...Wahid Tony Bechwati June 13, 2012 Sociology 1 Movie Analysis American History X is a film about the social topic of racism and how one community is fueled by it all. The thought-provoking thing about this film is the way in which racism is portrayed. First off it is evident that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any hesitations and is very blunt about the subject. Second, the film's “god” for racism, Derek Vinyard, played by Edward Norton, is not a stupid redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken and smart, although he clearly holds beliefs that are horribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not only the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools for being involved in this, but all those who hold hatred in their hearts. Through these methods, the film gives and inspires this idea upon the viewer, in an extremely convincingly way, that hatred and racism will destroy a person and those closest to them. It is immediately revealed to the audience at the start of the movie that there will be no holding back and there will be no beating around the bush about the realism of this intense racial theme that the movie is trying to show. The film tells the story of two brothers, Derek and Danny Vinyard of Venice Beach. Their father, a firefighter, is murdered by a black drug dealer while trying to extinguish a fire in South Central, and following the incident Derek turns bitter towards the...
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...American History X is clearly a film dealing with racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is treated. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dumming down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken, charismatic and intelligent, although he clearly holds ideals that are terribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not just the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools to be involved in this, but all racism is foolish. Through these methods, the film shows the viewer, extremely convincingly, that hatred and racism will destroy a person and those around him. It is immediately revealed to the audience at the outset of this movie that there will be no holds barred and no playing down the realism of this intense racial hatred. When the film flashes back to the reason for Derek's incarceration, we see Danny wake up his brother to tell him that some black guys are trying to steal or wreck his truck, and Derek immediately jumps out of bed, grabs a gun, and shoots one of them, wounds another and fires at the third as he drives away. Then, in one of the most brutal scenes in film history, Derek forces the remaining, wounded man to put his face on the curb and Derek kicks the back of his head, smashing in the man's...
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...make matters worse. The movie “American History X” is an admirable alterable attempt to inform us about these types of malicious ignorance that plague our society. The impeccable acting, artistic cinematography, occasional adrenaline-pumping score, and slightly faulted, though award-worthy script, all combine to create an over all exceptional film. American History X should not be immediately dismissed as an archetypal account of a controversial issue, it provides much more that what an audience would expect from a movie of this nature: it is an innovative drama about the unfortunate consequences of racism in a family that is surprisingly yet, frightening realistic it. The racial identity that plays in to American History X also plays out to what the authors of Omi and Winant describe in there novel “Racial Formation and plays into act with Michael Rogin, “The Sword Became a Flashing Vision”: D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation. Finally, the film shows that it is not just the white neo-racists who are fools to be involved in this, but that all racism is foolish. Through these methods, the film shows the viewer, extremely convincingly, that hatred and racism will destroy a person and those around them. The dynamic that greatly contributes to the efficiency of American History X, is the illustrious acting. Edward Norton flawlessly plays Derek Vineyard, the main character in the movie, who is angered but the murder of his father by two African-American people who then, therefore turns...
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...Running head: American History X American History X Brandon Morris Embry Riddle Aeronautical University When it comes to moral concerns in regards to race, I felt that American History X was the most compelling. American History X is a film about the racial struggles and beliefs of two brother in Venice Beach, California. After losing their firefighting father (who displays racial tendencies) while putting out a fire in a drug den by black drug dealers, the brothers plunge into the Neo-Nazi world and begin creating their own gang. The older brother, named Derek, is sent to jail for three years, while the younger brother, named Danny, struggles with what is right and wrong. During his time in jail Derek befriends a black gang member, with whom he is forced to work with, all while being disillusioned by the Arian Nation. During this time, Danny on the other hand is growing more and more attached to the ideals and morals of the Neo-Nazi gang. Danny is doing poorly in school, getting in trouble, and is even threatened with expulsion. Upon his release from jail Derek sets out to save his younger brother. After a long talk to explain the errors of his ways and the errors of the Neo-Nazi ideals, Danny decides to leave all that hate behind him. During school that day, Danny runs into a black teen he had a scuffle with the previous day. The black teen shoots and kills him, and Derek is left to deal with his decisions that led Danny down the path that killed him. The moral issue...
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...American History X is clearly a film dealing with racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is treated. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dumming down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken, charismatic and intelligent, although he clearly holds ideals that are terribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not just the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools to be involved in this, but all racism is foolish. Through these methods, the film shows the viewer, extremely convincingly, that hatred and racism will destroy a person and those around him. It is immediately revealed to the audience at the outset of this movie that there will be no holds barred and no playing down the realism of this intense racial hatred. When the film flashes back to the reason for Derek's incarceration, we see Danny wake up his brother to tell him that some black guys are trying to steal or wreck his truck, and Derek immediately jumps out of bed, grabs a gun, and shoots one of them, wounds another and fires at the third as he drives away. Then, in one of the most brutal scenes in film history, Derek forces the remaining, wounded man to put his face on the curb and Derek kicks the back of his head, smashing in the man's...
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...the middle of the road, Derek rushed to intervene and crack down killing two men in the group. He was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison. Derek in jail during the future of Danny (Edward Furlong) - younger brother Derek was always considered a hero - began to be covered by black clouds of Nazi ideology. According to his step brother, Danny joined the new fascists, assaulted immigrant Asian, African, Jewish ... days out of prison, instead of joy, Derek proved before the panic really changed my son. In those days sitting in his cell, Derek realized that the nature of those who want to revive Nazism. When forced to live with a black inmates, Derek can understand the injustices and difficulties that people of color suffered on American soil. Meanwhile, the Nazis who renewed violence always playing games with him in solitary confinement. Finally, he realized that one thing: true friendship comes from the heart, not skin color Danny was amazing to hear what Derek said he has spent in prison. He looked up the swastika flags, pictures of Adolf Hitler's Nazi bosses that the brothers had pasted on the wall is listed. Maybe they did not bring anything good for America as his constant message? Will Derek's experience has been his brother pulled out of mud sin? he film wowed the audience by recalling and contrasting methods.Alternating between the full-color image of the current black and white images of the past. Edward...
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...events that influence American life. Their perception, however, has had an even greater impact on society’s current views. According to the renowned historian, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., “the historian surely brings to the observation and analysis of events a perspective different from that brought by a non-historian” (10). Nonetheless, it is evident that perception is crucial when determining the public’s perception as a whole. One specific event in American history in which historians’ perception impacted the Arab and Muslim group in society was the terrorist attack that occurred on September 11, 2001. Abu-Lughod, a professor of Anthropology and Women’s and Gender Studies at Columbia University...
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...Alexis Franciscotty 04/02/2015 SOC 2100 American History X American History X is an interesting and complex film with many eye opening events. The writers of the film lead the viewer to see where racism begins at its’ source, in an individual’s upbringing. The film tells the story of Derek Vinyard through his younger brother Danny Vinyard’s narration. The story takes place in Venice Beach, California, and shows how the brothers become swept up in the neo-Nazi gang movement. Derek is first drawn into the racist underground after their father, a firefighter who was also racist, is killed by an African-American drug dealer while trying to put out a fire in a South Central neighborhood. Derek finds his place with the neo-Nazi skinheads because they create an environment where Derek feels welcome and part of something bigger and more powerful than himself. It was then that Derek’s racism grew from feelings to actions. Derek murders two African-American Crip gang members trying to steal his truck and is sent to prison. The film follows Danny’s influence by his older brother's actions and thoughts, as well as how Derek, now enlightened by his experience in prison, tries to prevent his brother from going down the same road he did. The film is full of gore, violence, and makes the message clear that hate will only lead to more hate, but it also portrays how one person’s influence and actions direct others in the same capacity. Derek’s father’s views, in theory, are what let Derek...
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...HY-2000 American Military History For The Common Defense: A Military History of the United States of America NOTES INTRODUCTION: Primary purpose of book is to analyze the development of military policy; examine the characteristics and behavior or the armed forces in the execution of that policy; to illuminate the impact of military policy on America’s international relations and domestic development. Policy is the sum of the assumptions, plans, programs and actions taken by the citizens of the United States, principally through governmental action, to ensure the physical security of their lives, property and way of life from external military attack and domestic insurrection (mutiny). War is a less elusive concept, since it enjoys centuries of political and judicial definition: it is the application of state violence in the name of policy. It involves the killing and wounding of people and destroying property until the survivors abandon their military resistance or the belligerents come to a negotiated agreement. War aims are the purpose for which wars are fought. Strategy, the general concept for the use of military force, is derived from war aims. In wartime strategy is normally expressed in terms of geographic areas of operations, the timing of operations, and the allocations, and the allocation of forces. Operational doctrine, which is an institutional concept for planning and conducting operations. Taking into account such factors as their...
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...African American History Michele Matthews HIS 204 American History Since 1865 Instructor: Mark Hoffman November 13, 2013 African American History To earn their place in America’s Society, African Americans fought many battles that brought them a very long way from 1865. African Americans went through a whole lot of hardship to get where they are today. Yes it is not perfect now but every actions made a big different through history. There are many achievements African American has made since the ending of slavery. Many sat, spoke, marched, cried, fought, died, and dreamed to make footprint in history. In this paper I will discuss some very important event in African American history like our 44th President Obama back to when slavery was ended. It all started in 1865 when the Civil war ended. The African American felt their freedom was a great turning point. Once slavery ended African American made plan to expand their culture. In our textbook, it states “They had a clear vision of what freedom meant. It was not just freedom from white control, but also the opportunity to expand the institutions and autonomous culture that they made while they endured slavery” (Bowles, 2011). As they develop a new society and beliefs, the laws started to change as while. The Plessy v. Ferguson case was the birth of the Jim Crow law. In David Bishop journal, he stated “Bernstein concluded that the “Supreme Court was compelled to distort cases before it could pollute the stream...
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...Chapter 1 Handicapped by History Brief Summary As the first chapter in this long analytical book, chapter one serves as the foundation for the rest of the novel, with a basic premise that “history textbooks make fool out of the students.” It shows how portrayal of historical figures and events in the best light for the reputation of United States leads to biased and distorted historical education. Author’s Viewpoint Loewen uses two examples—Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson—in order to illustrate his point, and I would like to focus on the latter for this analysis. Loewen states that while Woodrow Wilson is often presented as the founder of League of Nations following World War I and the leader of progressive causes like women’s suffrage, textbooks rarely make any reference to racial segregation of federal government and his military interventions in foreign nations (22). Wilson intervened in countries like Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nicaragua, and, which set up dictatorship in those nations, but surprisingly documentary evidences only emphasize his role in withdrawing the troops, which sounds ironic considering that he “wasn’t” the one who put the troops in at the first place (25). Instead, textbooks portray his intentions as building up friendship or take a step further and blame the invaded nations themselves (24). Next argument that Loewen makes is that Wilson was a racist who effectively closed the Democratic Party to African Americans, a fact that most of...
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...The American Civil War was Unavoidable The bloodiest time in history for America was during The American Civil War; a time when Americans fought against themselves for their own rights in which they believed they were entitled to. To many it would be considered shocking and absurd to say the Civil War was something that could have been avoided – and they’re right. The Civil War was an unavoidable and ultimately inevitable conflict that was essential to the evolution of our nation. The differences between the North and the South, economically, geographically, and politically, were major players on why the two divided halves of the America could not prosper together at that time; that and the fact that the previous attempts to compromise on slavery had reached an unavoidable end also made the Civil War an inevitable and undeniable conclusion to the problems brewing between the two sides. There was simply no further room for compromise. There were many differences between the North and the South. The most obvious of which is that the North was, for the most part, industrial; while the South on the other hand was economically dependent of the production of staple crops (primarily cotton). The production of cotton in the South with the advent of the cotton gin soared, causing an increase of labor required; this lead to an increased dependency on slave labor in the south. Slavery was something the North often looked down upon and also held little or no value to them. How could...
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...American History: Our Hope for the Future Today, history, as a body of knowledge, encircles not only the events of the past but also the consequences that affect our future. History shapes our lives today. It largely affects the way we think, speak, and interact with each other is all affected by history. The impact of history on society is so significant, it practically molds our future. Look around, we have running water, telephone, electricity, vehicles, and so much more inventions that make life simpler. However, if someone in the past had not thought of these inventions then our present would be completely different. History has a such an enormous impact on society because the interaction between the society and its past is an unending one. History is not simply about facts and dates, instead look at it as if it was a map. It helps provide information that dictates where we came from and where we are going. Decisions and events in history have directed events in the present. Visualize a world without the modern medicine we have today. It’s hard to believe that a few centuries ago diseases were viewed to be caused by evil spirits or it was punishment for sinners. In the 19th century, Louis Pasteur’s work led to the acceptance of the germ theory, this allowed for cures to developed to destroy many...
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...The decades of 19th century in American history are witness to the rival, contending forces of nationalism and sectionalism. Nationalism, a devotion to the interests and culture of ones nation, played a major role is shaping our economy. The idea of expanding America had triggered a major movement to go west. The Monroe Doctrine, which was introduced to Congress by President Monroe himself, was an outcome of this great idea of expanding the nation. The Missouri Compromise had divided the slave states and the free states once and for all. Sectionalism, placing the interests of one region ahead of the welfare of the nation as a whole, offers two great examples in which the country was split. The National Bank, which was proposed by Alexander Hamilton, brought up a lot of controversy in the south, as well as in the west. Not only did the National Bank disgruntle the southerners, but the Tariff of 1816, proposed by James Madison, did as well. Sectionalism challenged nationalism, but the latter remained strong among the American people. On December 2, 1823, President Monroe addressed a message to congress. In his message, James Monroe was informing the powers of the Old World that the American continents were no longer open to European colonization. He also stated that the outside powers shall not try to overthrow the newly independent republics in the Western Hemisphere. Any effort to extend European political influence into the New World would be considered by the United States...
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...Slavery Before America History 221 American Military University Slavery Before America This paper will focus on slavery before America and the differences in detail while under each rule. When most people think of slavery they fast forward to Slavery in the Americas because for most there is not a lot known about slavery before America. When in actuality slavery was very much present before the union of the states; and in this paper I intend to show the different slave systems and how they play a part in what we as Americans know to be slavery. According to (Scaruffi, n.d.) The Dutch were the first, apparently, to import black slaves into North America, but black slaves had already been employed all over the world, including South and Central America. For example Britain’s earliest known involvement in the western slave trade dates back over two thousand years ago. The British following the lead of the Portuguese in enslaving Africans actually began to get a strong hold on the slave trade and thus became known as the primary facilitator of slaves. With Britain now the primary facilitator of slaves, Special ships were built to accommodate the lucrative business. Under the rule of the British plantation and mine owners bought the Africans and more died in the process called 'seasoning'. In the British colonies the slaves were treated as non-human: they were 'chattels', to be worked to death as it was cheaper to purchase another slave than to...
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