Book review on the influence of the American South on the early motion picture industry & Hollywood
What is it about?
This book review looks at a recent title that considers the historical context of the American South and how it is intertwined with the advent of motion pictures and the growth and eventual domination of the film medium in the United States through the Hollywood system.
Why is it important?
The Black Lives Matter movement has been integral in examining the social structures within American culture that have played a role in systematically marginalizing citizens of color. Robert Jackson's book and this review were both written just prior to the widespread engagement in the movement that occurred in early 2020, but the topics are directly connected to an examination of the historical context of racist values traditionally associated with the American South and the Confederacy. Readers will gain a thorough understanding of the many ways in which racism either segregated or became embedded in the early motion picture industry. The book details the many ways in which the medium was used to depict nostalgic views of the South and uphold the dominant white culture and power structure in the early 20th century. By elaborating on many examples, Jackson illuminates the influence of race on the dominant American culture as it specifically relates to both the birth of the film industry, the writers and performers whose voices were curated and amplified as well as those who were routinely suppressed. He also considers the influence of racial depictions in the Hollywood era as they impact the writing, production and distribution strategies that went on to form the modern film industry.