D. W. Griffith's the Birth of a Nation - by Jenny Barrett & Douglas Field & Ian Scott (Hardcover)

About the Book

A volume of new chapters exploring the reputation, text and legacy of D. W. Griffith's 1915 film The Birth of a Nation. In-depth textual analyses accompany reflections on Birth's profound impact on art and film into the twenty-first century, comprising a significant contribution to discourse on the most controversial film of all time.

Book Synopsis

In 1915, American filmmaker D. W. Griffith released a film that went on to become one of the most controversial of all time. Over a century later, The Birth of a Nation continues to stimulate debate on the relationship between Hollywood and racism. This volume reveals new perspectives on Griffith's film across ten original chapters, re-considering it as text, historical milestone and influence. The volume also includes a helpful timeline that lists key publications and events in Birth's ongoing history, revealing the rich and stimulating discourse on its art, its cultural impact and its ethical dimensions.

From the Back Cover

This volume presents new research on D. W. Griffith's notorious film The Birth of a Nation. Released in 1915, Birth has been the subject of study, debate and activism for over a century, notably concerning the tension between its artistic merit and its racist depiction of Black Americans. As this book shows, there is still much to explore.

Examining the film, its reception and its legacies from fresh perspectives, the book provides productive approaches to studying Birth in the twenty-first century. Contributors address a range of topics, including how Griffith's rewriting of history relates to today's political controversies over 'fake news' and how contemporary Black artists have sabotaged the film's racist visual language. Presenting discussions of celebrated and sometimes controversial practitioners Oscar Micheaux, Kara Walker, Kehinde Wiley, DJ Spooky, Nate Parker, Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino, they make a convincing case for the film's ongoing significance to American art and cinema.

White supremacist activity and struggles over racial inequities remain very much a part of the contemporary world. Arguing that The Birth of a Nation is a pivotal text for understanding this state of affairs, the volume offers a model for unpacking the meaning of Hollywood's most consequential film.

About the Author

Jenny Barrett is Senior Lecturer in Film at Edge Hill University

Douglas Field is Professor of Twentieth Century American Literature at the University of Manchester

Ian Scott is Professor of American Film and History at the University of Manchester