D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation In answering the questions, be sure that you are turning to the film for support, citing specific examples which help illustrate the claims you make. 1. Ed Geurrreo claims that The Birth of a Nation is "dangerous." He also says that the function of the film is to perpetuate the "ideology of racial subordination." What does Geurrero mean by this phrase? What does he say are the reasons behind this function? and how does he believe the film accomplishes this function? 2. The Birth of a Nation is considered by some to be racist propaganda. Griffith himself claimed that he had no political or ideological intent. In his essay, "The Re-Birth of the Aesthetic," Clyde Taylor claims that "Apologist film scholars for The Birth of a Nation take a passive attitude toward the film's racism. Some simply accept Griffith's total denial of racist intent. Some specify the 'unconsciousness' of his racism. Others argue that Griffith's portrait of the Reconstruction Era and of Black people in it is essentially accurate." Based on what you have read, What do you think? Explain your answer. 3. The Birth of a Nation establishes a number of strict dichotomies (North/South, male/female, black/white). Due to this, many claim that Griffith's film asks the spectator to witness events from a "white subject position," a "male point-of-view," and a "southern perspective." Do you think this is true? Why or why not? Explain. 4. Some people read the film as intensely nationalistic. Clyde Taylor claims that a focus on the aesthetics of the film (upon its innovative cinematic techniques) directs attention away from its true purpose, which is "white supremacy" and "the mythology of white American nationalism." Is this film about white supremacy and/or nationalism? Explain your answer. 5. Thomas Bogle tells us that Griffith used three varieties of blacks in the film: the "faithful souls" (Mammys and Uncle Toms), the "brutal black bucks," and the "mulatto." Discuss the representation of each of these types in Griffith's film and explain what you think we are meant to understand about each. 6. Griffith's film makes powerful use of music. Among other things you can hear "Swanee River," "Dixie," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and Wagner's "Die Walküre." Discuss the use of music in the film and explain the effect it has on the viewing audience.