American History X Written by David McKenna - Essay Example

American History X Racism is a ‘mindset’ or ‘actions’ of the people caused by the inherent differences that exist among the human races; and mainly because of the notion that one’s race is superior than the others. This idea of superiority only creates a mindset that they have the right to dominate others, which in turn leads to actions, mainly bordering on violence, intimidations, abuses, etc. Racism has, for long, been used as a tool to induce fear or hatred during times of war, conflicts and even during normal times. This form of using racism as part of daily lifestyle with a lot of negative repercussions was featured film, American History X, written by David McKenna and directed by Tony Kaye. The film is about two ‘white’ brothers, who because of their racist leanings, get their lives wrecked, even after leaving behind those racist thoughts. That is, although both of them get reformed through the actions of certain compassionate characters, their racial violence earlier catches with them and the film ends tragically. Derek and Danny Vineyard are the two brothers and the film is told from the perspective of the younger brother Danny, as he narrates the story as part of doing his term paper. Although, both the brothers were studious and intelligent students in their school days, they become racists due to certain societal happenings. So, this paper will discuss those societal happenings, analyzing and evaluating the film from the narrative point of view and how narrator is used to bring out various perspectives. Societal context Men or women cannot exist in ‘isolation’, without being influenced by the happenings in the society. That is, majority of their thought process and actions will be influenced by the society, which also includes their family members. Family particularly the parents are the main influencing factor in the formation of certain thoughts or ideologies, and that is visible in American History X as well. Brothers, Derek and Danny live in a family of 6, with their parents and two sisters in Venice, California. As mentioned above, Derek is a bright student, without any racist mindset, but his father, Dennis’ act of imbuing certain racist thoughts in him works as the initial ‘seeding’ of racism. During a dinner scene in the movie, Derek tells his family members that he will be reading a novel written by an African American writer. He tells that excitingly but his father, a firefighter, disapproves it by stating “We don’t know (the minorities), and we don’t want to know them.” (). He further states that if the minorities are given importance they will take over the society, marginalizing the white population. He cites the example of how two white or European American firefighters was replaced by two African-American candidates on the basis of affirmative action laws. He blames the system for this and indirectly instills racist thoughts against the minorities in Derek’s mind. “His corruption is partly explained via flashback to his, now dead, father pushing racist views on him at the dinner table, he has been given the impression that his right-wing lunacy is a viable opinion.” (). The racist thoughts in Derek got strengthened and even turned into a form of revenge when his father was killed by an African-American, while he was firefighting a fire in a drug den. That societal happening fully changed him into a full-blown racist as he joined a neo-Nazi gang and was willing to cause any violence on the minorities. Further influenced by the gang leader, Stacey, Derek indulges in many violent racist activities, which reaches an extreme end when he kills two African-Americans who were robbing the truck, given by his father to him. “He doesn´t seem to need that much motivation and soon becomes the leader of a skinhead pack in Venice Beach. His violence escalates until one particularly harrowing scene where he murders a black man whom he has caught trying to rob his house.” (). In the prison, societal happenings bordering on both negativity and positive actions, again transform him. This time into a good natured and understanding person, however other societal happenings negatively influence the younger Danny, making him into neo-Nazist, wanting to follow his brother’s footsteps. Although, Derek through his personal influence transforms Danny, that influence cannot prevent the influence of other societal happenings, with Danny being killed by an African American student. Subplots, themes and symbols As discussed above, the main plot of this film is about two brothers and how their life becomes tragic because of their racist thoughts, particularly neo-Nazism. The prevalence of neo-Nazism in certain sections of population, although it was dealt a deathblow more than half century earlier, forms one of the sub-plots of the movie and takes the narrative forward. That is, although, Nazism as a political ideology ceased to exist with the throwing away of the German Nazi government, it is still followed by some groups all over the world. The central protagonist, Derek joins one such group headed by Cameron Alexander, wrecking many lives. Although this radical concept is abhorred by the majority with policy makers totally against it, certain people particularly youths like Derek gets attracted to it. “As politicians and social commentators appear at a loss to explain the continued popularity of nazi ideals among some sectors of society this movie goes some way towards explaining how a teenager could be sucked into the fascist movement.” (). So, without glamorizing the Nazism and its lifestyle, the director has included this aspect as a key sub-plot in the movement of the film. The main theme that are featured as part of the narrative is racism, and also in some scenes the effects of affirmative laws. The affirmative laws which are related to giving employment to the minorities, even if they are qualified were explored through Dennis, Derek’s father, particularly in the dinner table scene. “If someone is less suited for a job, do they deserve to have it because the company needs to fill a racial equality quota”. He raises this theme through these dialogues of how majority of the population is being sidelined and given a harsh deal, all in the efforts to appease the minorities. As pointed out above, the theme of racism is present or featured throughout the film. “It is present in the actions of the D.O.C and how their actions are "justified". Another conversation at the table also explores this theme.” (). One of the symbols that were used as a key part of the narrative is water. The film opens with the ocean and also ends with the shot of ocean as well. In addition, film has many sequences featuring water in slow motion including the shower scene to represent the cleansing of racist thoughts. It is mainly depicted in slow motion to represent how the characteristics particularly the racial thoughts get cleansed slowly. Narrator’ point of view The film is shown from the point of view of younger brother Danny taking the first person perspective. In the initial scenes of the movie, in the school, Danny was asked to write a term paper reviewing a book and for that he selects Hitler’s autobiography, Mein Kampf. Concerned with the nazistic leanings of Danny like his brother Derek, principal Sweeney to make him understand the ill-effects of Nazism instructs him to write another paper focusing on his brother’s life, particularly the influence his brother is having on him. Titling the paper as American History X, Danny starts writing the report and thereby starts the narration of the movie, with the flashback of their lives from the childhood. Actually, the film adopts the back and forth movement of narration, with the flashback only told when Danny is writing the term paper, and in other cases the present time is shown. Also, when Danny narrates the flashback, it is shown in Black White, while the present day scenes are shown in color. “The careful pacing of flashbacks in American History X highlighted certain events that were occurring in the film’s “present time.” This pacing, the flashbacks, and the lack of color in the flashbacks helped set a certain mood in the audience and told the story in a more effective way.” What’s unique about the film is its gripping narrative, which uses a term paper to jump backwards and forwards in time. The story is bold in both its structure and its ideas, chronicling a racist’s path from impressionable teen, to intelligent yet volatile youth, and then as an adult who is confronted by truth Read More