12 Years a Slave analysis

Solomon Northup is a free man, who was deceived, abducted and sold into slavery by his friends. As a slave, Solomon narrates his life experience living in Louisiana for 12 years, sold as a piece of commerce from one enslaver to another1. In the beginning, it is indicated that “This movie is centered on a true narrative” thus while viewing the film, we become the carrier of narrator’s reminiscence as a slave. When watching the film, we emotionally feel attached to his life experience as a slave. Below is how 12 Years a Slave was used to imitate cultural myths and the stereotype about race and ethnicity in the American-American community. They point to certain physical likeness shared between many black people with the large apes, such as the heavy set face, long arms, and head shape.

Such close resemblance of just a few features has led to many white people to believe that blacks are less civilized or mentally inferior just like apes2. White people use a word such as “Niggers” to humiliate and demean people of color. Nigger is used to referring to lazy, stupid, dirt, worthless person. In 12 Years a Slave, white enslavers, Master Tibeats and Master Chapin use “nigger” word while addressing the blacks. Mr. Epps has an affection for the “black flesh”, specifically toward his most prolific slave Patsey1. For instance, there is a scene in the movie where slaves had completed cotton their cotton picking task on the farm and had assembled in the gin house, submissively waiting as their hampers of cotton were being weighted.

Patsey had once more succeeded to pick over 500 pounds of cotton (230 kg), which were double the average. As Mr. In 12 Years a Slave film, Steve McQueen clearly replicate this cultural myth. In the movie, all whites are seen to have slaves who work on their plantation and homestead1. Slaves are sold from one master to another. Also, another cultural myth is that all African-Americans living in the United States were slaves3. People still believe that only blacks were enslaved in the New World. Often white people are educated, knows how to read and write, rich and hold bigger government positions4. In the movie 12 Years a Slave, McQueen replicates this ethnicity stereotype. For instance, most white people in the movie are considered as masters, own a large tract of land and live in better homesteads compared to the blacks who were slaves living in crowded rooms1.

Masters uses words such as niggers or boys, “Rush in boys, rush in” to degrade black people. In addition, people of color are often considered too poor, living in misery and poverty, lack formal education, work under harsh condition and are too prayerful4. In conclusion, the movie 12 Years a slave clearly replicate cultural myths and stereotypes about race and ethnicity. In 12 Years a Slave, white southerner didn’t consider Negroes as the human being who deserves a decent life. Instead, they viewed them as dull animals who were to be used as property. The film reminds viewers how the slaves faced brutality in the hands of their masters. The movie visibly imitates cultural myths and stereotypes about race and ethnicity in American society.