Civil War. That influence being a backing attitude towards the Lost Cause. The term Lost Cause refers to the white southerners admirable view towards the defeated confederacy. In Gone with the Wind, this idea was expressed in several scenes. For example, one of the leading characters, Rhett†¦show more content†¦They even dance with excitement as their master looks on. Critics argue that this is a distorted view on racial history. Since the standpoint of the film revolves around white southerners, the scene attemp ts to glamorize slavery. In another display of discrimination, a newly elected group of Black legislators begin session. While in debate, african americans are shown drinking whiskey, devouring chicken, and removing their shoes. The purpose of this scene was to show the inability of African Americans to govern a nation. In illustrating blacks as barbaric and ill-mannered, the movie exhibits why the elite whites need to stay in power. With a focus on the Lost Cause, Birth of a Nation put a favorable stance on the South’s ideologies. One of those ideologies being white superiority. When Birth of a Nation was released, the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP) panned the film’s disregard of civil rights. As a result, the organization staged a massive protest at an opening of the film held in New York City. The NAACP urged whites to boycott the film. However, the idea of reserved seating and dressing people up as Klansman to advertise the film drew in millions. Even with daily rallies opposing the movie, Birth of a Nation grew to be the most successful picture in the silent movie era. Thus, the NAACP chose to instead pressure the director, D.W. Griffith, in cutting some of the more offensive scenes. One that included a group ofShow MoreRelatedHollywood Films And The Civil Rights Movement Essay1631 Words   |  7 Pagesto the Civil Rights Movement and after it. Both the manner in which most black characters are portrayed in Hollywood films and ideas conveyed by the latter suggest that Hollywood’s approach to racism is ultimately negative. However, Hollywood films shot in more recent times and Hollywood’s attitude to non-white actors speak about the film studios’ hypocritical approach to racism, as Hollywood’s activities indirectly promote racist ideologies spreading in the US film industry. 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