Rez Life: A Brief Film Analysis

The four major models of ethnic relationships include group separatism, cultural pluralism, ethnic hierarchy, one-way assimilation. These models explain the relationship between different groups of people in the society. The four models apply to the American Society and have been depicted in the works of literature as well in films. Among such works of literature and films includes the novel Rez Life: An Indian Journey through Reservation by the David Truer and the film Crash by Paul Haggis. This essay is going to explore the models of ethnic relation that are apparent in the novel Rez Life: An Indian Journey through Reservation by the David Truer and the film Crash by Paul Haggis In the film Crash, the major model of ethnic relationship that is portrayed is ethnic hierarchy model. In this model, some ethnic groups consider themselves as having a higher social status than other ethnic groups. In this film, the whites are portrayed to enjoy many privileges than other races. They can do anything and get away with it. For example, when Jean saws two black men while walking with her husband, she tightens her grip on her husband due to her fear of the two blacks. This is a portrayal of racism …show more content…
This model is also portrayed in the film Crash when detective refers to his wife as a Mexican and when her wife says that her father is from El Salvador and her mother, Puerto Rico. In the Novel Rez Life: An Indian Journey through Reservation, one-way assimilation is seen when the government tries to assimilate Native Americans into the American society. This is a factor that makes Treuer fear that the Indian tribes living on the reservation might end up losing their pluralism as a result of one-way