Analysis of the Film Django Unchained Through Marx, Veblen, and Martineau’s Perspectives
Film & Social Theory Paper: 5–7-page paper.
Part of the challenge of learning classical theory is applying the concepts introduced in class to contemporary culture. Films have been a fundamental medium for over a hundred years for having people consider social issues, problems, and other social phenomena. For this paper, choose a film from the list supplied below and write an analytical paper of 5-7 pages that synthesizes with three of these social theorists Choose one from: Comte, Durkheim, or Marx. Choose one from Weber, Simmel, DuBois, Veblen, Freud, Martineau, Gilman, or Truth. Your third choice may be from any Marx, Veblen, Martineau, Gilman, Durkheim, Simmel, DuBois, Truth, or Comte.
Imagine watching the film you choose with an audience of four—you and three of the social theorists. Imagine them interpreting and analyzing the film and supporting or arguing with one another as they discuss the characters, plot, setting, action, and theme of the film. What would Durkheim, Marx, and Veblen have to say about the plot and characterizations of one of the many film versions of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations or Hard Times or of the classic Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life? What would Marx, Veblen, and Gilman think of the themes developed in any of the various film versions of Jane Austen’s Emma (a modern version of Clueless) or Parasite? What would Marx, Veblen, and Martineau think of the plot and characterizations of Mean Girls or The Devil Wears Prada? How would Marx, Durkheim and Truth respond to Erin Brockovich? What would Durkheim, Simmel, and Truth make of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly? Imagine asking what DuBois, Truth, and Comte would think of The Help or Hidden Figures.
In your paper you will need to:
- Write an introduction in which you name the film and the three theorists you have chosen, providing a rationale for why you chose each to analyze the film.
- Provide a brief plot summary of the film, and critical information such as the year it was released, who directed it, and the main characters. Information about the film should be available at IMDb.com This summary must be no more than 125 words, a long paragraph, a half page, at most.
- Develop separate paragraphs in the body of the paper. Name and explain concepts developed by the social theorists you have chosen to analyze not only the plot, action, and setting but the characterizations of the major parts played by the actors. Using each theorist, explain what social forces have shaped the characters, and have influenced their motivations, aspirations, goals, and behaviors? What kind of society do they live in? How does that society shape the individual? You must analyze and interpret the film, using the theorists; don’t get carried away with merely describing the film’s story.
- Balance your use of the theorists. You must use all three equally.
- Use the APA to create parenthetical citations and references for background information about the film. Of course, if you consult other external sources, e.g., film reviews or scholarship about the film (there may be some) you must cite and reference. (Wikipedia and blogs are not acceptable sources but they may guide you to sources that are).
Format: Double-space your paper and use 10-12 Times Roman or Ariel fonts. A title page and reference page do not count toward the 5-7 pages required. Use peer reviewed reliable academic sources
Film & Social Theory
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An Analysis of the film Django Unchained through Marx, Veblen, and Martineau’s perspectives
For this paper, I analyze the film Django Unchained through the lens of three social theorists: Karl Marx, Thorstein Veblen, and Harriet Martineau. These theorists’ respective concepts on class, consumption, and gender provide unique and insightful perspectives on the themes and characters of the select film. Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is a western film set in the antebellum South. It follows the journey of a freed slave, Django (Jamie Foxx), as he seeks to rescue his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), from a brutal plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). The movie examines race, power, and violence themes, featuring a complex and morally ambiguous cast. The theory of class and exploitation by Karl Marx is particularly relevant to the film, as it is set in a society where slavery is the dominant mode of production. Thorsten Veblen's concept of conspicuous consumption further offers insight into the lavish and decadent lifestyle of plantation owners like Candie and how they use their wealth and status to manipulate others. Harriet Martineau's focus on gender and the oppression of women also sheds light on the experiences of female characters like Broomhilda, who are subject to multiple forms of oppression because of their race and gender. By analyzing Django Unchained through the three theorists, this paper hopes to understand the film's themes and characters better and explore how social theory can be applied to contemporary culture.
Plot Summary
Django Unchained premiered in 2012, having been directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kerry Washington. The movie tracks the story of Django (Foxx), a slave freed by the bounty hunter King Schultz (Waltz), to help him track down some criminals. After completing their mission, Django enlists Schultz's help to find his wife, Broomhilda (Washington), who was sold to a plantation in Mississippi. The two plan to infiltrate the plantation and rescue Broomhilda, but they must navigate the treacherous and violent world of the slave-owning South. Django Unchained review’s themes of racism, revenge, and justice, by further featuring Tarantino's signature blend of dark humor, stylized violence, and sharp dialogue (Tarantino, 2012).
The Class and Exploitation model
Marx's theory of class and exploitation is grounded on the idea that society is divided into two core classes: the bourgeoisie - the owners of the means of production, and the proletariat - the workers who sell their labor to the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat by extracting surplus value from their labor, which leads to wealth accumulation for the bourgeoisie and the destitution of the proletariat (Ho-Won & Eleftherios, 2008). Marx presents the term commodification, where laborers, just like the goods they produce, are themselves a product to be bought and sold (“Chapter 2: Karl Marx (1818-1883),” 2021). In Django Unchained, class dynamics is evident through the relationship between the slave owners and the slaves. The slave owners, like Candie, are the bourgeoisie who own the means of production (the land and the slaves) and extract surplus value from the labor of the slaves, who are the proletariat. The slaves are treated as commodities, purchased and sold for the benefit of the slave owners, and are subjected to pitiless and dehumanizing conditions. Besides, the cast in Django Unchained is shaped by the social forces of class, race, and gender. Django, as a freed slave, is motivated by his desire to rescue his wife and to seek revenge against his oppressors. His experiences as a slave shape his view of the world and his determination to fight against the oppressive system of slavery. Candie, conversely, is driven by his desire for wealth and power and his belief in the dominance of the white race. He uses his wealth and status to control others, including his slaves and his sister, Lara Lee (Laura Cayouette). Broomhilda is exposed to numerous forms of oppression, as a slave and as a woman, and her experiences echo the intersection of race and gender in the antebellum South. Marx’s examination of “alienated labor” brings about the concept of alienation, where the dehumanizing separation of workers from production means their species and humanity creates a clear depiction of capitalism. He compares the worker to a cog in a machine, a nonessential object performing routinized tasks (“Chapter 2: Karl Marx (1818-1883),” 2021). The slave-owning South was a society in which the bourgeoisie, represented by the slave owners, held all the power and wealth. In contrast, the proletariat, represented by the slaves, is exploited and oppressed.
The theory of conspicuous consumption
Thorstein Veblen's theory of conspicuous consumption postulates that individuals engage in lavish spending and display wealth to gain social status and prestige. This behavior is not driven by a genuine desire for the goods or servi...