Monday, October 11

We watched more of our second film interpretation of Reconstruction, the PBS documentary of that name, then discussed briefly how it compares not only to Birth of a Nation  but also to the mainstream interpretation of Reconstruction throughout the twentieth century.

HW due Tuesday:
There will be a quiz covering:
* Birth of a Nation
* the historical handout on Reconstruction from Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States.
* the parts we watched from the documentary film Reconstruction

Friday, October 8

Students received a historical handout on the Reconstruction period as an alternative interpretation to that of Birth of a Nation.  They should read it over the weekend; it will be included in the material covered on a quiz to be given Tuesday.

We watched short sections from Reconstruction, a PBS documentary, to provide historical information and -- once again -- a different perspective from Griffith's on Reconstruction in the South.

Coming up Tuesday:
Quiz over Birth and Reconstruction.

Thursday, October 7

We continued to address questions raised in students' minds by Birth of a Nation.  Discussion of the strange spectacle of whites in blackface playing blacks led to an examination of the film's use of the spectre of miscegenation as the ultimate bete noire (so to speak).  We traced the history of anti-miscegenation laws and the "one-drop rule" in the post-slavery U.S.

Wednesday, October 6

Mr. P shared information about the impact of Birth of a Nation on its contemporary audience and about its central role in the revival of the KKK in the 1920's.

Students worked in groups of four to identify questions they have about the film's message, and we began to answer some of those questions, starting with the use of white actors to play the lead black roles. To put that matter in context, we looked at several images of blackface performers from the 19th and early 20th century.

Tuesday, October 5

We finished watching Birth of a Nation, and students finished their checklist of techniques used in the film. 

Monday, October 4

Students continued documenting film techniques while we began the second and central part of Birth of a Nation.  We observed the birth of Ku Klux Klan and watched to the point where Gus closes in on little sister, who is trapped at the top of a cliff.

Friday, October 1

Students continued to fill in their checklists of techniques in Birth of a Nation while we watched the conclusion of Part I of the film (up through Lincoln's assassination), and we discussed the film's interpretation of the causes of the Civil War.