Bri Henderson

Assignment 2 Rough Draft

Birth of a Nation

            Applying the work of Swales and Mirabelli, how do you think the discourse communities of law and science shaped the literacy, thinking, and imaginations of audiences watching Birth of a Nation?

            The movie Birth of a Nation was a monumental production of its time and received a large amount of feedback, both good and bad, from viewers all over the country.  This early 1900’s film produced by D.W Griffith was originally a book titled “The Clansman” by Thomas Dixon. This story can be portrayed in different ways because of its controversial and historical content used to tell the story of two families, one residing in the North and the other in the South. This representation can be seen as an example of these split of a country and the war that took place during this time. The films historical content is one of the reasons that it made its way in the White House and greatly approved my President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson applauded Birth of a Nation saying “It’s like writing history with lightning.” Though the president gave the film a promising review other’s, more specifically members of the African American community found the film to be extremely derogatory offensive and even was considered to be used as propaganda for the Ku Klux Klan.  Many efforts were made to stop the film from being shown in theaters, people protested and even stormed theaters to detest the film. The main issue within the film is how the African American characters were characterized and presented. After watching parts of the film in class, it was evident that the writers had a certain agenda with how they chose to depict these characters. These representations can be seen in the presentation, typage and epistene throughout the film and how the characters were negatively portrayed in Birth of a Nation. The discourse community of this time period plays a major role in how the movie shaped the audience because of the negative representation of minorities and stereotypes used in the film. 

            After watching parts of Birth of a Nation, it becomes clear who certain characters are set our out to be viewed, both negatively and positively. The presentation of the black characters differed greatly from white characters. One small detail that should be kept in mind in the film is the fact that the people playing the Africans Americans roles were actually white actors who used the offensive form of theatrical make up called black face. Today, it’s been very common for people to speak out against this because it is seen as very disrespectful. Considering the Birth of a Nation did not to use real black actors but chose to stage white actors as black can be seen as inappropriate and offensive. When we take a look into the characters and the actions/agenda of the roles we see how the African American was negatively presented in the film. The main discourse community centered around Birth of a Nation at the time were white viewers. Since racism was widely acceptable during this time and African Americans were still fighting for their basic rights, it should come as no surprise that the film was seen as ineffective and a step backwards for the civil rights movement. Since African Americans had made some strides within their community after the Civil War, many blacks took great offensive to Birth of a Nation and felt that it was unacceptable and also unproductive. With the issue of racism being so prevalent in the U.S at the time, Birth of a Nation was viewed as propaganda for these beliefs and could be used to fuel the fire on this problem. With so much positive feedback from the president and the White House, the discourse community ranged from important leaders of our country, the typical white audiences and included those associated with the KKK.                                            

            Typage can be described as the basis of actors and their facial or bodily features that were used to convey their character. Those picked to play the roles of African American characters in the film were seen as shady, malicious and untrustworthy. Since many of the people included in the main discourse community at the time already believed  those misconceptions to be somewhat factual and hold some truth, the movies portrayal of these characters could only be used to remind the audience of these negative ideas and reinforce their stereotypes. We see this example in the mixed character Lydia who finesses her way from being a lowly house maid to the head of the house. Her character was presented as scandalous, deranged and manipulative. Many mixed raced individuals at the time were seen as incompetent and provocative so her role was used to reinforce this belief. One specific clip from Birth of a Nation that can be used as an example is when Lydia stages a scene between the head of house and exposes herself to provoke him. The sexual nature of the scene shows her manipulative agenda and negative influence on the man. 

            Another important factor of Birth of a Nation that is was used to influence the minds of the audience was the use of morals and the rape allegation. The use of episteme in the film was another detail that was used to shape the audience. In this part of the movie, the daughter is raped by an African American man which causes furry. This depiction of the black man paints him as a monster and out of control. Since majority of the audience and discourse community portrayed African American man as violent and untamed, this scene caused a lot of criticism and backlash. The way Birth of a Nation chose to represent the African Americans in the film explains why the film would provoke racist ideas and beliefs in those who watch it. With scenes that bring up such issues and moral unjustice it’s no wonder how Birth of a Nation was used for racist propaganda. The discourse community as this time played a major role in influencing the audience because the use of stereotypes and played on the negative qualities associated with African Americans.

Discourse communities of law and science might’ve shaped the minds of the audience watching Birth of a Nations in a couple ways. One way, science could have influence in the audience, is going back to scientific racism and the idea that whites are scientifically better than African Americans. Another case law might’ve shaped the minds on the audience can link with the black man attacking the sister in Birth of Nations. Though we all know rape is a crime, the way the scene was staged and put on the black man may cause people to replay this scene in reality and take it for more than it’s worth. Law and science may be used to justify white supremacy when ideas like these are in the film.

Epistene- when society uses right/wrong, good/bad

Saphir- Wolf hypothesis- the structure of language determines a native speaker’s perception and categorization of experience. “it paints the world”

Typage- selection of actors on basis that their facial and bodily features convey the truth of the character. Fits type that matches the ideas directors want for the character

iris- round, moving mask that can close down to end a scene (iris-out) or emphasize a detail or open to begin a scene (iris-in) common in early films

iris-in & blue screen, burning house, soldiers marching, family and children crying. In the shots of the sad/disheveled family of women, we see how upset and vulnerable they are portrayed. The actors are doing a good job conveying their sad emotions in the scene. The iris- open and re-opens a few times on the family and on the soldiers. I think this technique was used to really place emphasis on the sadness and destruction of the war and the affects it had on family life.

Throughout the scene with the mixed house maid, we see her facial expressions changing quickly and her showcasing a lot of quick emotions. She seems to not be in control of herself and is portrayed as crazy and incompetent. She begins eyeing the guest, trying to persuade him but is rejected. She then loses control of herself and then licks her hands. She acting very strange, crazy and out of control. When the head of house approaches her, her demeanor changes and she gets very upset and acts shook up. During her exchange with the head of house, her clothes start to fall down off her shoulder, portraying her sexual nature. Her costume falling is an important part of the scene because it shows her becoming that sexual being and maybe trying to persuade the head of house now. She resists a few times then allows the head of house to embrace her.

Iris-in on a party and Lydia walks in new clothing and being treated as a guest of the party. Lynch walks in and both characters seem like they are up to something. Lynch goes to knell before the head of the house and he stops him, reminding him he is has equal to anyone else there. Lynch and Lydia are portrayed as allies, making a connection that all black/mixed people are working together in malicious ways.

The Birth of a Movement: The Fight to Ban a Controversial Film. The Birth of a Nation was known has the biggest film production of its time and was the first film to be shown at the White House. While it gained a tremendous amount of attention from the public, many people saw the film as detrimental and even wanted it banned. W.M Trotter was a African American man, whom gradated from Havard University and is known for his intellect, that spoke out against the film and the director D.W Griffith. Griffith was born in the south into poverty and really had no true knowledge of the lifestyle portrayed by the southern family in the film. He made his way into the cinema scene by first starring in small films and has been credited for his influential film techniques. Films at that time, portrayed many racial stereotypes and cliches that were deemed as offensive and inappropriate. After P.V segregation began to flood through out the nation and race politics became a very hot topic of the time period. Trotter publishes his first issue of the Guardian in 1901 with “For Every Right with All Thy Might”. After this publication we see people deciding that a neutral standpoint can’t be taken in the race conflict. Segregation was happening in the white house when Wilson, a southern president, had hired 5 southerns in the cabinet and began to segregate the workers. This angered Trotter and made him take action and express his disappointment with the President Wilson. The president shot down Trotter attempts to talk about things and his disappointments and threw him out of the White House. Before the Birth of a Nation, the play “The Clansman” had caused many race riots and was seen as extremely racist and violent towards African Americans. The film introduces a term called racial pornography and led the viewers to adopt this vision as well. In the movie, the KKK is used to “restore racial order”. “The Griffith Way” and many other propaganda pieces were used for efforts to influence others and used as a recruiter for the clan. The name Birth of a Nation can be seen as the new white supremacy movement after the civil war. The showing of the film in New York permitted African Americans to see it. At the end of the film, the KKK is seen as the hero and inspired the clan. By the 1920’s the KKK was the biggest it had been in history and even marched Washington. “Within our gates” was made as the African Americans answer to the Birth of a Nation. Trotter is seen as the first attempts of civil rights movement.

After viewing the first half of Birth of a Movement, which real world events do think were caused (at least in part) by scientific racism and Jim Crow laws?

The Birth of a Movement: The Fight to Ban a Controversial Film. The Birth of a Nation was known has the biggest film production of its time and was the first film to be shown at the White House. While it gained a tremendous amount of attention from the public, many people saw the film as detrimental and even wanted it banned. W.M Trotter was a African American man, whom gradated from Havard University and is known for his intellect, that spoke out against the film and the director D.W Griffith. Griffith was born in the south into poverty and really had no true knowledge of the lifestyle portrayed by the southern family in the film. He made his way into the cinema scene by first starring in small films and has been credited for his influential film techniques. Films at that time, portrayed many racial stereotypes and cliches that were deemed as offensive and inappropriate. After P.V segregation began to flood through out the nation and race politics became a very hot topic of the time period. Trotter publishes his first issue of the Guardian in 1901 with “For Every Right with All Thy Might”. After this publication we see people deciding that a neutral standpoint can’t be taken in the race conflict. Segregation was happening in the white house when Wilson, a southern president, had hired 5 southerns in the cabinet and began to segregate the workers. This angered Trotter and made him take action and express his disappointment with the President Wilson. The president shot down Trotter attempts to talk about things and his disappointments and threw him out of the White House. Before the Birth of a Nation, the play “The Clansman” had caused many race riots and was seen as extremely racist and violent towards African Americans. The film introduces a term called racial pornography and led the viewers to adopt this vision as well. In the movie, the KKK is used to “restore racial order”. “The Griffith Way” and many other propaganda pieces were used for efforts to influence others and used as a recruiter for the clan. The name Birth of a Nation can be seen as the new white supremacy movement after the civil war. The showing of the film in New York permitted African Americans to see it. At the end of the film, the KKK is seen as the hero and inspired the clan. By the 1920’s the KKK was the biggest it had been in history and even marched Washington. “Within our gates” was made as the African Americans answer to the Birth of a Nation. Trotter is seen as the first attempts of civil rights movement.

The Birth of a Nation, originally known as the Clansman, was directed by D.W Griffith. Released on February 8, 1915, the silent film was seen as one of the most complex movies made at that time and even seen as the most controversial. With efforts from the NAACP to ban the film, it was seen as offensive because of the use of “blackface” to portray white actors as black. The film also got some backlash for portraying the black man as an sexually aggressive towards white women. The movie is also known to showcase some sort of “rebirth” for the KKK and was used as an influence piece for the group. From what I have seen from the movie, the viewer can pick up on many hints through out the film that gives stereotypes and agendas to certain characters, most those who are portrayed as colored.

The Birth of Nation is based off the book The Clansman. It is a silent film commonly praised by its “technical virtuosity”. This techniques were fairly new for the time period and are important to note throughout the film. Although it is still a popular film, it has gotten a lot of backlash for being racist, using black face and demeaning. The African Americans in the movie are actually Anglo-Americans. The time period is pre-Civil War time and is described as “moonlight and magnolias”. Groups such as the KKK and the NAACP are present in the film. With praise from President Wilson, the film gained a lot of attention because it aligned with the common public opinion during the time period. The Stoneman’s family represents the north, while the Cameron’s represent the south. The first offensive content I noticed is the blackface painted on the actors. When the film was made, blackface was quite common but seeing it today in films makes me feel a little uncomfortable especially because it is so strange to see today. Something I found in the film to be very interesting, is that when the settings change from the city to the plantations, the color of the film changes from black and white to having a green hue. this can be an indicator of the director hinting towards money and the business associated with the plantation. In the part of the film that showcases the slave quarters, the slaves are seen dancing, dancing and singing while having a good time with the family. The two families can represent the north and the south coming together and the union of our country. The perception of the house keeper is meant to show the downfall of mixing races and her personality in the film can be seen to be off, crazy and incompetent. The house keeper is seen has a distraction to the head of the house and he is trying to pursue her, as she lies about the guest coming on to her. This can be an example of the idea that mixed raced women are over sexualized and inappropriate. Along with the scene, it’s important to note the physical appearance of the man. He’s seen as sick and weak, which is meant to go hand and hand with him being mentally unfit and having the relationship with his housekeeper. At this point in the movie, it’s clear that there are unsaid examples and hints in the movie are placed to guide the viewer to seeing what the director wants to portray.

Strivings of the Negro 

In Du Bios’s “Strivings of the Negro People”, he talks about the struggle to 

live a life where African Americans feels as though they have 2 different soul’s in 

one body longing to emerge the two and find true happiness. He states how 

African Americans have been “gifted” with second-sight in the American world, in 

which his has no self- consciousness and can only see himself through how others 

depict him. The ideology of his two-ness makes him long to merge himself in 

order to achieve self-conscious man hood and find his true self. 

With this depiction of the black man, Du Bois can push the audience to see

the American side of the negro and maybe pull empathy out from the reader.  

Though he does not wish to lose one over the other or leave behind part of 

himself, he hopes he combine the two and give African American the opportunity 

to go work towards real self-development without being judged on who they are. 

Du Bois purpose of his essay was to explain the obstacles African Americans felt at 

this time. He wanted to put into words how this fight, for them, not only effected 

their physical world but also had a hold on their mental. When asked how it feels

 to be the problem, Du Bois explains how this idea has effected the minds of 

African Americans because the can only view themselves from what others, who 

don’t understand the struggles, eyes. With the African American man’s great 

confusion and self-doubt, he wishes the world could take him for who he really is 

rather than being seen as an issue.

            Du Bois, in other words, can’t express himself or live in harmony because 

white Americans around him may despise him and don’t believe that he could 

ever articulate himself. With his essay, he gets his message across in a way that 

conveys his thoughts/ feelings to the reader. The need to satisfy both his African 

and American self is the purpose of his piece. I feel Du Bois takes a emotional 

approach in his essay by sharing how his strife makes one feel. Although many 

people who would be expected to read this piece most likely can’t agree with him 

or chooses not to put it into perspective, Du Bois use of words to express his 

struggles within himself serves to cause the reader to sympathize. With his 

expression this can bring the audience into his shoes and see how he views 

himself, both parts of him.

In Du Bios’s “Strivings of the Negro People”, he talks about the struggle to 

live a life where African Americans feels as though they have 2 different soul’s in 

one body longing to emerge the two and find true happiness. He states how 

African Americans have been “gifted” with second-sight in the American world, in 

which his has no self- consciousness and can only see himself through how others 

depict him. The ideology of his two-ness makes him long to merge himself in 

order to achieve self-conscious man hood and find his true self. 

With this depiction of the black man, Du Bois can push the audience to see

the American side of the negro and maybe pull empathy out from the reader.  

Though he does not wish to lose one over the other or leave behind part of 

himself, he hopes he combine the two and give African American the opportunity 

to go work towards real self-development without being judged on who they are. 

Du Bois purpose of his essay was to explain the obstacles African Americans felt at 

this time. He wanted to put into words how this fight, for them, not only effected 

their physical world but also had a hold on their mental. When asked how it feels

 to be the problem, Du Bois explains how this idea has effected the minds of 

African Americans because the can only view themselves from what others, who 

don’t understand the struggles, eyes. With the African American man’s great 

confusion and self-doubt, he wishes the world could take him for who he really is 

rather than being seen as an issue.

            Du Bois, in other words, can’t express himself or live in harmony because 

Americans around him may despise him and don’t believe that he could ever 

articulate himself. With his essay, he gets his message across in a way that 

conveys his thoughts/ feelings to the reader. The need to satisfy both his African 

and American self is the purpose of his piece. I feel Du Bois takes a pathos 

approach in his essay by sharing how his strife makes one feel. Although many 

people who would be expected to read this piece most likely can’t agree with him 

or chooses not to put it into perspective, Du Bois use of words to express his 

struggles within himself serves to cause the reader to sympathize. With his 

expression this can bring the audience into his shoes and see how he views 

himself, both parts of him.

In Du Bios’s “Strivings of the Negro People”, he talks about the struggle to live a life where African Americans feels as though they have 2 different souls in one body longing to emerge the two and find true happiness. He states how African Americans have been “gifted” with second-sight in the American world, in which his has no self- consciousness and can only see himself through how others depict him. The ideology of his two-ness makes him long to merge himself in order to achieve self-conscious man hood and find his true self. He does not wish to lose one over the other or leave behind part of himself, but hopes combine the two and give African American the opportunity to go work towards real self-development. Du Bois purpose of his essay was to explain the obstacles African Americans felt at this time. He wanted to put into words how this fight, for them, not only effected their physical world but also had a hold on their mental. When asked how it feels to be the problem, Du Bois explains how this idea has effects the minds of African Americans because the can only view themselves from what others, who don’t understand the struggles, eyes. This causes the African American man great confusion and self-doubt. Du Bois, in other words, can’t express himself or live in harmony because Americans around him may despise him and don’t believe that he could ever articulate a message out to others. The need to satisfy both his African and American self, have taken a serious toll on the black man to feel like he’s lost all power in his life and this struggle hinders him in many ways. I feel Du Bois takes a pathos approach in his essay by sharing how his strife makes one feel. Alothouh many people who would be expected to read this piece most likely can’t agree with him or chooses not to put it into perspective, Du Bois use of words to express his struggles within himself serves to cause the reader to sympathize. With his expression this can bring the audience into his shoes and see how he views “being the problem” in society at the time.