Sociological Concepts In The Movie Crash

Examining sociological concepts through a film was an interesting task to do. It was a completely different way of watching a movie. Being able to pull out themes and concepts that we have learned in this sociology class was a great way to learn and understand from a different standpoint. Issues of race, gender, and social class were the main concepts of the movie “Crash.” The concept of race is the main focal point that the movie revolves around; both implicit and explicit. Many concepts could be analyzed, but the focus was mainly on the three issues listed above. The main goal of my analysis of this film is to go in depth with each of these three issues by providing examples from the movie and providing more sociological concepts that further …show more content…
It intertwines the lives of several desperate individuals as they each deal with tense race relations that lie within the city in the aftermath of 9/11. Several stories take place within the movie with inter-related characters. It starts off with an African American police detective (Don Cheadle) who deals with a thieving younger brother and a drugged out mother whose younger brother, Peter is a criminal and gang associate (Ludacris) whom carjack two wealthy couples. There is a distracted district attorney (Brendan Fraser) and his pampered and exasperated wife (Sandra Bullock), a veteran cop (Matt Dillon) who is a racist who repulses his more committed rookie partner, a thriving, Hollywood director (Terrence Howard) and his wife (Thandie Newton) who must deal with the racist cop, a Persian immigrant father who buys a handgun to protect his shop, a Hispanic locksmith and his young daughter who is afraid of bullets. “Crash” was written and directed by Paul Haggis in 2004. The film differs from others in the sense of its approach to racism. Instead of separating these characters into offenders and victims in the concept of race, the victims are often revealed to be prejudiced in all the different situations themselves. The racist remarks and actions throughout the film stem from the obliviousness and the misconceptions rather than a malevolent …show more content…
This term is explained as how we judge other cultures by the values and ideals of our own culture. It means that one believes their culture is superior to all other cultures. At the beginning of the movie officer Graham and his Latina girlfriend argue when he makes fun of her culture by calling her Mexican even though she is not. Other example is when officer Ryan makes fun of the name Shaniqua even though it is a common African American name. There was also another instance when Shaniqua was just in a car accident with a Persian immigrant and says “Oh my God! What is wrong with you people? Uh-uh! Do not talk to me unless you speak American!” Her expression reveals how she believes her culture is superior to another. Some of these characters do not even accept the characteristics of other