Why we should, frankly, give a damn

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Why we should, frankly, give a damn

When is it right to ban art on the screen?

By Maan Jalal
 maan@khaleejtimes.com

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Published: Sun 10 Sep 2017, 5:04 PM

Last updated: Sat 16 Sep 2017, 5:54 PM

There have been huge debates over issues of race and racial history in the US recently. And obviously these issues have bled out into the mainstream, affecting pop culture, movies and movie history. Debating these issues in the arts is important though, I find, some of the recent measures taken bizarre.

Iconic film, Gone with the Wind is being pulled from a series of classic movies in Memphis Tennessee for its portrayal of slavery and pride in the confederate flag - a symbol of racism, oppression and slavery.

Now, I'm not an American, I've never even visited the country. And no matter how many times I may have read Alex Hayley's Roots and empathise with African American history, it doesn't make me an expert on the subject of race relations in America. But I understand the importance of conserving the depictions of history through the human experience through the arts. I couldn't disagree more with the banning of this film.
Gone with the Wind was filmed in 1939 and was and still remains, in my opinion, one of the greatest films ever made. It was ahead of its time on so many levels for it's technical, stylistic purposes, and let's not forget the amazing performances as well. Gone with the Wind won 10 Oscars, one of those went to the first ever African American actress Hattie McDaniels for Best Supporting Actress.

The movie was of course based on the epic novel by Margaret Mitchell which was a huge bestseller and in my opinion a book that, despite its commercial success and its place in the mainstream, has never been given the critical praise it rightly deserves.The novel was first published in 1936 (let that sink in for a minute) and details the story of the determined Scarlett O'Hara during the time of the American Civil War which lasted from 1861 to 1865. As a novel, it is a feat in itself, ahead of its time for depicting a woman who was, unknown even to herself, grappling with many ideas about feminism and equality, about sexuality and the self, public life versus private life, greed versus charity all set against the backdrop of the American South.

It is one of the few novels that I believe were successfully translated into film thanks to the vision of two men - director Victor Flemming (the man who also directed The Wizard of OZ) and David O. Selznick the American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive.

The film and the novel don't glorify slavery. They depict a time when this terrible practice was common place and gives us a glimpse of the different experiences of these people. This is important, on so many levels. It is the responsibility of the arts to depict all times, difficult, uncomfortable or not in the most authentic manner. Banning films or book will not help the cause that is currently being fought here. I think a more important discussion that needs to be had isn't about which films need to be banned but which films and books need to be made to depict, realistic stories of all races that are currently underrepresented and misinterpreted.


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