I should preface this piece by admitting I haven't seen Django Unchained. As a former film student, I'm certain that ten years ago I would have eagerly clamored into the theater if Tarantino had made Django made back then, anxious to talk with other film students about the chances he takes in his use of dialogue and violence, and how bold his casting choices were. Today, I find myself weary of many of the Tarantinoisms that impressed me so much when I was younger, and more aware of how his narcissism might be the true source of his bold choices, rather than the creative foresight I used to attribute it to. Still, he's one of a handful of filmmakers today that consistently create films that are, for one reason or another, culturally significant and it's hard not to admire how each moment in his films is intentional; when you watch a Tarantino film, you know that everything your seeing and hearing is there for a reason. His broad range of influences (blacksploitation, anime, martial arts, etc.) lead him to create films that are vulnerable to criticism -- not criticism of quality nor his ability as a filmmaker, but about a potential lack of sensitivity concerning race and gender. Quentin Tarantino is a white, American man, and his films tend to use language, stereotypes, and violence in way that comes off as either satirical or offensive, depending on the the interpreter.
Django Unchained is particularly problematic because it is focuses directly on slavery. In class the other day I referenced this article, which references several important lenses by which people have been viewing this movie. Spike Lee has been outspoken in his condemnation of Tarantino's flippant use of 'the n word" in the past, and he's not the only one who finds this trend distasteful. If Lee's main complaint is that Tarantino's characters' (both white and black) cavalier use of the word might destigmatize it in the eyes of his viewers, he might be a little less offended by its use in Django since, by all accounts, it is very much used as a slur. Because Tarantino has been heavily influenced by the blackspoitation films of the '70s, it might be easy to attribute his propensity for using the 'n word' to the material he draws inspiration from. If this is true, is it okay for him to use controversial racial language just because he was influenced by a culture that uses that same language? Would it make a difference if only the black characters in his films used the word when speaking with each other? When, if ever, is it okay to use that word?
If you get a chance, take a look at the interview referenced in the article, starting at at minute 14 or so. Jake Hamilton (that guy would totally be named Jake Hamilton) is trying to ask Samuel L. Jackson a question about the way Tarantino uses 'the n word' and Jackson refuses to answer until Hamilton says the word. It's suuuuuuuper awkward and pretty difficult to watch. Hamilton never actually says it and eventually they awkwardly move on. It really made me wonder how I would react in that situation.
A couple other things:
-It seems significant to me that the existence of this movie (and more pointedly, who made this movie) has generated such passionate discourse, when his previous film, Inglorious Basterds (in which a rogue band of American Jews kill Hitler and burn an entire movie theater filled with famous Nazis) generated very little. If it's irresponsible for Tarantino to make a movie about a slave murdering slave owners, does the same thing hold true for a gentile making a film about Jews murdering Nazis?
-One of the main characters in Django is a white doctor named Dr. King Schultz.
-William Styron (a white man) wrote Confesssions of Nat Turner, which is a fictionalized account of the Virginian slave revolt. Do you think Styron's book and Tarantino's film deserve similar criticism?
ReplyDeleteI saw Django over winter break and definitely had mixed feelings about it. I hadn’t actually seen a Tarantino movie before this so I didn’t really know what to expect. I had the same experience as Browne in this article did – I was surprised by all the laughter throughout such a gory movie. There were parts where everyone laughed, but then there were parts that I didn’t even think were remotely funny and people in the audience were laughing - it made for somewhat of an awkward experience. Overall, I thought the film was extremely well made but can definitely see how people found it to be offensive. Tarantino is known for ruffling feathers, however, and I don’t think he’ll stop anytime soon. I’m pretty sure he has an, “If you don’t like my films, don’t watch them” kind of attitude. Does this make his film-making okay? I’m not really sure if I know how to answer that! But like you said, different people will always interpret the language, violence and stereotypes in completely different ways.
As far as the use of the n-word, I think there are always those will be offended and those who won’t when someone creates a movie, book, etc. about slavery and uses this word. If he didn’t use it that much, critics may have argued that it wasn’t historically accurate. If he does, critics will find it offensive. I’m not agreeing with either view, but I think the arguments will inevitably go along with the creation of a movie like this.
When I first read through this, I instantly thought of the movie "The Help," which after it's release, found similar critiques. The movie which is set in rural Mississippi in the 1960's, follows the story of white woman, Miss Skeeter, just out of college and looking to become a journalist. After learning of the sudden absence of her beloved housemaid, Constantine, she finds herself analyzing the treatment of all the housemaids in the area. With the help of the maids, she is able to write a book that outlines their everyday struggles and what is like to walk in their shoes. The movie is critiqued heavily because while it attempts to highlight the struggles of the African American housemaids, it is only through the help of a white woman that they were able to have their stories told. I read the book and saw the movie, both of which I had loved, but after hearing this backlash to the film, I couldn't help but feel guilty about liking this film.
ReplyDeleteI have generally considered myself a Tarantino fan. I've always admired his ability to create these films that are racey, unhinged, and make you feel completely uncomfortable. He creates films on subjects that so many people refuse to talk about and at the end of the day, whether you find this to be out of narcissism or not, he gets you talking. I obviously can't sit here and say I know Tarantino's intentions behind his films, but he brings these sensitive subjects into light and here we are discussing it, shedding light on the horrible times that Django is set in, and looking deep into our history, which is so important to our identities. I think an important film was created here, and one that shouldn't be diminished because of his race. For all we know maybe he is just trying to understand and take his part in what happened in history.
Then again, maybe he is just in love with himself. I'm not in any way saying that this film couldn't be viewed as offensive, I just find all of his movies to be that way. At what point does someone go too far? Has Tarantino gone too far this time? I'm not sure, but I would be interested in hearing what the cast members thought of the creation of this movie and what their role meant to them.
I watched Django twice. I also watched V for Vendetta; around 12 times. Unlike the dominant adherence to non-violent resistance against oppression, both films make a clear statement as to the contrary. The difference with C for Vendetta is that, V takes up the responsibility of violence, to absolve the masses from the "stain" of it (like another Jesus), and the responsibility of having kept silent and inactive. Django is nothing like that. There is much less violence in this Tarantino film than any other he has done. There is also much more symbolism: the GERMAN dentist-turned-bounty hunter is the spirit of equality, enterpreneurial spirit, progress, freedom; not any American. Django, the submitted, illiterate, broken SLAVE, is the Exterminator-Phoenix-Che Guevara who provides the Southern Scene with a long-sought absolute catharsis (everything burns, everybody dies).
ReplyDeleteAnachronisms are plenty in the film; none of them of any consequence to the spirit of the film.
If you watch that film, do pay attention to the scene where the GERMAN, in the comfort of Mr. Candie's luxurious parlor, listens (carefully) the harpist playing Beethoven, while he is confronted by the mental images of the slave being torn apart by dogs. Beethoven-slave, Beethoven-dogs ripping the slave apart, Beethoven-harp-splatter. But only in fractions of a second, like a knife stabbing the eye, over and over, fastly like lightning; with the soothing, civilized and so sophisticated music of Beethoven in the background. Sublime.
By the way, that particular Beethoven piece was published in 1865, 7 years after the supposed time the film is taking place. Does it really make any difference?
DeleteI recently heard Terry Gross interview Quentin Tarantino on NPR’s Fresh Air (to listen to the interview or read the transcript check out NPR Fresh Air). Gross posed many of the concerns and observations mentioned in Travis’ original entry, as well as, those comments posted by classmates. The overall theme of Tarantino’s response was, “he’s making no apologies.”
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I was intrigued by Tarantino’s anecdote regarding Sergio Corbucci’s original Django film. The film was introduced in 1966 and, although popular in Europe, Asia and Latin America, never gained a following in America and was banned in England in the 1990s due to violent themes. Tarantino explained that movie-goers “couldn't see Django ever in England” unless they watched Jimmy Cliff’s film The Harder They Come. When Jimmy Cliff’s lead character is on the run from authorities he visits a movie theatre and watches Django. Tarantino finishes the story by adding, “Yeah, the couple of scenes that you see of Django in The Harder They Come is the closest that Django ever got to playing in England.”
Just thought I'd add this link I found - http://www.chacha.com/gallery/5505/what-are-the-most-offensive-moments-in-django-unchained/52247
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