Introduction
Social inequality is one of the most consequential problems of modern society, which rises in various spheres of human activity and society, including culture. As one of the types of art in the modern world, films are a powerful media resource that promotes certain values and touches upon social problems that are acute in the current socio-cultural system. The issue of social inequality in cinematographic art has been handled more than once and portrayed in different genres. This topic is most authentically raised in the HBO documentary Class Divide.
Directed by Mark Levine, the film explores Class Divides, the impact of gentrification on New York City’s West Chelsea neighborhood, and general social issues against this backdrop. The most salient point is the deep socioeconomic division and its impact on communities undergoing gentrification. The film highlights the stark contrast between the low-income residents of the Elliot-Chelsea public housing projects and the wealthy students attending Avenue: The School of the World. The film sheds light on socioeconomic divisions and divisions within the community and explores how gentrification has affected the lives of longtime residents and newcomers.
Problems of Social Inequality
The Class Divide documentary presents interviews with various people, including parents and community members, students, and teachers, who offer different perspectives on inequality, education, and urban development issues. As an example of a global theme, the dynamics of the New York metropolitan area are taken, where special attention is paid to the macro- and microcosm. Chelsea West, a Manhattan borough that has experienced a significant real estate boom in recent years thanks largely to the success of an innovative city park, is presented as a macrocosm in the film (Levin, 2015). In a larger context, the microcosm emerges at the intersection of 10th Avenue and 26th Street (Levin, 2015). Here, the prestigious and expensive K-12 school coexists with an apartment complex that houses some of Manhattan’s most disadvantaged families whose children attend public or parochial schools.
Although the documentary mostly features interviews with various adults, the directors place particular emphasis on the deep thoughts shared by children living on both sides of 10th Avenue (Levin, 2015). These young voices reflect on their personal circumstances and the various paths life has given them. Their perspectives offer a poignant commentary on the stark contrast between privilege and poverty, shedding light on the destinies they forge in their respective environments.
The most striking example from the film is the eight-year-old girl Rosa and her family, who reflect on social inequality, poverty, dreams, and opportunities. “For a kid her age,” she “saw a lot of staff” in her area. She even had friends who died, and in her words, “she understands that” (Levin, 2015). However, the girl, like her brother Danny, does not lose hope for a better future.
Education
One of the critical aspects of inequality that is brought up in the film is the unequal access to resources and opportunities that arise from this socioeconomic divide. It shows how disadvantaged residents of public housing projects face multiple challenges, including limited educational opportunities, lack of access to quality health care, and limited job prospects. This disparity is exacerbated by the proximity of a neighboring elite private school, where students can receive an education in an ‘elite’ one (Levin, 2015). In their power are vast resources and opportunities that can significantly affect their future. That is, the documentary examines the role of education as a tool for social mobility and the perpetuation of inequality. The directors highlight this theme by demonstrating the differences between public housing residents and private school students (Levin, 2015). In this way, the film encourages viewers to critically analyze how access to quality education can exacerbate or mitigate socioeconomic inequalities.
Gentrification
The documentary also highlights the broader implications of gentrification for the social stratification of the community. Gentrification often results in rising housing costs, displacement of longtime residents, and loss of neighborhood cohesion (Gold, 2016). Focusing on these contrasting worlds, Class Divide raises questions about the long-term effects of gentrification, rising income inequality, and the challenges marginalized communities face. Even though people from this area live in the same space, they exist in entirely different worlds.
Conclusion
Thus, social inequality in the cinema reflects everything that happens or happened in the country, from slavery to banditry. This problem constantly makes us think about the dangers and social consequences of inequality as a social phenomenon. Given that documentaries capture real stories, this may be a warning to the modern generation about the monstrous problems that are a direct result of the material polarization of the population in a given society. The most important point emphasized in the documentary Class Divide is the socioeconomic gap. The main issues presented within this theme are the impact on marginalized communities, unequal access to resources and opportunities, and gentrification. The film encourages viewers to think critically about these issues and their implications for social justice.
References
Gold, D. M. (2016). Review: “class divide” shows the extremes hypergentrification creates in a neighborhood. The New York Times. Web.
Levin, M. (2015). Class divide [Film]. HBO Max.