Journal Assignment 09: Salt of the Earth
Word Count: 301 1. While some may view this film as boring due to the topic, I certainly enjoyed watching it because of how well-made and inspirational it was. It was so moving to think that some of these people with no acting experience could create such deep emotions. There wasn’t much I didn’t appreciate about the film; however, I'm not very happy that our government allowed these events leading up to the movie creation to occur, but it made way for the film. This film has had a profound effect on many people, allowing them to see how power in the wrong hands can do more harm than good. 2. One storytelling device that particularly caught my eye throughout the film was the use of hard-focus which gave the movie a realistic picture quality. Additionally, the use of a lady narrator creates real innovativeness due to her being both a protagonist and a narrator.
3a. This film was created during the highpoint of McCarthyism in the 1950s and was made completely by a professional cast and blacklisted crew. The film was banned in the United States by congress until late in the 1960s.
3b. Now that I am aware of the context of the film and the fact that it was banned until the 60s, it makes me wonder about the blacklisted crew. I haven’t heard of any movies banned with a blacklisted cast, so I find that interesting. However, this doesn’t change my impression on the film as a whole.
4. There were a couple themes that I got from the movie, which included labor and women’s rights. These topics were apparent throughout the McCarthy era, which was the context of the time. Regarding the human experience, this film shows how different times were in the 1960s, and represents the fight for