film perspectives; first perspective is when the film only has one meaning. second perspective means more than one meaning
film acts a construct- constructed by film makers so we can identify, we can then take them apart to see how they were put together. film makers use identifable charcaters for emotional alignment (this is when we identify with them emotionally). They do this using micro and macro features. They also do this to out us in a particular position, or point of view.
our repsonse to positions are; (according to stuart hall)
American History X is a 1998 American drama film directed by Tony Kaye and starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D'Angelo and Avery Brooks. It was distributed by New Line Cinema.
Emotional Response:
i have choosen to talk about my emotional response on the ending scene of American History X; which is caused by the narrative not personal.
After watching the whole film; the ending is much more emotional than it would be if you just watched it on its own; this is created by the narrative and the relationship between Derick and his little brother Danny; Derick before he came out of prison as a changed man was extremily racists and had his strong views on black people and this had a huge impact on Danny who looked up to his brother like a normal little sibling would.
It wasnt untill Derick came out of prison that he realised his bad behaviour was for the worst and that his little brother is going to turn out like him; once the realisation of this hit him, he did his best not just to turn his life around but also his little brothers and to get him on the stright road, to do well at school and also be a role model for little people to look up to. Derick decides to pull out of the 'deciples of christ' and also Danny, Danny wasnt happy of this untill he knew the story of what happened to Derick inside and that he made best mates with a black guy Lemont and that he properly wouldnt of got out alive if it wasnt for him. After all this is when the audience see's a change in them both and has the emotion of relief in a way, as they are turning themself around for the best.
However when it gets to the ending scene where Danny is shot three times by the black kid from begining of film in school straight throught hthe chest, there much anger here as we have seen them change however others havent and they didnt give them a chance to prove themselves. Personally i also felt upset and sympathy, as Danny is only a kid who learnt the wrongs and rights wrongly which in a way wasnt his fault and noone deserves this.
