Annotated Bibliography

“Imperialism at Home: Race and Victorian Women’s Fiction”

Meyer’s overarching claim is that the novel Wuthering Heights criticises the British imperialism. She highlights the oppressive aspects of British society in the nineteenth-century observed by Emily Bronte, and that her novel suggests the retaliation of those who have been oppressed. Meyer argues that Bronte delightedly releases Heathcliff's potentials of confrontation, which gradually turn the previous oppressed as the new oppressor and through this depicts reverse colonization.

The article highlights racial differences in relation to the slave trade and ownership. In the early incident when Heathcliff and Catherine were caught in Thrushcross Grange the Lintons treat Heathcliff as the acquisition of Mr. Earnshaw. Meyer argues that the Lintons are egotistical towards Heathcliff but meanwhile, find him fearful because of his dark skin. Meyer notes that this “reductive and predictive reading of physiognomy,” (p.100), by the British to govern ‘dark races’ is being satirized by Bronte.

By mentioning the other critics who noted Wuthering Heights as having “threatening power” (p. 101), Meyer highlights that the unbearable cruelty of British society not only led to revolt, but it also provoked those subjugated to practice the same oppressive approaches of capitalism.  

The author confirms that economic injustice is an essential issue to the novel, nevertheless, she posits that under the British imperialism the economic injustice is imposed on the "dark races" rather than on the class system. The author justifies that Heathcliff never tried to make an alliance with the other working people and his progress from a state of extreme poverty to one of great wealth emphasises “the values of capitalism”, (p.102).  

The author claims that according to Wuthering Heights not only dark races but the white women are also subject to the cruelty of British imperialism.  Meyer states that Heathcliff and Catherine are being deprived in many ways. The oppressive mainstream society marginalises Heathcliff, causing him to have an incomplete identity as he has no surname. Likewise, Catherine is alienated and suffers from an unstable identity as she gets different surnames in Wuthering Heights and in Thrushcross Grange.

Mentioning the historical subjugations enforced by British imperialism on China and India, Meyer argues that Nelly’s earlier imagination about Heathcliff’s parentage of a Chinese emperor and an Indian queen is a restoration of history.  This imaginary scene implies that oppression may lead those subjugated countries to unite together and turn to retaliate the oppressive British. Furthermore, the assumption that Heathcliff having been in the army is associating with another colonial uprising in North America because his absence coincides with the Revolutionary War. As the “political anxieties about loss of empire”, (p.115) was one of the major issues of the time, Meyer argues that Bronte subtly connects Heathcliff to various rebellions around the world against the British imperialism. 

Meyer argues that Wuthering Heights is not an impressively feminist novel, and neither does it merely narrate women’s disempowerment under British imperialism. She finally asserts that this the novel is an instance of “complex transformations of the metaphor linking gender and race,” (p.125), in the literary work of British female writers in the nineteenth century.

Reference

Meyer, Susan. “‘Your Father was Emperor of China, and Your Mother an Indian Queen’: Reverse Imperialism in Wuthering Heights.” In Imperialism at Home: Race and Victorian Women’s Fiction, 96–125. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1996.

America is Not Beautiful in the Movie American Beauty

Part 1

The film American Beauty (1999) directed by Sam Mendes is a character-centric movie that profoundly criticises the modern society of America. However, the characters of the film are not merely developed through interaction with each other. In confronting everyday life, they also develop deep internal conflicts within themselves. In one of the opening scenes, Carolyn cuts off the red roses and socialises happily with the neighbour. Lester, her husband, looks at her and says that “she used to be happy” and complains about the unhappiness in the family life.

However, in the end, we notice that it is not Carolyn or any other character that causes unhappiness in Lester’s life. It is Lester himself who realises that he should have appreciated life earlier. The gratitude is not possible unless Lester acknowledges his true self and it only happens after he has been killed. Ironically, the one who complains about the unhappiness in his life gets immersed in ecstasy and contentment just after the moment he dies.

American Beauty can be interpreted in various ways, including modern society pushes you to deny your true self, and thus, happiness is impossible unless you die. This way the movie criticises the modern society by raising the fundamental question of happiness and that is why its credibility goes beyond the films that criticizing the American modern society superficially. It is the ugliness of modern America. In other words, American Beauty represents the America that is not beautiful.

Part 2

Carolyn is at the front yard and she cuts off red roses and greets with the neighbour. Lester, the husband looks at her from inside the house and says, “she used to be happy”. This is the outset of the movie American Beauty. At first glance, it is pretty damn disappointing that a husband cannot bear the happiness of his wife but wait a minute, this is something more than a dissatisfaction in family relations. After all, the slogan of the movie persuades us to 'look closer'. If you do so, you will find that Lester seems to be behind the bars when he looks from the window. The film is full of symbolic scenes to demonstrate a kind of confinement that you often do not notice. Lester has failed to see how beautiful his surrounding world was. You notice this when he was immediately released from his confinement upon his death. However, the movie is not intended to blame Lester or any other character. It criticizes modern American society, which has made it impossible to recognise and appreciate life before it becomes too late. That is why American Beauty reveals deeply what is not beautiful in America. 

Reference:

Mendes, S. (2012, May 18). American Beauty Ending (1999) [Video file]. Retrieved on 17 August 2019 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtbbqjiFaGY 

Reflective Summary

An overview of what I have learned throughout the unit

 This unit introduced the fundamentals of screen language to me. I learned about the basics of screen media such as mise-en-scène.  My initial learnings also included the concept of screen media through studying the grammar of the camera shot such as high angle, low angle, close up, point of view (POV), eye-level, over the shoulder shot. I learned about the visual effects and the emphatic meanings of each camera angle.

I gradually advanced my understanding of the screen media in exploring further creative and independent media arts. The comprehensive introductions of screen media throughout this int consisting of practices across moving image, principles of sound design in cinema, genre, and participatory media forms have enabled me to have a close reading about cinema. Additionally, viewing and critically discussing various movies such as the classic Citizen Kane (1941) all the way to the contemporary The Social Network (2010) has helped me to learn about the concomitant advance in the history of cinema in terms of techniques, production, and context.

The integrated theory/practice course has taught me how various genre in screen media is produced. Understanding the language of screen media, knowing its progressive history, and familiarising with various genre of cinema such as documentary, short film, and the animation is critical to analyse and critically evaluate screen media. This has also helped me to decide upon a simple creative practice and plan about my own screen media work.

The other aspect of this unit was the online blog which was similar to a discussion forum where I read many posts from other students. There were different views and interactive comments on screened movies in relation to various aspects of screen media. By reading different points of view it was possible for me to compare my views with those of others. And thereby I was able to improve my critical views of screen media.

Following my first assignment in which I got a score of high distinction, my studying has been complemented by this unit that has led me to slowly develop my confidence in understanding screen media. As a mature student from a non-English speaking background, writing in English has always been a challenge for me. When I learned about screen media that made me capable to elaborate around the concept of a movie, that was a milestone for me and this unit has helped me to achieve it. I may be able to improve in understanding and writing about screen media more than ever.