Dawn of The Dead

The movie Dawn of The Dead was one that proved not only to be one of the earliest and best examples of a “zombie” movie but also served as a criticism of our American psyche and persona. It is hard to detect this in the beginning of the film because we just get to see the mass pandemonium following an unexplained epidemic. Here is were we see a close study of human instinct, where everyone is seemingly out for themselves. Then we also get to see how an extreme situation can heighten racist tendencies. The cop who is about to storm the building filled with zombies starts yelling unnecessary obscenities. He refers to the people inside with racist terms and says ho he wishes to kill them all. Then he continues taunting and prodding, making the other cops uncomfortable, but they really don’t do much about it. They ignore it for the most part, and only take action inside when he starts shooting down on innocent people. Perhaps if they had stood up to him earlier many lives, including his own, would be saved. Later when they encounter the priest they find that he had actually been with the zombies, and despite the danger gave them their last rites. Here there is some sign of human compassion and dignity, which is seldom encountered throughout the film. Within the core group there are many stereotypical characters. We have the nearly helpless woman, the fumbling smart guy, and the strong african-american figure. Initially Francine is seen as a burden, and the men leave her defenseless without a gun their first time out. It grows worse when they find out she’s pregnant, taking a direct stab at her natural motherly gift. She only appears stronger in the face of the zombies but would otherwise remain a relatively weak person. 

The idea of consumerism is evident, given that it is set in a shopping center. Peter mentions how it is their instinct to come to the abandoned mall, it’s from memory. So engrained in who they are, that even subconsciously they will head to the mall. The group lose their humanity and learn to treat the zombies as faceless and mindless creatures. It helps them and is a good tool to have in this new type of world. Being in the mall brings out their inherent greed. They find safety in the first room they go into, but instead of safely staying there with the supplies they had they decide to go into the mall for things they really didn’t need. This is especially apparent when Peter and Roger go into the department store and start grabbing fancy clothes and perfume. Being in that setting causes them to want more, and worse to become content with just the material goods. It is an example of on how we rely on material happiness, and in turn act like mindless creatures. 

Racism In Avatar

In the Film Avatar, the seemingly detached reality that future humans live on the Planet Pandora, is just a microcosm of the racism and social tensions that we encounter in our day-to-day existence. It begs the question, can a film really have an “accidental” racist undertone? Or how could it not have possibly learned from the various films before it with an almost identical plot? (“Pocahontas,” Dances With Wolves,” or the “Last Samurai”) To better answer these questions we must define what this racist ideology is really considered. Nichols describes a facet of ideology as being “the internalized image of one’s place in the world bestows each individual an idea of what goals to strive for, which values and beliefs count most, what groups inhabit society, how to use and adapt common social practices, and what cultural ideas deserve emulation.”  Following this definition Jake initially interacted with the Na’vi according to his own experiences. He was a soldier first and foremost and approached everything like a mission. His place in the world was that of a “has-been” so to speak, so this put him in a precarious position. Everything he once stood for could easily be changed because of this, making it even more difficult when he really knew nothing about the new world he was thrown into. However, he quickly found a new way to act, and a new ideology, with the natives. He saw their “savage” way of living and quickly assimilated, even growing to revere nature as they did, fighting to protect their sacred tree. This is where the racism part is evident, because it follows a very familiar structure. Nichols puts it as “ the representations of groups can function divisively if they demean one group or subordinate it to another. In these cases, a more powerful group characterizes a subordinate group in discriminatory ways.” This can easily be said for the portrayal of the Na’vi in the movie. Their ways were seen as not only primitive, but inferior. If Jake had not intervened and become the hero, it is assumed that they would have otherwise lost the fight. They were seen as having nothing more to contribute than the Unobtanioum they happened to have their home atop. This is a classic example of institutional racism in which “the social practices of an institution embody discriminatory patterns.” The army and the corporation behind it takes full advantage of the natives and their kindness. I completely agree that this film is racist, it furthers pre-conceived notions of “natives” and undermines their culture as inferior. While it may offer a critique to some extent it is a highly expensive version of a classic Hollywood tale, one that need not be told again. 

There Will Be Blood Pt. 1

In the film There Will Be Blood  the actions of the characters reveal their ulterior motives . Bill Nichols describes ideology as “the lens through which individuals see and understand how they fit into the social world around them. Ideology allows individuals to frame specific actions within a more comprehensive framework.” Ideology facilitates he actions of a character, such as when confronted by a new and surprising scenario, they already have a vague idea of what their actions will be. This is especially evident in the film with the two most ideologically driven characters, Daniel and Eli. Daniel is a vey hard-headed and strong individual. He has a very clear way in which things are done, and seems like the type who will not change his mind easily. In the beginning of the film we see him struggling in a mine shaft. Despite having an accident and injuring himself, he continues and manages to climb out. Most other people would’ve given up, or waited for help. Daniel’s resolve was to keep trying, and to take advantage of the hard work he had put in. He had another setback when he struck oil for the first time. He lost one of the men and had to take care of a baby that was left behind. This was no problem to Daniel, and in fact used this to gain customers. He adopted the child as his son and called his enterprise “a family business.” He promised that new school would be built, and the community would benefit. This was what was important to him now, apart from the success, was also being seen as a family man. He made it clear in front of others, such as when he asked Mary if her dad still beat her, condemning this act, all the while her father was sitting right there. However, once H.W. was gone, Daniel’s competitive nature came back. When speaking to Henry he confesses that he wishes for no one else to succeed. This is made obvious when the other oil men come to buy out what he had been working on. He simply asks what he should do with himself, hinting that without work and the need to beat everyone else out he is lost. 

Eli is the other main character, who manipulates others around him to meet his own needs. “His” needs are those of the religion, devoting time there, expanding the congregation, and building a bigger church. When the building of the oil rig begins Eli right away asks that a road should be built, leading to the church. He then comes to pin crosses on the men who are working. Later he explains to Daniel his wish for the grand unveiling of the well. He asked him to introduce him as the son of the hills who has come to bless the well. His motive is to be seen and recognized, but also to bring a good name to the church. Daniel ignores his request, but Eli is later victorious when Daniel is forced to come to the church and be baptized by him. Both of their actions are always guided by what they seek themselves, and what their ultimate end-goal is.