Define Correct Terms for D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation Flashcards

Directed by DW Griffith, about pre civil war and reconstruction based on the novel "The Clansman" by Thomas Dixon, holds onto the southern ideals and honor, pastoral image of the south, parallels two families (camerons and stonemans) and the new nation after the war, highly racist as the notion of white supremacy remains the theme throughout the film, widely popular, utilizes close ups, actions scenes, colorization, white women seen as proper southern belles, well dressed, black men are seen as overly barbaric and villianous, challenge race and gender roles and the strong dominant authority that white men have KKK

Stoneman - seen as villain, cripple, weak, daughter ELSIE seen as siding with the south through her love for little colonel (ben cameron) who is in KKK
flora cameron seen in rape scene with Gus,
silas lynch - symbolizes disunion, greedy, almost rapes elsie

Gus chasing after flora - ben cameron runnng to find her, terrorizes white woman and she would rather jump than have gus touch her, she dies

Outside the african americans causing riots and the danger increases, the notion of helplessness and defeat, KKK seen as heroes and saving the day, the cabin scene is climax, everyone in cabin resembles new nation without the presence of african americans,
still exudes victory despite defeat - "lost cause" mentality, ending with north south working together to prevail against the evil race

Based on history and historical photograph but fictionalizes for purposes of film, black people are seen as out of control and even animalistic, disrespectful, drinking with feet on desk, equal marriages and women are fearful