Positive or Negative?
The Birth of a Nation is a compelling and innovative contribution to the development of the film industry. A break through to feature-length-films, D.W. Griffith invents techniques that are still in use today. An idol to all directors, Griffith challenged the invention of the film and introduced new innovations that allowed films to be where they are today. Despite the racist point of view of The Birth of a Nation, it’s contributions to literature and the movie industry cannot be forgotten.
Many argue that The Birth of a Nation cannot be forgiven for its racist statements and themes. Scenes showing African-Americans dancing in the street like animals, and Black armies raiding houses like savages, Griffith clearly sides with the South throughout the Civil War. The forming of the Klu Klux Klan is portrayed as a resolution to the “problem” of Blacks and the members are viewed as heroes. It is clear that Griffith favored the South and had a strong opinion against the uprising Black society, as when he portrays the people of the South as the good guys when they take care of the fallen enemies. Though his views were wrong in many ways, racism was not an issue in that time, more of a way of life. Griffith may not deserve to be forgiven or favored for his racist views but he deserves to receive honor for something much more important: his contribution of innovations to the society of film today.
Techniques such as “moving” camera shots, the use of total-screen close-ups, special use of subtitles graphically verbalizing imagery and extensive cross-cutting between scenes were never seen on film before Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation. “Moving” camera shots were very difficult to film in the early 1900’s and short in time in Griffith’s film, such as filming the KKK on their horses riding to the rescue. Total-screen close-ups were used before but never to show intimate expressions, such as the close-up of Elsie’s picture. Subtitles graphically verbalizing imagery were never seen before. The display of dialogue and narrative remarks were shown in writing at uprising parts of the movie. Cross-cutting between scenes was something that was unique and created suspense and excitement to the plot. Cross-cutting between the scenes of the KKK riding to the rescue of the Cameron family and the attack of the Cameron family by the Black soldiers, creates a suspense of the unexpected. The introduction of these cinematic methods opened a world of opportunities for the future films.
Today racism is viewed as ignorant and intolerable, but in the early 1900’s people clung to racist stereotypes and ideology. It was a way of life to people of that time and accepted throughout society. We may not agree with Griffith’s statements and points of view, however, we must balance our opinion in light of his positive contributions. Griffith discovered a whole new way to interpret literature and the way it is viewed, techniques that are essential to the success of the cinema today.
We can not forget, forgive or ignore the views of African-Americans in The Birth of a Nation, but we cannot let it shadow the positive. Griffith is a name forever in history, viewed as a hero to the cinema rather than a racist. Griffith changed the way the cinema is seen today and developed the “movie” in ways that were never done before that time. Because of this you must show honor to the name of D.W. Griffith and respect his contributions and hard-work to something that is a extreme part of the world today.
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