Motsinger- American History X

American History X was a movie intended to be viewed as an anti-racist movie in which two brothers were enlightened about the destruction and pointlessness of prejudice. However, if one analyzes the scenes in the film more critically and analytically, one can see how the movie makes racism appealing to a younger generation, whether intended or not.

Three black boys are beating up on a defenseless white boy while he is on the ground, until Danny makes his entrance. Using character placement, the movie makes black people look malignant and corrupt as the three black boys in the scene continue to harm the helpless and good white boy on the ground. Danny (a white boy) comes to the rescue to save his fellow caucasian from the three boys. Portrayed as a hero, Danny blows cigarette smoke into the face of the black ringleader, after the ringleader threatens him. The combination of the smoke and the dark lighting key upon the black ringleader, makes him appear to be evil, when contrasted to Danny who's face is clearly visible and is touched with a much brighter lighting key.

The attitudes of the three black boys are all too stereotypical, as they are seen wearing cheap basketball jerseys and jeans, while the white victim on the ground is wearing a buttoned down shirt, looking much neater. The black boys beat up the white boy because he saw them cheating on a test-- this obviously insults black culture's intelligence.

Subliminal messages in movies are powerful. The contradictions to American History X's anti-racist claim in the movie can go easily unseen, but until these contradictions are seen the media can fill our minds with a fake reality that eventually incorporates itself into our daily reality. We as viewers of films and readers of magazines and other literature, must think critically to assure that we do not fall into the traps of the media.