UAS Cinema and Social Studies
A Call for Change in Modern Racism, Django Unchained
WRITTEN BY:
Avril Nathalia - 2702334494
Jagad Shasika Pradnasakti - 2702305853
Nethania Anneldean Teguh - 2702214073
School of Design
BINUS University
2023
4 Level of Meanings
Referential
In pre-civil war era America, a freed slave with the help of a German bounty hunter sought
out to free his enslaved wife and take revenge against his oppressors. In the end he
ultimately triumphs, but not without sacrifice.
Explicit
A freed slave and his partner embark on a journey to free his wife. After seeing many other
slaves being oppressed and treated brutally, he eventually realises that the cruelness must
be dealt with equal justice.
Implicit
A bounty hunter helps a free slave in freeing his wife. Through bearing witness to a series of
horrific atrocities, a man learns the dehumanisation process resulting from the acts of
slavery and racial supremacy.
Symptomatic
When racism is still a prevalent problem in the modern era, the film may be a call for change
as it shows the extreme emotional and psychological effects of racism.
Argumentative Essay
A Call for Change in Modern Racism, Django Unchained
Racism. A problem that is still quite prevalent, even in the modern world. A problem that still
inflicts pain and suffering despite existing in an era of progress and enlightenment. A
problem which ultimately emerges as the centre point of Quentin Tarantino’s western film
“Django Unchained''.
Django Unchained is a film that portrays one of the darkest times of humanity. A film that
pictures the brutality of slavery that existed in pre-civil war America. In the film, many African
Americans are shown to be treated like livestock, forced to traverse the desert, chained
together like a herd of animals being led to the market. Moreover, men are being chased
around like a flock of roosters, tied upside down and caged like trapped animals,
emphasising the objectification and disregard for their humanity. The cruel effects of racial
supremacy and oppression are graphically shown throughout the film as it takes toll on its
victims, highlighting profound injustice and dehumanising treatment being endured on
African Americans.
Most disturbing of all, fighting to entertain white people, called ‘The Mandingo Fight’, where it
forces two purchased slaves to fight for their lives. Illustrating the total lack of respect for
human life.
The main character of the film, Django, is a direct victim of this dehumanising treatment. A
man who was born into slavery and subjugated into a life full of racial violence and
oppression. One of the most captivating arguments the film makes is through the ‘normality’
of how people view the violence to black people. This violence is shown by the extreme
physical and physiological abuse that slaves live through. Just like Django’s character, silent
and a submissive figure that is stripped of his dignity and identity by the brutal institution of
slavery. In Django transformation from a passive victim to active character symbolises and
endorses violence in service of justice.
There were movements such as Black Lives Matter campaigning against police brutality and
systemic racism in 2012 and Django’s quest in chasing his freedom, as well as his wife,
mirrors the real world struggle of those who participated in social justice and against racial
inequality.
The belief of white supremacy convinces twisted and abused minds. In this case, Stephen’s
role. The subtlety of this belief is clear when he shows his loyalty to his master, named
Candie by assisting in the harsh treatment of the other slaves, despite being a black man
himself. This can be seen in individuals who knowingly and unknowingly participate in the
harm of their own communities.
The film argues that this kind of torture is still exists in today’s society. This film draws
parallels to ongoing struggles against racism, violence, and the pursuit of equality.
This film came out in 2012 was also to talk about the misrepresentations of black history in
social media. In this case, this movie seeks for the main character of this film to be portrayed
as a black protagonist taking control of his own life for once and seeking justice for his loved
ones. This can be perceived as enabling and to go against historical pictures that typically
oppressed African Americans.
Django Unchained exposes the cruel slavery reality that happened in America in the pre-civil
war era, highlighting how they dehumanise African American. The film portrays the cruelty
and brutality towards slaves in detail, from how they were treated to how they object to the
savage Mandingo fights. Similar to Black Lives Matter movement, the main character,
Django, represents the transformation of a helpless victim to a symbol of resistance. This
film challenges historical misrepresentations and resonates with current struggles against
racism and inequality by picturing Django as a black protagonist seeking justice.
Reference
Bordwell, D. (2019). Film Art: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Tarantino, Q. (2012). Django Unchained [Film]. Columbia Pictures.
Turnitin