== a Right: ==

== a Right: ==

The movie did a good job portraying all the different people who worked in the mines. There were native men and children, as well as the blacks and Italians, who were brought in to break the strike. - Christine W.

The movie did a good job '''portraying all the different people who worked in the mines'''. There were native men and children, as well as the blacks and Italians, who were brought in to break the strike. - Christine W.

I thought the movie did a good job showing the conflicting sentiments about joining a union. They showed all the men who wanted change but knew the company would just bring in scabs. It also showed how the blacks and the Italians were persuaded to join the union so they could be stronger. The movie also showed how women felt about their husbands and sons joining the union. - Christine W.

I thought the movie did a good job showing the '''conflicting sentiments about joining a union'''. They showed all the men who wanted change but knew the company would just bring in scabs. It also showed how the blacks and the Italians were persuaded to join the union so they could be stronger. The movie also showed how women felt about their husbands and sons joining the union. - Christine W.

Along with the idea of wanting to join the union and being conflicted, it seems that most men did know which was best for them.  They knew that the union might get them better wages and conditions, but at the same time joining the union meant they could be out of a job.  Joining the union also could mean upsetting the company owners, which could lead to losing their home or other privileges. The movie did a good job showing what could happen if you upset or went against the mine owners.-- Kellye Sorber

Along with the idea of wanting to join the union and being conflicted, it seems that most men did know which was best for them.  They knew that the union might get them better wages and conditions, but at the same time joining the union meant they could be out of a job.  Joining the union also could mean upsetting the company owners, which could lead to losing their home or other privileges. The movie did a good job showing what could happen if you upset or went against the mine owners.-- Kellye Sorber

I liked how Joe tapped into the idea of Scientific Management during his first rousing speech at the workers meeting. He described the exploitative practices of the bosses and how workers were like parts of a machine that could be replaced. - Jason Ward

I liked how Joe tapped into '''the idea of Scientific Management''' during his first rousing speech at the workers meeting. He described the exploitative practices of the bosses and how workers were like parts of a machine that could be replaced. - Jason Ward

Agreeing with Jason, I have to say I was actually kind of surprised that Kenehan brought up the subject of Scientific Management during his speech.  I think it was helpful for swaying the men to the union because I don't think many men realized just how invaluable they really were to large companies.  The white men could easily have been (and were in the process of being) replaced by the Italian men and the blacks that were also arriving in Matewan.  -Kelly Wuyscik

Agreeing with Jason, I have to say I was actually kind of surprised that Kenehan brought up the subject of Scientific Management during his speech.  I think it was helpful for swaying the men to the union because I don't think many men realized just how invaluable they really were to large companies.  The white men could easily have been (and were in the process of being) replaced by the Italian men and the blacks that were also arriving in Matewan.  -Kelly Wuyscik

I liked that the Italian woman and the old white woman, though at first not being very good neighbors (at least the old one) eventually became reconciled to share and sit together--and to provide comfort when the old lady's son (grandson?) was killed.  The union had to get the miners to accept the minority scabs who wanted to join the union with them, so it seems appropriate to show that their families had to learn to get along and accept each other, as well. -Whitney Holcomb

I liked that the Italian woman and the old white woman, though at first not being very good neighbors (at least the old one) eventually became reconciled to share and sit together--and to provide comfort when the old lady's son (grandson?) was killed.  The union had to get the miners to accept the minority scabs who wanted to join the union with them, so it seems appropriate to show that their families had to learn to get along and accept each other, as well. -Whitney Holcomb

I think that the movie was pretty generally accurate. It's not the most perfect of the films we've watched, but it did seem to present most of the different sides and opinions involved in the formation of unions and the difficulties of the time. For the record, 'villain' is a side, in this case, as we are still talking about a Hollywood movie, and the corporations and secret police could be legitimately cruel. ---Amanda Russell

I think that the movie was pretty generally accurate. It's not the most perfect of the films we've watched, but '''it did seem to present most of the different sides and opinions involved in the formation of unions and the difficulties of the time.''' For the record, 'villain' is a side, in this case, as we are still talking about a Hollywood movie, and the corporations and secret police could be legitimately cruel. ---Amanda Russell

The movie did a good job with showing how even though the men had skepticisms about joining the Union, it was necessary in order to stand up to the mining companies and to demand that they be treated better than just mere "equipment." The movie accurately portrayed  the brutality that went along with the competition for jobs between races and ethnicities. Also, as Kenehan pointed out it was a fight between those who worked and those who didn't ( bosses standing around holding guns as miners walked out of mine), it shouldn't be about skin color or background because at the end of the day they're all workers and they're all oppressed. --Mallory C.

The movie did a good job with showing how even though the men had skepticisms about joining the Union, it was necessary in order to stand up to the mining companies and to demand that they be treated better than just mere "equipment." '''The movie accurately portrayed  the brutality that went along with the competition for jobs between races and ethnicities'''. Also, as Kenehan pointed out it was a fight between those who worked and those who didn't ( bosses standing around holding guns as miners walked out of mine), it shouldn't be about skin color or background because at the end of the day they're all workers and they're all oppressed. --Mallory C.

I haven't finished the movie yet, in fact I'm not in to it all that much.  However, from the beginning of the movie they did get right just how dirty the men got, and also that they coughed a lot from the dust and particles. --Ashley Wilkins

I haven't finished the movie yet, in fact I'm not in to it all that much.  However, '''from the beginning of the movie they did get right just how dirty the men got, and also that they coughed a lot from the dust and particles.''' --Ashley Wilkins

The tensions between the whites/blacks, blacks/Italians and Italians/Whites were all very well-portrayed in my opinion. The attacks that Few Clothes incurred towards the beginning of the movie, as well as the tension between the Italian grandmother and white mother throughout the film were both very realistic to me. -Cash Nelson

The tensions between the whites/blacks, blacks/Italians and Italians/Whites were all very well-portrayed in my opinion. The attacks that Few Clothes incurred towards the beginning of the movie, as well as the tension between the Italian grandmother and white mother throughout the film were both very realistic to me. -Cash Nelson

We learned in class that the Red Scare was a real blow to the Labor Movement in the U.S and people were suspicious of anyone/anything that could be seen as promoting Communism. This is shown in the movie when Hatfield (I believe) is writing a letter to Felts and says he believes it's possible Kenehan could be a Red. --Mallory C.

We learned in class that the Red Scare was a real blow to the Labor Movement in the U.S and people were suspicious of anyone/anything that could be seen as promoting Communism. This is shown in the movie when Hatfield (I believe) is writing a letter to Felts and says he believes it's possible Kenehan could be a Red. --Mallory C.

I felt the movie did a good job in portraying the problems facing the workers. Particularly I felt they did a good job dealing with the issue of the company store and company owned houses. The movie made clear the problems mine workers faced because of this arrangement and also shows the fact that the company really did have a lot of power. - Jonathan Bell

I felt the movie did a good job in portraying the problems facing the workers. Particularly I felt they did a good job dealing with '''the issue of the company store and company owned houses.''' The movie made clear the problems mine workers faced because of this arrangement and also shows the fact that the company really did have a lot of power. - Jonathan Bell

I thought the movie portrayed the level of desperation and volatility that was present in these areas where unions were trying to get off the ground. Before the title even came up you are treated to the hostility of the miners toward the "dago" scabs. Then there is the attack of the black miners brought in as well. The ethnic/racial tension was pretty well represented. I also felt that the taking up of arms against the company was powerful in its depiction of the desperation of the miners, and the lack of real government control in the region. -Bryan Mull

I thought the movie portrayed the '''level of desperation and volatility that was present in these areas''' where unions were trying to get off the ground. Before the title even came up you are treated to the hostility of the miners toward the "dago" scabs. Then there is the attack of the black miners brought in as well. The ethnic/racial tension was pretty well represented. I also felt that the taking up of arms against the company was powerful in its depiction of the desperation of the miners, and the '''lack of real government control in the region'''. -Bryan Mull