BURSARY FILM MODEL ESSAY
AMERICAN HISTORY X
The film, "American History X", directed by Tony Kaye, and written by David McKenna
focused on the relevant theme of racism. The filmmaker uses a variety of techniques to
illustrate the theme of racism, including characterisation, dramatic action scenes,
costuming and the setting.
The film, "American History X" is set in America's Venice Beach. However, the very
beginning of the film is simply a beach which could be anywhere. This universal setting
makes the film relevant to anywhere. By doing this, the director makes us see that what
happens in the film could easily happen here too. The film mainly deals with racism and
the issues surrounding it - from the film we learn that racism exists in families and in
institutions, that it stems from the family and rises up when people feel they are not
getting what they deserve.
These issues which the filmmaker brings to our attention are relevant. Racism is present
in our world today with many atrocities occurring as a result of it. Also, the theme of
racism is something that is relevant as it affects all races. In this film, we see whites
versus blacks versus Hispanics versus Asians. All races are affected by it.
In the film we learn that racism exists. With the setting of Venice Beach chosen by the
director, we can see what happens when different races move into an area over time and
'white fright' occurs. Venice has evolved from a friendly, safe white suburb of the 1970's
to an area of economic decline. The other races such as Asians, move in and set up
shops; and the Negro population also increases.
We can see also through this setting how racism can stem from people feeling like they're
not getting their fair share in life. The Asian shopkeepers for example are assaulted and
robbed because the local white youth feel that their jobs are being taken away from them.
The characters in the film are very much centered upon conveying this central theme of
racism. The major character, Derek Vineyard, is a member of the local white supremacy
group. The director uses costuming to illustrate the fact that he is a racist - we see a Nazi
swastika tattoo on his chest. He is a skinhead who also wears army boots and has a Nazi
flag in his bedroom.
The characterisation of other racists in the white supremacy group also shows the
ugliness of racism. The prime example of this is Seth - an ugly, ignorant, dumb white
man. His physical ugliness is reflective of his ugly views on racism.
Through the characters we also learn that racism can exist in families and that this is
often where it stems from. Danny, Derek's younger brother begins to show signs of being
racist also as he follows in his brother's footsteps.
The action of the film also shows us how racism can be institutional. Derek goes to jail
for 18 months for shooting a black man for trespassing and trying to steal his car. In
prison, he meets Lamont, a black man, who has been given a 6 year sentence for stealing
a TV. The director wants us to see that the justice system too, can be racist. This is of
particular relevance today; as often crime statistics released show minority groups being
over-represented in prisons.
Derek allies himself with the white gang in the prison, but is disappointed when she sees
them talking to Hispanic inmates. When he takes his racist stand against this, the white
gang rapes him. The act is known to be happening by a prison guard who is Hispanic,
but he ignores it. Again, this shows that even police and prison officers can be racist.
The rape forces Derek to reassess his racist values. He is exposed, at risk to the black
gangs, but is saved by his black friend, Lamont. His sanity is also saved by Sweeny, his
former teacher, who talks to him in prison - in an effort to get Derek to help Danny keep
away from the cycle or racism. It is ironic to Derek that the two men who help him out
most are black.
Ultimately, this leads to Derek realising that both good and bad people exist in all races.
He decides to not be racist any longer, and in his reformed state, he tries to set Danny
straight - and thus prevent him from following his path of racism.
The technique of flashbacks also used by the director is very important in conveying the
theme of racism. It is from flashbacks to Derek's childhood that we can see that the
racism idea was first implanted into Derek's mind from his father.
The flashback takes us back to a conversation at the dinner table where Derek says he is
reading a great black book about black Americans. His father says it is a load of rubbish
and that the problems of the country have been caused by the black man, not the white
man. Derek, who looks up to his father agrees; and so the first seed of racism is planted
into his mind.
In many ways the filmmaker of "American History X" conveys the theme of racism.
Through setting, characterisation, plot and action and flashbacks - we can learn that
racism does exist between many different races, it can be institutional or personal, that no
one race is worse than another, and that is can stem from the family. Indeed these are all
important to the very relevant theme of racism which the director, Tony Kaye has
brought to his audience's attention.