Wiki for Dr. McClurkens Courses

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You should do a total of 2-3 comments/questions/observations this week. You do not need to post to all areas. – Dr. McClurken

DO NOT DELETE OTHER PEOPLE'S COMMENTS – Please be careful as you add your posts that you are not deleting anyone else's work. – Dr. McClurken

====== How does this movie work as a secondary source? What does the movie get right about history? ======

There seemed to be attention paid to historical detail in this film. Particularly when addressing the circumstances of the miners, which were incredibly stark, the details of the film are accurate. An example of this would be the inclusion of details about company scrip and the types of items workers would be charged for by the company. The inclusion of these types of details creates an atmosphere of desperation among the characters in the film which can be felt very strongly by the audience. I also really appreciated the music included towards the opening of the film. I would be interested to know if that music was based on historical folk music from the area. - Rickie

The movie depicts the struggle of the miners throughout the movie as overcoming one hurdle after another, which is accurate to the obstacles that the real miners faced. The film does a good job depicting how much control the company had over all aspects of the employee’s lives: from mentioning company scrip, to the company practically owning all of the land in the town, including the houses the miners lived in. - Ewan H

I thought this film did many things well. For one, I thought they did a good at depicting the rough conditions that miners lived in during the early 20th century. This was depicted in numerous different ways throughout the film, such as when they highlight how miners were paid in company script (which they could only use in company stores) and the company owning the houses that miners lived in. In doing this, big business was able to largely control how miners lived their lives, ensuring that their workers were almost fully dependent on their employers. In 2024, this is almost unfathomable to me to imagine having absolutely no separation between your home life and work, yet as the film highlights large groups of people were subjected to it.----Thomas K.

I think that this flim is a greta secondary source.The film effectively captures the dire working conditions faced by miners and the violent confrontations with mining companies. The film's depiction of the Matewan massacre serves as a great reminder of the sacrifices made by those who wanted justice and better conditions. This movie sticks to historical accuracy. Matewan teach the viewers of a significant yet often overlooked chapter in American history. ---jedidia k

The movie shows the sacrifices miners had to go through and the struggles they faced. It was historically accurate, and this makes it a good secondary source -Kazu Ferris

====== Problems with historical accuracy? Errors in fact? ======

I think that the film was historically accurate overall, with only some minor inconsistencies and errors that could be considered nitpicks. -Kazu Ferris

====== How does the film’s overall interpretation(s) deviate from scholarly historical sources? ======

Overall, this movie does a good job staying pretty accurate to the real-life experiences that were depicted in the primary sources. The brutality of the mines, the ages of the miners and the helplessness they felt, were things I all saw in the movie. I felt that the movie erred on the side of too nice (although I was glad for it, I don't want to watch 12 year olds die on screen), but the feelings were there. The desperation the people of Matewan felt is something I saw reflected in the primary sources. I do feel though, that the representation of African Americans in this film left something to be decided. Though they were a presence in the film, I felt that there could have been a little more focus on the problems they were dealing with, especially when put in comparison with the sources. It was more than just fair wages, it was the right to the same spaces and treatment as other employees. - Caty

====== How does this movie work as a primary source about the time in which it was made? ======

====== The "So What" Question ======

This work is important because it showcases something not typically talked about in American history. When people think of the industrial era, and the rise of the union, they (or at least I) think of events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, or the Newsies. Up until three days ago I had never heard of Matewan, and what that did for the mining unions. This movie is important because even though it wasn't mainstream (no one I know has heard of this), when one does choose to watch it, they learn something new about America. That's what makes this influential, it doesn't have to win an Oscar to be a good piece of work. Matewan shows an event that was significant to not only West Virginia, but the history of America. -  Caty

This film serves as a sharp criticism of a time period and event which many Americans do not have much exposure to or knowledge about. Despite the fact that this was a smaller film which reached a smaller audience, it still holds significant value which has been recognized. For example, the Library of Congress chose to preserve this film in the National Film Registry, signifying the importance this piece holds to the country culturally and historically. - Rickie

I think Matewan is a reminder to the tragedies of the mine workers. As said in some previous comments, I agree that I haven’t heard that much about this side of American history. The film shows the anger of citizens from this period in American history and the damage that was made towards people of color, minors, and the workers in general. -Leah

A movie like this is important to analyze as it covers a part of American history that is normally brushed over in lots of media: labor history. Telling a story of the labor movement through this case study serves as a unique frame for a historical film. Also this film being a smaller film as opposed to a major motion picture can reveal what those types of films do with the material. This smaller production could answer the questions of accuracy and avoid falling into traps of mainstream movies like using famous actors or needing a lot of action (although the former isn’t really avoided in this movie). - Ewan H

As someone who knew very little about the conflict between coal miners and big business in the early 20th century, I find it a shame that Matewan is such a difficult film to find to watch. This film, as others so eloquently said covers an extremely overlooked era of American history that is hardly talked about for whatever reason. In my opinion, this film ties into the history and highly romanticized stories of the 20th centuries most famous criminals such as Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, and many others as the miners of Matawan came to represent the average American’s struggle against “the man.” Tied to this, I find it interesting that Sid Hatfield is not talked about more being that he was distantly related to many of the infamous Hatfield’s that took part in their bloody feud with the McCoy’s. Rambling aside, this film is increasingly important as we live in an era where the livelihood of miners is threated once again as the business is continuing to die out. ----Thomas K.

This movie is very important because it shows a part of history that is unknown or forgotten by many Americans. It brings to light the labor struggles and the fight for workers' rights in the early 20th century, particularly in the context of the coal miners' strikes in West Virginia. the film emphasizes the harsh realities of exploitation and the courage to stand up against corporate interests.the Matewan can be a very educational movie about that time - jedidia k

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