This is the film link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGQaAddwjxg This is a critical analysis of the film Birth of a Nation; the analysis must answer the following questions: What was the film about? What do you think was the director’s main goal in making this film? How does it help us to understand the history of racism in the U.S. at that time and today? What problems do you see with the film especially the ways in which the film portrays African-Americans and the Ku Klux Klan? Crucial: your critique must be analytical, critical, and not only descriptive. Grading of the Critique: The review will be graded according to the quality of content, composition, and critical analysis. I will examine whether you have addressed the assignment, answering the four questions posed above. The finished review must be in typewritten form, (5 pages) double spaced, the typed size must be 12 pt. Times New Roman font is required. Bold lettering is not acceptable. A cover page is required. It must include the title, your name, the date, and the name of the course. You do not need to use other sources for your critique but you may use them. If you use other sources aside from the film, you must include a bibliography. All sources must be cited according to the Turabian Style Manual. Outside sources not allowed.

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Birth of a Nation
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Birth of a Nation
Plot
The film Birth of a nation, by D.W Griffiths, was released on the 8th of February 1915. It
was then titled “The Clansman” for the first month after its release but was later changed to
“Birth of a Nation.” The film based on the novel ‘The Clansman’ by Thomas Dixon, tells a
stormy story that revolves around two fictional families one from the north and the other from
the south. This film explores a rather subjective side of American history about civil war,
reconstruction, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.
Throughout the film, African Americans are portrayed as dangerous, brutish, morally
degenerate, and lazy people who should not be part of society. Moreover, African Americans are
depicted as stupid and sexually aggressive to white women, and as a result, the Ku Klux Klan
rises to protect white women and maintain white supremacy. The film itself follows two families
northern Stoneman’s and southern Cameron’s and the impact of the Civil War on both families.
The two families are on opposing sides of the conflict, and the sons from both families
are enlisted into the war as it begins. The first part of the film shows the outbreak of the war, and
it also depicts the assassination of President Lincoln and the end of conciliatory postwar policies.
The second half deals with the chaos and aftermath that is experienced in the reconstruction era
of the American Civil War.
In the concluding part, African Americans are represented as unworthy of voting rights
and freedom. A scene in the movie shows African Americans stuffing ballot boxes while Whites
were not given a chance to cast their ballots and as a result, African Americans are seen as the
root of all voting evil. Additionally, the lynching of an African American man supported by the
Ku Klux Klan is one of the scenes in the film. The Ku Klux Klan are the heroes in this film since

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they act to protect their women from sexual abuse by African American men and they restore
order to society after the chaos experienced in the reconstruction period.
Goal
The director of the film D.W Griffith must have had a specific goal in mind that resulted
in the production of ‘Birth of a Nation.’ The director’s goal might have been to produce a
captivating work of art that had not been experienced before. The film in itself is a work of art
considering that the complete film included 1,544 separate shots all brought together causing the
film to run for 3 hours. In the year 1915, this had not been done before and therefore the
innovative techniques of using photography, special effects, jump cuts, special effects, and close-
ups were greatly applauded.
Griffith’s goal can also be depicted as empowering racism because this is what the film is
about. Throughout the entire film and especially in the reconstruction era, African Americans are
shown to be vile, evil, and not worth freedom. Their character is highlighted as lazy, ruthless,
insensitive, and dangerous especially in social public life. Moreover, Griffith portrays African
American men as sexual predators who were lusting after White women without respecting
them.
The goal of the film is also seen as empowerment of white supremacy because the film
portrays white people as good and morally upright, unlike black people. The depiction of the Ku
Klux Klan as a body that restored order and justice to the society was a great exaggeration but it
was encouraged. The Ku Klux Klan are seen as heroes who save White women from sexual
harassment by African American men and lawful people who brought back order to the chaos
that erupted in the reconstruction period.

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Nonetheless, the most obvious goal of D.W Griffith was to gain influence after the
production of a film that would be considered wrong and subjective. The director had previously
produced different short films that never did as well as ‘Birth of a Nation.’ This goal can be
further supported by the fact that he later produced and directed a silent film ‘Intolerance’ as an
answer to those who prosecuted his political views. Therefore, gaining influence is one of the
main goals for the production of the controversial film.
History of racism
The film clearly shows that there are people who support racism and support the ill-
treatment of others because of their color. Griffith produces and directs a film based on his
subjective mentality and reasoning about African Americans and it highlights what he thinks of
them. In the film director’s opinion, African Americans should be enslaved, not vote, and should
not be considered citizens of the United States.
Moreover, the support of the Ku Klux Klan or KKK which is a group of white
supremacists who support and uphold racism shows the view of Griffith. The production of such
a controversial film in such a political era contributed to the spread of racism and abuse of
African American rights and freedom. As a result, the fight for freedom and the abolishment of
slavery was greatly opposed by the supporters of such inhumane acts.
In the current times, racism is still a great issue affecting African Americans, many years
after the abolishment of slavery. Although most of the racist people are now enlightened and
educated to realize the only difference between White and Blacks is their skin color, the
subjective mentality portrayed by Griffith in his film still affects them. In the modern day the
United States, African Americans are part of every system of government but they still get
prejudiced against.

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In schools, hospitals, on the road by police officers, and in many other situations African
Americans find themselves at the risk of being bullied for the color of their skin. This especially
happens in the hands of the law enforcers who should protect them. It can be seen that although
African Americans have a long way to go in the fight against racism, it was much worse in the
past and a lot has changed.
Problems in the film
African Americans are portrayed as lazy, insensitive, brutish, morally degenerate, and
sexual predators. However, African Americans are enslaved to work for the Whites and one can
conclude that the Whites were lazy since they required slaves to help them with labor. The film
describes that African American men lusted after White women and as a result, the KKK group
protected the women. The film shows an African American man who supposedly lures white
women and he is later lynched by the Ku Klux Klan.
It is quite problematic how the director of the film portrays the Ku Klux Klan as a heroic
group and yet it supported inhumane and insensitive actions an example of which is racism. The
film depicts the group as saviors and law keepers during the reconstruction period although they
were a great part in the creation of chaos. Their actions were found to be better because of the
color of their skin and this is racism.
The fact that the film supported lynching and showed that African Americans were
worthy of being lynched is a great problem. The film argues that granting African Americans
rights and freedoms would be a terrible error since they were dangerous and needed to be
controlled. The essence of Griffith’s depiction of race and his intentions towards them is
troubling since he is the director of the film.

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The problems depicted by the film can be traced back to the racist book ‘The Clansmen’
written by Thomas Dixon Jr. This book is the source for most of the material that was made in
ton the film by Griffith. Many racist paradoxes can be seen in the film that causes many to
wonder whether ‘Birth of a Nation’ was art or atrocity.
Conclusion
A century later, the film has the ability to appall and enthrall. Birth of a nation is a great
film, a valuable demonstration of art, and an appreciated depiction of the civil war,
reconstruction, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. Many lessons can be highlighted and discussed
in this film whether positive or negative. D.W Griffith represented his thoughts, ideas, and
personal views on what happened and how it happened. Surprisingly, the controversial film still
that educates thousands a century later.

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References
James Buck, (2018, Dec 4). The birth of a Nation [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from
https://www.youtubre.com/watch?v=nGQaAddwjxg