Full Version: Gone with the wind
I'm interested to know what black americans today think of the film 'Gone with the wind'. I know there was considerable criticism from the black intelligensia around the time it was made.
I know that many today will consider the film a quaint anachronism, but in fact I think it well captures the average social mindset of an era (early 20th cent.). That romanticized view of slavery and the aristocratic manorial system in america was perhaps as askew as the demonizing view popular today.
Was the portrayal of 'Mammy' as the powerful and canny force in black culture inaccurate at the time? Is it inaccurate now? The other black characters are peripheral and/or vapid. Many of the white characters are also correctly portrayed as vapid and naieve.
I'd like to see a re-make of the film, complete with the superlative cinematography, but with a parallel black drama included. One that shows the black degradation as an equal story, not a trivial sideshow to the destruction of southern white autonomy. And one that includes a powerful male black role; perhaps a depiction of slave-to-legislator or slave-to-independent farmer, such as did occur in fact. One that shows an evolution that makes possible a Booker T Washington not long after, for instance.
I know that many today will consider the film a quaint anachronism, but in fact I think it well captures the average social mindset of an era (early 20th cent.). That romanticized view of slavery and the aristocratic manorial system in america was perhaps as askew as the demonizing view popular today.
Was the portrayal of 'Mammy' as the powerful and canny force in black culture inaccurate at the time? Is it inaccurate now? The other black characters are peripheral and/or vapid. Many of the white characters are also correctly portrayed as vapid and naieve.
I'd like to see a re-make of the film, complete with the superlative cinematography, but with a parallel black drama included. One that shows the black degradation as an equal story, not a trivial sideshow to the destruction of southern white autonomy. And one that includes a powerful male black role; perhaps a depiction of slave-to-legislator or slave-to-independent farmer, such as did occur in fact. One that shows an evolution that makes possible a Booker T Washington not long after, for instance.
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Topic closed...</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Reason: Question to debate too vague or missing.<br /><br />Recommended action: If you started this topic, please contact the staff member who closed it by clicking the PM button below this post with a clear question to debate.<br /><br />Helpful links:<br />- Starting New Topics<br />- Survival Guide<br />- The Rules<br />- Staff Directory</td></tr><tr><td class='darkrow1'><div align='center'>Note: This is an automated response.</div></td></tr></table></div>
Topic closed...</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Reason: Question to debate too vague or missing.<br /><br />Recommended action: If you started this topic, please contact the staff member who closed it by clicking the PM button below this post with a clear question to debate.<br /><br />Helpful links:<br />- Starting New Topics<br />- Survival Guide<br />- The Rules<br />- Staff Directory</td></tr><tr><td class='darkrow1'><div align='center'>Note: This is an automated response.</div></td></tr></table></div>
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