Over time, media has become a huge part of the development of historic memory. There is a line between what is historical fact, and what has been imperfectly depicted in media, such as film. Oftentimes, it has been the latter of those two. The movie 12 Years A Slave, however, rejects this notion, and presents a story that is not rife with historical inaccuracy, unlike many others. The film, directed by Steve McQueen, is a historical drama film, and an adaptation of the memoir 12 Years A Slave, written by Solomon Northrop. The novel was closely followed throughout the film, not sparing the viewer any graphic detail. As with all historical recollection, there cannot be 100% accuracy, and 12 Years A Slave is no exception. There are moments throughout the film where one may question the actuality of that scene, but for the most the movie sticks to a historically accurate experience.
12 Years A Slave follows Solomon Northrop throughout his …show more content…
It is common information that slaves were often put in fields for long hours to pick cotton. The movie shows the South’s reliance on this for their economy to circulate smoothly, how each slave was demanded to pick a certain amount of cotton. While doing this, the viewer sees the cultural aspects of being enslaved, like singing in the fields. The songs sung throughout gives a feel of the degradation and the environment the slaves were faced with. For instance, in the mid-1800s slaves weren 't allowed off their masters lands without a pass, one that is shown around Northrop’s neck while he ran errands. This mobility, or lack of, is reflected in one of the songs sung, “Run, Nigger, Run”. It also shows how badly things can really become from these harsh conditions, when one of the slaves died from the heat and lengthy hours. At the funeral, it was just the fellow slaves there, paying their respects and singing hymns to show their
12 Years A Slave follows Solomon Northrop throughout his …show more content…
It is common information that slaves were often put in fields for long hours to pick cotton. The movie shows the South’s reliance on this for their economy to circulate smoothly, how each slave was demanded to pick a certain amount of cotton. While doing this, the viewer sees the cultural aspects of being enslaved, like singing in the fields. The songs sung throughout gives a feel of the degradation and the environment the slaves were faced with. For instance, in the mid-1800s slaves weren 't allowed off their masters lands without a pass, one that is shown around Northrop’s neck while he ran errands. This mobility, or lack of, is reflected in one of the songs sung, “Run, Nigger, Run”. It also shows how badly things can really become from these harsh conditions, when one of the slaves died from the heat and lengthy hours. At the funeral, it was just the fellow slaves there, paying their respects and singing hymns to show their