The theme of racism outside and inside a prison and how to personally overcome this racism as a victim as well as a perpetrator are major themes of the anti-racist movie
"American History X". The life of incarcerated people and how it influenced them is often portrayed in TV series or films which are mostly made to entertain the populace rather than to educate or raise awareness about the problems that arise within the displayed topics, and for that stereotypes and juxtapositions are used as well as certain methods
and means of film making. This paper looks at exemplary scenes of "American History X" with emphasis on how some means of film making are used to display the life-changing
experiences that main protagonist Derek Vinyard encounters while being incarcerated.
Today more than two million people of the United States of America are incarcerated in prisons; serving a sentence for a crime they have committed. The experience each inmate makes individually can have an immense impact on their behaviour and mind-set in and outside prison walls. Prisons in general function as public institutions which should, at the very best, try to help the inmates to “find a lawful, economically stable place” in a community and in society after their time spent in prison (Fleisher and Decker 1-2).
Incarcerated people not only have to deal with the limitations of their freedom and privacy, often they also encounter racism and racial segregation by officers and other inmates. According to Philip Goodman, "it is the interaction between the inmate and officer in which categorization is born, and that makes racial categorization and segregation possible" (762).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. American History X
2.1. Racism and Prison Gangs
2.1.1. Analysis of the Scene “The Truth…”
2.2. Overcoming Racism
2.2.1. Analysis of the Scene “You Don’t Get Six Years…”
2.2.2. Analysis of the Scene “After The Attack”
3. Conclusion
4. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper examines how cinematic techniques in the anti-racist film American History X are employed to portray the transformation of the protagonist, Derek Vinyard, during his incarceration. It analyzes how visual and narrative tools, such as shot sizes, lighting, and sound, visualize his disillusionment with Neo-Nazi ideology and his subsequent process of overcoming racist beliefs and prejudices.
- The intersection of racism and structural segregation within U.S. prison systems.
- The influence of prison gangs on individual identity and safety.
- Cinematographic analysis of exemplary scenes depicting the protagonist's internal conflict.
- The role of interpersonal relationships in challenging and dismantling extremist worldviews.
- The narrative use of light and color to represent ideological shifts.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1. Analysis of the Scene “The Truth About White Supremacy”
As American History X also displays prison gangs, it emphasis is on the racist group which the main character Derek joins shortly after he enters prison. Blazak describes the situation Derek finds himself in quite well. He points out that as a white inmate, he recognizes his status of now belonging to a racial minority; the opposite of his former life. So in his need of protection, he turns to the racist white prison group (Blazak 637). There is no name given to any of the shown prison gangs but there is clearly a racial segregation in the display of these groups. Besides the racist white group, there are two other major groups; one consisting of Afro Americans and one of Hispanics.
Racist white prison gangs started to evolve in the 1960s in American prisons as white inmates faced the situation of becoming a minority and protection essential among the incarcerated (Blazak 636). Fleisher and Decker point out that it is difficult to obtain current data about prison gangs and their members because of the secretive nature of such groups and the difficulties researchers face when wanting to do such a specific research (3).
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the context of incarceration in the U.S. and outlines the focus on how cinematic means reflect the protagonist's experiences with racism and transformation.
2. American History X: This chapter provides a narrative overview of the film, describing the protagonist's background and the cultural themes explored by director Tony Kaye.
2.1. Racism and Prison Gangs: This section explores the sociological concept of racism and how institutional segregation manifests through the formation of prison gangs.
2.1.1. Analysis of the Scene “The Truth…”: This subsection provides a technical breakdown of cinematographic elements in the scene where the protagonist begins to question his gang's integrity.
2.2. Overcoming Racism: This section discusses the theoretical psychological aspects of coping with racism and the individual process of deconstructing extremist ideologies.
2.2.1. Analysis of the Scene “You Don’t Get Six Years…”: This analysis focuses on the interaction between the protagonist and an Afro American peer, highlighting the breakdown of stereotypes.
2.2.2. Analysis of the Scene “After The Attack”: This chapter examines the final scene of internal realization, using cinematographic evidence to show the protagonist's emotional shift.
3. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the film's effectiveness in portraying character change and acknowledges the limitations of its narrative approach.
4. Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources utilized to support the analysis of prison sociology and film theory.
Keywords
American History X, Racism, Prison Gangs, Derek Vinyard, Incarceration, Film Analysis, White Supremacy, Cinematography, Prejudice, Stereotypes, Social Integration, Identity, Ideology, Transformation, U.S. Prison System.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
This paper focuses on how the film American History X utilizes various cinematic techniques to depict the life-changing experiences and ideological transformation of the main character, Derek Vinyard, during his time in prison.
What are the core thematic fields addressed in the work?
The core themes include the prevalence of racism inside and outside prison walls, the structure of prison gangs, the psychological process of overcoming prejudice, and the impact of social support on individual change.
What is the central research objective?
The objective is to analyze how film-making means—such as lighting, shot sizes, and sound design—are specifically used to visualize the protagonist’s shift from a Neo-Nazi ideology to a more inclusive and empathetic worldview.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The work utilizes a combination of film analysis (based on the categorization of shot sizes and narrative structures) and sociological/criminological research to contextualize the portrayals within the film.
What is the main subject of the analysis in the chapters?
The chapters analyze exemplary scenes from the movie, focusing on how interactions with other inmates and authorities act as catalysts for the protagonist's disillusionment with his former racist beliefs.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include racism, American History X, film analysis, prison gangs, identity transformation, and cinematography.
How does the film use lighting to mirror the protagonist's mental state?
Director Tony Kaye uses black-and-white for past events to signify Derek's binary, rigid worldview, while color is used in present scenes, symbolizing his journey toward a more complex and nuanced understanding of humanity.
Why does the author argue that Derek's transition is complex?
The author notes that while the film provides a visual journey of change, it also focuses heavily on the "glorified" image of the protagonist, potentially simplifying the process of overcoming deep-seated racism into a series of painful personal experiences rather than a complete intellectual transformation.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Gahler (Author), 2015, "American History X". Overcoming Racism in Prison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/337820
