Difference between revisions of "329--Week 5 Questions/Comments"
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We've discussed in class the importance of the language barrier between two cultures and how well have movies portrayed this (or not portrayed it at well). Past movies we've watched such as Pocahontas brought up questions such as how does everyone, including the Native Americans, know English even before the British arrived in the New World. Having the Mendes speak in their native tongue provides an authentic feel to the movie, but also conveys an important factor during these trials. The fact that the Mendes neither spoke English nor Spanish made it difficult for communication between Baldwin and Cinque and in court, which the movie gets right...even adding a touch of humor to this aspect. - David F | We've discussed in class the importance of the language barrier between two cultures and how well have movies portrayed this (or not portrayed it at well). Past movies we've watched such as Pocahontas brought up questions such as how does everyone, including the Native Americans, know English even before the British arrived in the New World. Having the Mendes speak in their native tongue provides an authentic feel to the movie, but also conveys an important factor during these trials. The fact that the Mendes neither spoke English nor Spanish made it difficult for communication between Baldwin and Cinque and in court, which the movie gets right...even adding a touch of humor to this aspect. - David F | ||
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| + | Aagh! You totally stole my comment! I agree, Amistad was an amazing way to show how addressing language barrier can actually strengthen a movie's plot and themes. Not only do we see how Baldwin and Cinque struggle to understand one another (sometimes comedically, sometimes seriously) but we see how it helps the grow as people through understanding each other's cultures, and it also is used as evidence that the Mendi are born Africans. This leads to themes- like a people who can't speak for themselves, but overcome the impossible injustices they face as free people. I thought it was a fascinating directorial choice to not use subtitles for the Mendi until about 20-30 min. into the film. The Spanish get subtitles but audience is purposely put in the dark about what the Mendi are saying until people start to really try to talk to them. It makes it take longer for the viewer to understand and get to know the Mendi. It makes them seem foreign, and bewildering, and a bit nonsensical too, like we are looking from the point of view of the Americans who are either ignoring them as intelligent people of another culture or as the Americans who are trying to help them but can't communicate with them. --Jackie Reed | ||
== b Inaccurate/issues: == | == b Inaccurate/issues: == | ||
