Yuechen Yang
Yiman Wang
Film 120
03/17/2018
Section H
Closes up in Racism in the Cinema of 1915: The Cheat and The Birth of a Nation
The year 1915 was a notable year in cinema. Not only there were motion pictures importances mentioned through directors; the formation of the Motion Pictures Directors Association; but also some of the iconic and celebrated films were created in this period. Undoubtedly, two classical films were Cecil B. DeMille’s The Cheat and D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation. Both films hit the box offices when they were first released. They were also culpable of strong racist overtones continuing to direct mass critics to them; critics which are conflicts with the praise of filmmaking techniques used by the iconic directors …show more content…
However, in spite of the fact that she uses the money for gambling, the climax of the story is that she is victimized by an Asian ivory trader, Hishituru Tori. Thus, the main villainous figure is the the Asian man; spectators forget that the one who make a corruption is Edith. For instance, during 21: 29 in the film. When Edith learns that she has lost all the money she thought will win, audience catch a close-up of Hishituru. This close up shot almost centred his face on screen. The origin of light is behind him, which kept audience’s attention on the slant of his face suggesting his wickedness. Moreover, the shot is taken by his side, which emphasis his characteristic on wickedness. So, the audience realizes that Hishituru has been looking for an opportunity to exploit Edith and found it because of Edith is foolish. It is the woman’s folly that has made her in this situation. Now, if we consider The Birth of a Nation, which has mentioned earlier is full of close-ups—such as an black character being beaten by Ku Klux Klan members at during 2: 29: 41—the first catchable close-up of a black character is at about 2: 16: 33. It shows Gus who is a freedman chasing Flora Cameron. We can see the wickedness in Gus’ eyes, especially, comparing to the vulnerable Flora who’s standing next to him. This is something like …show more content…
The term “miscegenation” refers to a close relationship between people of different races, and the American quest to ensure the alleged purity of the “American race” is linked to its manifest destiny ideals. The Birth of a Nation and The Cheat illustrate the threat experienced by the society: that the white American woman would procreate with the non-Caucasian races. In fact, The Birth of a Nation with its illustration of Silas Lynch, a man of interracial origin who has already been shown to have dangerous psychopathic tendencies, as forcing the young Elise Stoneman, who as a Northerner supported the Unionists and thus was anti-slavery, suggests that all children born of interracial relationships between black and white Americans are harmful to the
Yiman Wang
Film 120
03/17/2018
Section H
Closes up in Racism in the Cinema of 1915: The Cheat and The Birth of a Nation
The year 1915 was a notable year in cinema. Not only there were motion pictures importances mentioned through directors; the formation of the Motion Pictures Directors Association; but also some of the iconic and celebrated films were created in this period. Undoubtedly, two classical films were Cecil B. DeMille’s The Cheat and D. W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation. Both films hit the box offices when they were first released. They were also culpable of strong racist overtones continuing to direct mass critics to them; critics which are conflicts with the praise of filmmaking techniques used by the iconic directors …show more content…
However, in spite of the fact that she uses the money for gambling, the climax of the story is that she is victimized by an Asian ivory trader, Hishituru Tori. Thus, the main villainous figure is the the Asian man; spectators forget that the one who make a corruption is Edith. For instance, during 21: 29 in the film. When Edith learns that she has lost all the money she thought will win, audience catch a close-up of Hishituru. This close up shot almost centred his face on screen. The origin of light is behind him, which kept audience’s attention on the slant of his face suggesting his wickedness. Moreover, the shot is taken by his side, which emphasis his characteristic on wickedness. So, the audience realizes that Hishituru has been looking for an opportunity to exploit Edith and found it because of Edith is foolish. It is the woman’s folly that has made her in this situation. Now, if we consider The Birth of a Nation, which has mentioned earlier is full of close-ups—such as an black character being beaten by Ku Klux Klan members at during 2: 29: 41—the first catchable close-up of a black character is at about 2: 16: 33. It shows Gus who is a freedman chasing Flora Cameron. We can see the wickedness in Gus’ eyes, especially, comparing to the vulnerable Flora who’s standing next to him. This is something like …show more content…
The term “miscegenation” refers to a close relationship between people of different races, and the American quest to ensure the alleged purity of the “American race” is linked to its manifest destiny ideals. The Birth of a Nation and The Cheat illustrate the threat experienced by the society: that the white American woman would procreate with the non-Caucasian races. In fact, The Birth of a Nation with its illustration of Silas Lynch, a man of interracial origin who has already been shown to have dangerous psychopathic tendencies, as forcing the young Elise Stoneman, who as a Northerner supported the Unionists and thus was anti-slavery, suggests that all children born of interracial relationships between black and white Americans are harmful to the