Much like other instances in which cultures have been colonized and their history has been destroyed, this knowledge that there were thriving studios catering to various demographics is devastating to those invested in visual culture as a tool for activism. It is only marginally less frustrating that to me it feels hollywood and mainstream successful filmmakers are now credited with making groundbreaking strides. I've noticed a lot of discourse online about whether birth of a nation should be taught. Many have pointed out there are many alternative ways to teach numerous film concepts popularized through Birth of a Nation. It's influence is there and it may have popularized many conventions, but teaching a film for the sole purpose of the technical aspects while subjecting students to three hours of such a film isn't justifiable, I think. It is astonishing to me that "Within Our Gates" doesn't feel so old in the way many of these films do, I think part of that is the lack of stories about black people that reach mainstream audiences through hollywood. I also really enjoy stories with somewhat complicated and messy romantic plots with numerous characters. The scene towards the very end which cut many times between the bonfire and the attack had an intense effect and was well made. It's interesting to see how far back respectability politics goes, and how both people's lives as well as their stories being made and shown are on the line.
When I was in school, the professor put Birth of a Nation on with no warning about its subject matter and it really freaked me out to be the only Black student sitting in a class of white students watching a KKK propaganda piece. Later in class, the professor highlighted Griffith's contribution to narrative film with only a slight mention of the film's content. It was super strange. That said, I think that to not teach this film is to whitewash the history of Hollywood and the white supremacy t hat undergirds its success. This is one of the most impactful films of all time and it is also a KKK propaganda piece that resulted in a Klan revival that resulted in thousands of Black deaths. I for one, refuse to look away and act like it never happened while I respect others rights to do that. I think that if we erase the film through a kind of refusal to watch we dont necessarily change the context of white supremacy in which Hollywood still comfortably sits.
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