Overall story:
- the Civil War happens:
- Sherman’s march to the sea (devastating and what the family scene was all about)
- two Cameron brothers die in the war–bromance in death
- one Stoneman bro dies during the war
- Leaves: Phil Stoneman and Ben Cameron
- Phil falls in love with Ben’s sister, Margaret
- Ben falls in love with Phil’s sister, Elsie
- Driven by Gus and Flora’s relationship
- Reconstruction
- Silas Lynch goes to SC and organizes AA voters
- political, social, legal and familial life in disarray
- the Klan is formed by Ben Cameron to restore order
- Lynch and Congressman Stoneman think Dr. Cameron is the founder, organizer of the KKK
women have to be protected by the bestiality of men of color
213-224 The Birth of a Nation:
Griffith is telling us we should be afraid of Gus, hes an animal, he is not able to control his desire and is going to chase Flora down (Gus played by white actor but playing black man in black face, hides in the shadows, sees eyes and nothing else . Gus is designed to be a predator and monster
disney film- Flora talks to animals and is seen as good in other films
second film set:
Griffith shows the definition of whiteness and what is appropriate behavior for white folks. cannot suffer dishonor of having an interracial family.
striking use of visual imagery
Griffith shows Jesus with hands over new union
they all marry each other, blue screen over everything, south and north are reunited
gate opens, whiteness is most important if we maintain these standards we all end in paradise
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