Name: Simoné McGautha Date: 8/27/2013 Video: Middle Passage Discussion Video WorksheetUse the Discussion Worksheet provided BELOW to organize your notes for class discussion of the videos. Respond briefly and succinctly to worksheet questions in the space provided. Make sure to cite page numbers or pertinent references to support your responses. You are required to submit this Video Worksheet to Dr. Langley via email ([email protected]) by 7:00am of the date we are scheduled to discuss the respective videos listed below. See Syllabus for dates and other pertinent submission information. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. Author’s Thesis: What idea, concept, thought, or argument is the filmmaker of this video attempting to convey? Cite scenes from video (or comments from narrators) where the thesis can be found. The author is trying to convey a thought that regardless whom you may be or what your experience and ties are to the middle passage, you will feel an emotion of empathy from watching the video. This is why he is so graphic and the reason why he doesn’t shy away from certain scenes. It’s almost like he wants you to know and see everything.2. What’s at stake for the filmmaker? That is, what are the implications of the filmmaker’s thesis for our understanding of African American literature? Cite scenes from the video (or comments from narrators) that support your claims about what’s at stake. The filmmaker is extremely honest. What I mean by that, is that he draws the viewer in by making the scenes of the slaves as detailed as possible. He wants you to see what these people went through because adding visuals evokes different emotions. He is taking a risk doing this because not everyone will respond they way he is hoping for. Some may cut the video off, some may not feel any kind of way. It’s all a matter of how they connect to the story.3. How does the filmmaker support his or her claims? For example, to what texts, sources, research or other materials does the filmmaker refer, or use? What approach or strategy does the filmmaker use to support his or her claims? Cite scenes from video (or comments from narrators) to support your claims about the filmmaker’s methodology (way or approach to making his or her claims). The music he uses soothes our minds. The way he angles the camera and zooms into certain characters’ eyes made me feel as if I was looking into that slave’s soul. I felt as if I was with him and felt every emotion he felt. For example, the scenes on the ship, the filmmaker purposely didn’t give any of the slaves’ names, nor did he focus on their faces as much. I think he did that to show us that it didn’t matter who their identity was because once they were on that ship, it was all stripped from them anyway. At times, he doesn’t show us the chains on the slave’s feet, he instead lets us hear them and imaginewhat bondage is for ourselves. Laslty, there was a scene where the narrator mentions the business of the white man and says, “they didn’t know how to be still and allow harmony to take over.” This was interesting to me because it meant to me that these white men were messing up destiny by enslaving people. 4. Describe your opinion by briefly and. Cite page scenes from video (or comments from narrator) for support for the reasons for your interpretation or point of view regarding thisfilm. a) What is your opinion of this film’s argument? Hint: Try to locate at least one positive thing, and at least one aspect of the film that you would problematize. What I liked about the film was the honesty of it. The filmmaker and narrator didn’t edit anything for the viewer’s sake. Instead, challenged us to sit there and watch. What I didn’t like was the fact that I’ve seen so many movies about the middle passage and non of the movies show how the men were taken as far as their homes being invaded.I feel that that information could allow people to understand more in detail the extent Africans trusted these men.b) What have you learned from this video that you did not know before— any new information, knowledge, interpretations gained? Just a better insight was gained from watching this film. I will never know everything about the middle passage regardless of how many movies I have watched, but seeing this movie evoked more emotions for me.c) What aspects of this film have you found most useful for the African American literature we are reading this semester, and why?The honesty and vividness of the movie will allow us to relate to the readings more. When you read something, it doesn’t do the same thing that a video
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