Brief Synopsis
The crash is a 2004 movie that underscores racial and social tensions in Los Angeles by interweaving the stories of several characters without separating them into victims and offenders. Starring Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, and Thandie Newton, the movie shows how the lives of a black detective, a Caucasian lawyer, an African American Hollywood director, a Muslim immigrant, and a hard-working Latino family man interweave along the lines of race, cynicism, and social tensions in a span of 36 hours. The movie runs back and forth between these socially and ethnically diverse characters to illuminate situations and contexts that show the dynamics of racism in contemporary society.
Initial Reaction
The movie triggered feelings of how we employ the race card in normal social relationships in spite of our denial that we are not racists. Although this was initially expected, the realization that everyone has racist inclinations in them was a new concept that took root after watching the movie. Racism has always been looked upon in negative light, thus it was rather difficult to reconcile with the idea of viewing racism in the context of a normal predisposition as demonstrated by the various characters in the movie. Although these feelings are subjective, they changed my perception of looking at racial and social tensions in society by virtue of the demonstration that they are normal aspects that are inherent to human beings.
Depiction of Various Cultural Aspects
The movie illuminates various biases and assumptions by demonstrating how black people and other social minorities are treated with contempt in society. The scene where black characters proceed to steal a car belonging to the wife of the Caucasian district attorney captures how these biases and racial assumptions reinforce our attitudes and behavior. Available literature demonstrates that racial biases and assumptions are important ingredients in the development of stereotypical beliefs about a particular culture or ethnic group (Marger, 2015). The high social status of the two Caucasian characters influence accepted group actions.
The cultural aspects of national origin, gender, religion, age, social class, tolerance, respect, and prejudice are also depicted in the movie through the characterization of various personalities. For example, the aspects of national origin and social class are well depicted in the characters of the Persian immigrant, who fears to socialize with others in the neighborhood. This orientation demonstrates that customs can influence how people interact and socialize with others (Marger, 2015). Bullock (Jean) captures the aspects of race, intolerance, and prejudice through her demonstration of how she views people from other races. Her behavior towards the black men who proceed to steal her car shows her fixed mindset on people of color.
Stereotypical Aspects
The first example is where Bullock (Jean) grabs her husband’s arm upon seeing two black men in the street to express her fear, while the second example is where the Persian store owner attempts to buy a gun in a firearm store owned by a Caucasian male and is viewed with a negative mindset due to his religious orientation. These stereotypical aspects serve to show how some individuals prejudice or show negative predispositions of behavior to other individuals merely because of belonging to a particular group (Marger, 2015).
Lessons
The viewer learns that racism and prejudice are involuntary reflexes that are innate to human beings and are rather perpetuated due to ignorance and misconception, rather than an active demonstration of malevolent personality. Although the movie attempts to demonstrate that our prejudices are often correct and that spatial segregation is an indispensable iniquity in society, it fails to explain how some racial experiences have turned tragic and why racism continues to be used as an instrument of manipulation and undue influence.
Reference
Marger, M.N. (2015). Race and ethnic relations: American and global perspectives (10th ed.). Stamford, CT: Wadsworth Publishing.