Journal #4- The Honest Man with the Tall Hat

 

 

The film I chose for the evaluative writing assignment was Lincoln.  Directed by the well-known Steven Spielberg, Lincoln is a true story based on historical events.  During the time of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, tries everything in his power to end the rapidly increasing number of casualties of the war by abolishing slavery.  In his attempt to pass the thirteenth amendment, Lincoln does everything in his power to not only keep his own family happy, but to change the minds of the prejudice democrats who out-number the non-prejudice republicans in the country. 

Beyond just the plot of Lincoln, the movie portrays our sixteenth president never backing down from anyone or anything, no matter how great the odds against him were.  Abraham Lincoln showed his audience a whole different side to a politician that nobody is used to seeing.  “Honest Abe” is kind hearted, he not only thinks about himself and the people on his side, but also the democrat’s side and everyone who disagrees with his view.  The movie also shows the effects of the Civil War from the view of the people living it back home and how it could be just as difficult as being on the front line of war.    

Personally, I enjoyed this movie for a few reasons.  At an early age, many of us learned about Abraham Lincoln.  We knew in elementary school that he was the sixteenth president of the United States, he ended slavery, he wore a tall hat and was tall himself, and also that he was an honest and good man.  Yes, this film portrays every part of that, but it also shows the stress he and his family went through.  Instead of only seeing the uplifting and memorable parts of Lincoln, the audience learns quickly how hard it was to be not only the sixteenth president of the United States, but the man in charge when his country was fighting his own country.         

Journal #3- As If College Wasn't Hard Enough

               

                                                                       http://www.impawards.com/2014/posters/dear_white_people_ver3_xlg.jpg

 

 

                 The movie Dear White People takes place at a prestigious college known as Winchester University, a predominantly white school.  One of the main characters, Samantha White, runs a radio show titled “Dear White People” while another character named Coco tries to become famous and a gigantic afro wearing character named Lionel Higgins knows minimal of his black culture and feels like an outsider.  The school is segregated in just about everything, and no one realizes just how bad things really are until an offensive Halloween party is exclusively thrown one night. 

                I think this film depicts what it can be like to be on the minority side of things, especially at an Ivy League school where everyone is there for their intelligence, yet no one is treated equally.  This movie shows just how segregated and prejudice society can still be, even after so many movements and changes in history. 

                Personally, I enjoyed this film.  It was quite controversial and sensitive in some parts, but I believe that’s what made it such a hit, because it was different than the everyday comedies and dramas.  I also like that it not only depicted the struggle of being the minority, but also just the everyday struggle of a college student. My favorite quote that really stood out to me and made me chuckle came from Samantha White, whose answer to Professor Bodkin’s statement “Might I also remind you that I read your entire fifteen-page unsolicited treatise on why the Gremlins is actually about suburban white fear of black culture,” was responded with “The Gremlins are loud, talk in slang, are addicted to fried chicken and freak out when you get their hair wet.”  She just seemed really real and willing to speak her mind, and I also enjoyed the bits of comedy.   

                I feel as if my few responses of dismay to this film come from the fact that I came from a very small town that is predominantly white.  I grew up not seeing or experiencing some of the racism that still occurs in society because my high school rarely had any races other than white.