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--- 329:question:329--week_4_questions_comments [2016/09/22 12:44] – [2 Things the Movie got right] mcarey
+++ 329:question:329--week_4_questions_comments [2016/09/22 12:49] (current) – [6 The So, what? question] mcarey
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 **Was Benjamin having a romantic relationship with his dead wife’s sister a normal thing in the colonial times? I’ve heard of betrothed women marrying their dead fiancé’s brother if her fiancé died before the marriage. It seemed a little weird to me but I wasn’t sure if that was common or not. Did a lot of white soldiers change their minds about working with African Americans in the army like that guy at the end? Another thing that really caught my attention was the two younger brothers getting quite involved. Although they could’ve been the “men of the house,” it still seemed like they were awfully young to be toting guns and protecting the house and family. Was it common for children that young to be involved in the war in the way these two were depicted?** --- //[[khaynes3@umw.edu|Haynes, Kelly E.]] 2016/09/21 23:18//
-Depending on your source, “The Patriot” (or as I like to call it, “Colonial Heart”) can be ultimately interpreted as propaganda for freedom and democracy in opposition of tyranny. As usual, this is a Hollywood rendition of history so it strives to leave viewers feeling warm and fuzzy and well….patriotic. We are essentially give a representative from each side of the war. One is a hardworking and respectable family man of whom we are intended/expected to root for throughout the film (the good guy). The other, Col Travington, is a complete SOB whose demise we can’t wish fast enough (the bad guy). Naturally our mind is made up by the time he ruins the life of our hero in only a few minutes. Upon researching and discovering that our hero and villain are loosely based on factual characters, our sense of nationalism is validated (unless you’re English in which case some guilt may be expressed). However, further discovery states that our hero Benjamin Martin, is pieced together from numerous revolutionaries of note, displaying all of their best qualities despite conflicting sources that question their integrity. Specifically Francis Marion (Swamp Fox). Vice-versa (to a lesser extent) for the villainous officer whose name sounds surprisingly similar to Banastre Tarleton, an English Colonel known for his brutality (assigned reading). This notion of despicability is also reinforced by our hatred towards the loyalist representative (Adam Baldwin) as he is seen in a most traitorous fashion via church burning. Since he is the only loyalist encountered throughout the film, we are left with the assumption that they are all rotten bastards, quick to set their neighbors on fire.   --- //[[dblount@umw.edu|Blount, David M.]] 2016/09/22 03:31//
+Depending on your source, “The Patriot” (or as I like to call it, “Colonial Heart”) can be ultimately interpreted as propaganda for freedom and democracy in opposition of tyranny. As usual, this is a Hollywood rendition of history so it strives to leave viewers feeling warm and fuzzy and well….patriotic. We are essentially give a representative from each side of the war. One is a hardworking and respectable family man of whom we are intended/expected to root for throughout the film (the good guy). The other, Col Travington, is a complete SOB whose demise we can’t wish fast enough (the bad guy). Naturally our mind is made up by the time he ruins the life of our hero in only a few minutes.** Upon researching and discovering that our hero and villain are loosely based on factual characters, our sense of nationalism is validated** (unless you’re English in which case some guilt may be expressed). However, further discovery states that our hero Benjamin Martin, is pieced together from numerous revolutionaries of note, displaying all of their best qualities despite conflicting sources that question their integrity. Specifically Francis Marion (Swamp Fox). Vice-versa (to a lesser extent) for the villainous officer whose name sounds surprisingly similar to Banastre Tarleton, an English Colonel known for his brutality (assigned reading). This notion of despicability is also reinforced by our hatred towards the loyalist representative (Adam Baldwin) as he is seen in a most traitorous fashion via church burning. Since he is the only loyalist encountered throughout the film, we are left with the assumption that they are all rotten bastards, quick to set their neighbors on fire.   --- //[[dblount@umw.edu|Blount, David M.]] 2016/09/22 03:31//
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 The Patriot is nothing but one giant propaganda piece. It is similar to other movies that came out around time, such as Independence Day, Last of the Mohicans, Air Force One, Glory and others, in that these were really patriotic movies. This is especially weird when these were made during relatively peaceful times. **They were made after the Cold War had ended, and made before the September 11th attacks in 2001.** --- //[[jgaddie@umw.edu|Gaddie, Jason]] 2016/09/21 18:28//
-This movie, like Lauren says, continues with the strong female character type, pushing forward despite all odds (and historical probabilities). Once again, in this movie a woman steps up to tell others why they should do what's right. And this time, it works! We see that people are starting to get the idea that women should not just get thought-provoking speeches but actually have something result from it. Gabriel needs not further explain what she said. He just waits for the men to respond, and they slowly stand up to join the cause. Thanks, Anne! It kind of sucks that she gets killed soon after marriage in order to fuel the revenge-seeking part of the movie, but she had a good moment and I'm proud of that.  --- //[[lmccuist@umw.edu|Lindsey McCuistion]] 2016/09/21 23:23//
+**This movie, like Lauren says, continues with the strong female character type, pushing forward despite all odds (and historical probabilities). Once again, in this movie a woman steps up to tell others why they should do what's right. And this time, it works**! We see that people are starting to get the idea that women should not just get thought-provoking speeches but actually have something result from it. Gabriel needs not further explain what she said. He just waits for the men to respond, and they slowly stand up to join the cause. Thanks, Anne! It kind of sucks that she gets killed soon after marriage in order to fuel the revenge-seeking part of the movie, but she had a good moment and I'm proud of that.  --- //[[lmccuist@umw.edu|Lindsey McCuistion]] 2016/09/21 23:23//
 In terms of being a primary source, the main conflicts are fairly accurate. A man stays loyal to the crown, but then he changes his mind after the Red Coats don’t show the same respect. We had talked a bit in class about why people (usually Loyalists) changed sides. The guerilla warfare was also pretty accurate as well. Underage soldiers seem to be a commonality in a lot of pre-world war American wars. The slavery issues brought up (fighting, freedom, etc) were also somewhat accurate, in the way the British treated them and the way some of the Patriots treated them within the continental army. --- //[[khaynes3@umw.edu|Haynes, Kelly E.]] 2016/09/21 23:40//
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 **If the movie does decide to show more slavery, how does that change the narrative?  Also, how does that reflect on a movie named, “The Patriot”?** -Christian Trout
-This film has a lot of American identity wrapped up in it. I think it's important to talk about for that part alone. After all, once the numerous attempts at revenge fail, it's the beautiful scene of a waving flag that leads Benjamin to finally realize that he should slay his enemy for his country, not his pride or his fallen children. The movie's release right before September 11, 2001, certainly plays a big part in its importance to the times, too. America was swelling with a sense of pride that let movies like this one become popular, but then the attack on the World Trade Center brought Americans back to reality, and patriotism became mandatory, not just a warm fuzzy feeling in your chest. I couldn't help but wonder what people thought of this film only a year after its release, after they felt that the ideals presented in this film were challenged by not only the threat of terrorism but also the sudden shift in governmental policies that led to a measure of suppression in order to "protect" America's interests. The government's new laws and acts were considered "patriotic", and maybe people connected that loss of independence with the struggle of the movie's patriots during the war. Or maybe they saw it as another British suppression. The event is still too fresh in America's mind for much open discussion to go on in regards to the aftermath, but it should still be addressed. What role does government have in this movie which might reflect parts of America post-9/11?  --- //[[lmccuist@umw.edu|Lindsey McCuistion]] 2016/09/21 23:23//
+This film has a lot of American identity wrapped up in it. I think it's important to talk about for that part alone. After all, once the numerous attempts at revenge fail, it's the beautiful** scene of a waving flag that leads Benjamin to finally realize that he should slay his enemy for his country, not his pride or his fallen children.** The movie's release right before September 11, 2001, certainly plays a big part in its importance to the times, too. America was swelling with a sense of pride that let movies like this one become popular, but then the attack on the World Trade Center brought Americans back to reality, and patriotism became mandatory, not just a warm fuzzy feeling in your chest. **I couldn't help but wonder what people thought of this film only a year after its release**, after they felt that the ideals presented in this film were challenged by not only the threat of terrorism but also the sudden shift in governmental policies that led to a measure of suppression in order to "protect" America's interests. The government's new laws and acts were considered "patriotic", and maybe people connected that loss of independence with the struggle of the movie's patriots during the war. Or maybe they saw it as another British suppression. The event is still too fresh in America's mind for much open discussion to go on in regards to the aftermath, but it should still be addressed.** What role does government have in this movie which might reflect parts of America post-9/11?**  --- //[[lmccuist@umw.edu|Lindsey McCuistion]] 2016/09/21 23:23//
 The treatment of the black workers / slaves in the movie contributes to the harmful narrative that slavery "really wasn't all that bad." Particularly the way in which the movie slipped in that all the black people working on Martin's farm were free people, there of their own accord, yet still clearly subordinate, allows viwers to be soothed into accepting this as okay.
-I highly doubt that the family would have recieved such a warm welcome showing up at the black settlement along the coast. While perhaps Abigail was glad to see them, she nevertheless would have been an employee at best. Especially considering that the family had just barely escaped death from the English army, why would a hidden settlement welcome white people (who would've thought themselves superior) with open arms?
+I highly doubt that the family would have recieved such a warm welcome showing up at the black settlement along the coast. While perhaps Abigail was glad to see them, she nevertheless would have been an employee at best. **Especially considering that the family had just barely escaped death from the English army, why would a hidden settlement welcome white people (who would've thought themselves superior) with open arms?
-While it makes sense within the worldof the movie, it belies the violent contentious racial reality at the time. It matters since it is a legacy that the US is still wrestling with today.  --Julia Peterson
+While it makes sense within the worldof the movie, it belies the violent contentious racial reality at the time. It matters since it is a legacy that the US is still wrestling with today.**  --Julia Peterson