The Ku Klux Klan in American Literature and Films: From Thomas Dixon's "The Clansman" to Contemporary KKK Novels and MoviesGRIN Verlag, 2007 - 100 psl. Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2005 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, Humboldt-University of Berlin, 39 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The Ku Klux Klan and its racist doctrine have a long history. In his work "Backfire. How the Ku Klux Klan Helped the Civil Rights Movement", David Chalmers calls the Klan as "America's only enduring political terrorist movement". The following paper will mainly focus on the presentation of the Klan in Thomas Dixon's Southern Reconstruction novel "The Clansman" and D. W. Griffith's movie "The Birth of a Nation", as well as in contemporary American literature and films. In that context, the Klan's prejudices against African Americans will be discussed - in connection with Karen Hesse's children book one also has to take prejudices against Jews into account. The analysis of Ku Klux Klan literature and films will cover three important Klan-eras beginning in 1887 until the 1960s. Different types of texts and films will be set in context with different cultural aspects of that time. All together, one cannot directly speak of an influence of Dixon's work on later Klan literature and films. But the presence of some similar motives in all novels and films which will be taken into account, shows an important aspect that will be the main point of this paper: Regardless of a pro-Klan or a political neutral work of fiction, one can recognise either a conscious or an unconscious hero worship of the Klan, or, at least a representation of the Klan's immense political and social power. One has to assume that different books and films indeed help to create a Klan myth. Throughout the paper, different motives will be compared to strengthen this thesis. |
Pagrindiniai terminai ir frazės
able actual African Americans agents already analysis Anderson appears aspects audience Birth brutality Cameron caused Cayhall chapter characters civil rights Clansman clearly Compared concerning contemporary context convinced created culture danger described discrimination discussed Dixon especially example extremely fact fear female Fire former friends gain Griffith Griffith’s hand Hesse idea important influence interest interpretation involved Klan’s Klux Klan Kluxers Ku Klux Klan literature and film living look Mae Maude mainly male Martin Mississippi Burning morality motives movement movie never novel obviously opinion Parker person picture political position possible presented probably punishment race racist Radical reader receives recognise Reconstruction refers reflected residents revealed Rock scene seems shows situation slaves small town social society South Southern Stoneman story tries turn Whereas white Southerners whole Witness women young
Populiarios ištraukos
20 psl. - The claim that there is nothing in the color of the skin from the point of view of political ethics is a great sophism. A black skin means membership in a race of men which has never of itself succeeded in subjecting passion to reason, has never, therefore, created any civilization of any kind.
62 psl. - ... active in many states. All non-Protestants, aliens, liberals, trade unionists and striking workers were denounced as subversives. Although the Klan continued to terrorize their victims, few prosecutions of Klansmen resulted, and in some communities local officials abetted them. Exposures of the Klan led to a congressional investigation in 1921, and for a time the Klan changed its tactics. After 1921 it experienced a rapid growth of membership and became politically influential throughout the...
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