I assume everyone would agree that films are often much more than merely "entertainment". It goes without saying that many will be used to promote certain ideas, ways of thinking, indeed much of what comes out of Holywood is a producer often selling you his political or historical narrative. Just recently Holywood released yet another "African slavery" film. Don't you think this meme has been done to death, just a little? It was even mentioned in some circles in the US that this latest film only serves to stir racial tensions. And I tend to agree with that. I think the film in question was called "12 years a slave" or something. I would not bother paying to see it, as you just know it is going to follow the tried and tested formula of "hateful white American" and almost angelic black charachters. With maybe the odd token "nice" white thrown in for good measure. Apart from that fact that I try not to feed Holywood, I also understand this latest offering is especially violent in parts. It can barely be called "entertainment" then. And it is certainly not really history, not unless you propose getting your history from a 2hour Holywood film. The producers are not stupid though, they do know how to manipulate emotions, with music and imagery. This films, and a plethora of them there are, they only serve to paint some libel on Americans and Europeans as hateful people that all enslaved Africans. This in turn has led to generations of blacks often having a chip on their shoulder. But the actual reality is that it was certainly not mostly white Americans that owned most of the actual ships. And in terms of slave ownership, only around 4% of white Americans actually did. White American Christians did not own the biggest % of the slaves that were brought in. But because Holywood is political, it would not serve their interests if these things were to be reflected in their films, since such films are emotive propaganda aimed at fostering another generation of false white guilt + misplaced black angst. It goes without saying that this trade was terrible, and I find it telling that in all of the US there is no memorial to even the ten million or so that died in transit, yet you have a "holocost museum" . I guess that is simply down to Jews having so much pull in the US and blacks not so. Apart from sell out's like Obama etc. However, I simply feel this genre is over done, and distorted, and done with the intent of keeping whites in some state of perpetual false guilt. When people watch such things they suspend context and are won over by the emotional. They may even sit in the cinema and shed tears. Yet why not shed tears for those that are enslaved today? Is that any lesser? Is it not more human and logical to shed tears for real slaves of today, than actors pretending to be slaves who are long since dead? Would the monies collectively spent by all these sentimental types that go to watch such films not be better spent on them donating those monies to those that fight against modern slavery today? I don't think that black people would like it if Holywood took a snapshot of one part of black history in Africa that was brutal, and kept on making film after film in which the black man was demonised. That is why it is political. These types of films are less interested in reflecting all terrible actions from history, merely select one's.
What a tirade! Need we mention all the many more movies laced with patriotic chest thumping pro US propaganda and over the top American back slapping (The same for my country too). I would suggest there are way more of them than the Django`s of nowadays...
As a semi-disabled white person, I know that white people are mostly heartless bigots, be they on either side of the political spectrum. While I don't agree with the rights economics I dislike liberals more for their hypocrisy. They really are bad people, all words, no heart.
I am not quite sure how you can lay claim to knowing(sic) this, unless you can read minds. Besides which, look around. Every worthy charity was established by white people, every human right law was conceived and written by white people. If it were not for white people the lives of black people would be very much worse than it is.
If I could, I would take down the big HOLLYWOOD sign and replace it with a big (*)(*)(*)(*) YOU sign. No, not in angst. There's just some actresses there that... well...you know. But as far as their incessant political propaganda, well then I would like to take down the big HOLLYWOOD sign and replace it with an even bigger (*)(*)(*)(*) YOU sign than the actress one.
But were you ever concerned about those white hero movies putting white people in false sense of superiority over other people? Because there are more of those arrogant type than the "white people with false guilt" type of people. And that is not going to change because white hero movies far outnumbers white devil movies. Your concern for white people being indoctrinated with false white guilt is unfounded.
Historical movies are fun but we shouldn't judge 19th century folks using 21st century ethics / norms .
The fact that they ALSO make propaganda movies in which Americans are the "heroes" does not alter what I have written in my OP. Does that help? - - - Updated - - - Troll unable to debate on point.
I believe it was a British film about American slavery. So it wasn't really Hollywood. Plus apparently it's pretty good.
proof on that claim wud be nice, or even proof of this as a rumor that goes beyond someone claiming this on an internet forum... lol, such a rediculous statement, how do u expect to be taken seriously when u claim crap like this?
Have I helped in erasing your concern for white guys being painted as devils then? And it's natural for heroes in American-made hero movies to be Americans.
I guess it's entertaining. What do you want me to say, art in all its forms is subjective. If you like it, watch it - if you don't like it, don't watch it.
Films masquerading as something other than propaganda have been around for ever. The Goebbels-commissioned remake of the Titanic story was one. Riefenstahl's 'Triumph of the Will' was another. http://www.timesofisrael.com/goebbels-titanic-cinematic-disaster-turns-70/ Frank Capra's 'Why we Fight' was made in response to the latter, and is an example of American propaganda. A more recent film, 'District 9' is an obvious commentary on Apartheid-era South Africa. This really is nothing new. Film makers have used celluloid as the medium for their political beliefs or commentary in the same way that writers use paper as theirs.
Was there a point other than you are angry about a movie that you have already declared that you won't see?
From your rant: Yet why not shed tears for those that are enslaved today? Is that any lesser? Is it not more human and logical to shed tears for real slaves of today, than actors pretending to be slaves who are long since dead? Yes, we need more films on the Prison Industrial Complex and the modern day enslaving of the black man (and hispanic men to a lesser extent) in American prisons. You are right - we need to update the story. http://www.alternet.org/story/154587/1_in_3_black_men_go_to_prison_the_10_most_disturbing_facts_about_racial_inequality_in_the__u.s._criminal_justice_system
Yes. I made it in the OP. Quote something from it and debate it. Else why are you on my thread? Again. - - - Updated - - - "Rant".
Maybe you should help finance films that you think are correct. Triumph of the Will, Part Deux, perhaps?
