Glory is a Civil War movie that tells the story of Robert Shaw and how he leads the first African American regiments. It is based on letters written by Shaw, and many of the characters in the movie are real people like his best friends Thomas and Ford. The movie does add in fictional characters like those played by Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, but they are there to pose questions to the audience, and help further the story. In Glory we get a glimpse of what it is like for a character like Thomas, a free African American, to interact with others in the regiment who have fled from slavery. Denzel’s character Tripp constantly gets into fights with Thomas because he believes Thomas is delusional for thinking he can “be like the white man.” Films like Glory can show us not only the dynamic within the troops, but also between a Colonel and his soldiers. Brodericks scene with Washington’s helps illustrate the racial dynamics at play. When Shaw asks Tripp why he refuses to carry the flag, Tripp responds saying when the war is over Shaw gets to go home, but where does he go? Movies can show the audience different perspectives through the eyes of characters from all walks of life. The film also uses music from the time, proper weapons, and period accurate uniforms. Glory adds in fictional characters, but depicts both the setting and strategies of the Civil War extremely well. Films like Glory teach more than any textbook ever could because of all the different ways it immerses the audience.
Twelve Years a Slave takes place in the Old South, and showcases what slavery was like in the 1800s. The film gives an interesting perspective on slavery by showing it to us through the eyes of Solomon Northup a freeman turned slave. It shows what his life was like both before to humanize him, so that when he is captured we experience the jarring shift with him. The audience is not just told about Solomon’s suffering, they are forced to watch every experience from the whipping to the hanging. A fairly accurate recreation of a slave market is also shown when Solomon is sold off. The film does not take sides, and shows how slavery was not one dimensional. Ford clearly tries to keep families together, and recognizes the cruelty of slavery, but he also has to pay off his debts and slave labor is his cheapest way of doing it. Epps is a far crueler owner, and obviously has no problems with slavery. While some of the scenes like the boat scene, and the scene in which Patsey asks Solomon to kill her are not completely factual, they do not detract from the vast amount of information the film gets right. Twelve Years a Slave is one of the few films that actually focuses on slavery, and it paints a realistic picture of what slavery is like.
While filmmakers tend to take some creative liberties with historical films, they still are one of the few mediums where you can get to see what was happening. Photographs can give can give you an idea, but films put you in the moment. No other form of media employs more elements than film, and it is for that reason that it is a great platform for learning about history.
Works Cited
The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
Canby, Vincent. "Review/Film; Black Combat Bravery in the Civil War." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Dec. 1989. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
Dargis, Manohla. "The Blood and Tears, Not the Magnolias." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
Ebert, Roger. "Glory Movie Review & Film Summary (1989) | Roger Ebert." All Content. Freddie Fields, 12 Jan. 1990. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
1. I found it interesting how you said that Denzel Washington's character and Morgan Freeman's character serve the purpose in the movie to pose questions to the audience and further the story. I have not viewed their characters this way before, so I though it was very interesting.
ReplyDelete2. At what points in the movies do the filmmakers alter the truth? I can think of a few examples, but I would like to know which scenes you were thinking about.
3. I think that the post accurately answered the argument because you talk about how the events in both movies allow the audience to get a better understanding of the way life was during the time of slavery and the Civil War, which is something textbooks cannot do.
1. I found the idea that films can give more context to the reader through sounds, music, and visuals better than any book interesting. Movies can make us watch someone being tortured and it is showing us, not telling us.
ReplyDelete2. How does music from the time period improve a movie?
3. This post accurately answer the argument with good references from the movies and gave good examples of how certain aspects like sound can make watching films more effective.
1. I found the allowance and acceptance of creative liberties to be interesting due to the fact they're not historically accurate, however I do agree with him.
ReplyDelete2. No particularly any new question however I did want to go and try to re-watch the films after research and see what was falsified for the movie industry and what was kept true.
3.Yes I believe he followed the prompt well by making sure to talk about the struggles of the director and what creative liberties have to be taken to draw in a crowd, but how little they can make to keep historical accuracy.
1. I found it interesting how Richie gave a brief description of the movies before he began to answer the questions. This could be very helpful to a reader that needs to be refreshed on the movies or hasn't seen that.
ReplyDelete2. Does the 12 years a slave make the viewers sympathize or empathize toward slavery?
3. As I can see most of the questions are not answered. He does do a great and detailed description of both movies.
1. I found it intersetsing how you talked about how all of the little things like the music and the clothes people wear really have a big impact on the movie and put a good picture of the time period in the viewers head.
ReplyDelete2. How are some part of the movies not entirley accurate?
3. The argument is answered and is not, a great description of the movie was given and the analytical skills were definetley shown.